If God Ever Has, He Still Can

IF GOD EVER HAS HE STILL CAN--PSALM 80

1. As in the case of most of the historical Psalms, it is impossible to say for certain exactly when this Psalm was written. All that we know for sure is that it sets forth a picture of great disaster and national calamity. Most think that it was written by a poet of the Southern Kingdom after the Northern Kingdom had been taken into captivity by the Assyrians. The Psalm is divided into three parts which are distinguished by a reoccurring refrain in vs. 3, 7, 19.

a. Notice the Progression found in these verses

1. vs. 3 -- He Said O God

2. vs. 7 -- He Said “O God of Hosts

3. vs. 19 -- O Lord God of Hosts

b. The Psalmist’s insight seems to grow as the Psalm progresses.

c. In other words the closer he got to God the bigger God got.

2. There is one quote that stayed in my mind as I was reading through this passage of Scipture.

a. The Psamist kept saying, “cause thy face to shine and we shall be saved.”

1. It implies that he had seen God’s power in the past and wanted to see it again.

2. The Psalmist all through the chapter knew that his only hope was to have God’s face to shine on the situation.

3. He knew that without God his country had no hope.

4. He had no doubt seen God do some things in the past, and he was longing for God to move again.

3. We can rest assured tonight that if God ever has, he still can.

a. Malachi 3:6 “For I am the Lord, I change not.”

b. Hebrews 13:8 “Jesus Christ the same, yesterday, to day, and forever.”

Notice a few things in this passage.

I. ASAPH’S PRAYER - Vs. 1-3 In these verse the Psalmists addresses the Lord and pray for renewed favor upon his people. The Psalmist regards the sad condition of the people as the direct result of God withdrawing his favor. Sometimes, like Israel, things do come in our lives that shouldn’t be there and it causes God’s favor to be withdrawn.

A. The psalmist begins by asking God to listen to his prayer.

1. Notice how he begins his Prayer “Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel”

a. This is a tender term selected on purpose because it fits the situation so well

b. There are a lot of relationships that God sustains to all men.

1. He is Creator

2. He is Sovereign

3. He is Judge

4. God is known by all men as Creator, Sovereign, and Judge, but only his sheep know him as Shepherd.

2. One of the responsibilities of a shepherd is to give ear to the bleatings and cries of the sheep. That’s why the

psalmist said “Give Ear”. In other words Asaph is saying “listen to my bleatings, listen to my cries.”

3. God as the Shepherd of Israel, led his flock out of Egypt, through the wilderness, and into the land of

promise. He tended to each sheep individually, and provided their daily needs.

4. What God did with Israel is a good picture of Jesus as the good shepherd in his redemptive work. John

10:11 “I am the Good Shepherd: the Good Shepherd giveth his life for the Sheep”

B. In the New Testament the a Threefold Application of the Shepherd Title

1. As the Good Shepherd - He Gave his Life for the Sheep

2. As the Great Shepherd - He is our risen Leader

3. As the Chief Shepherd - He will reward his undershepherds who have tended his flock in his Absence

C. In the Old Testament - The Shepherd of Israel is set forth in four Aspects

1. Gen. 49:24 - He is the Strong Shepherd

2. Isaiah 40:11 - He is the Serving Shepherd

3. Zech. 13:7 - He is the Smitten Shepherd

4. In our Text he is the Shekinah Shepherd Psa. 80:1 -- “Thou That Dwellest between the cheribiums”

a. Notice that the dwelling place of the Shepherd is between the cheribiums above the ark of the covenant.

b. The children of Israel in the Old Testament could not approach God. But there is a way made for us right into the Holy of Holies.

c. Our Shepherd laid our iniquity on his shoulders and said “Follow Me”. He lead us into the presence and

the Glory of God

d. When the Shepherd goes before that means he encounters all difficulties and dangers first. What ever problem the Sheep might encounter has already passed by him.

e. When it Says he “leadeth” his Sheep the implication is He feeds, defends, shears, cares for, washes, guides, and even carries the sheep in his arms when the way gets too rough.