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 Sometimes, like Israel, things do come in our lives that shouldn’t be there and it causes God’s favor to be withdrawn.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.
D. Aren’t you glad that we have a Shepherd that will “give ear”!!!
II. ASAPH’S PROBLEM - vs. 5-6
A. The Problem in this Chapter was national Calamity. Israel was away from God. They were in total rebellion and
as a result of God was Chastising them.
B. Your problem may not be one of national proportion.
1. It may be a small, personal problem that no one knows about
2. It may be physical problem.
3. It may be a family problem
4. It may be material
5. But no matter what the problem is, our Shepherd has the solution
III. AN ALMIGHTY PERSON - “cause thy Face to shine and we shall be saved”
A. Asaph showed confidence and trust in God.
B. He was saying “God if you’ll just show up everything will be alright.
C. This Psalm is filled with an earnest and repeated prayer for deliverance, and the Psalmist bases his appeal upon
God’s dealings with Israel in the past.
a. The Psalmist is saying, “God’s done it before and I’m looking for him to do it again.”
b. God has done great things in the past that I believe he can still do today.
c. Anything God has ever done he can still do today!!!
Conclusion: In America today it seems that there is no hope. It seems that Satan and his demons have taken charge and have the upperhand. We must remember that our God is still on the throne. We should not get disheartened to the point that we feel we can do nothing about this situation. Even in the midst of the most terrible circumstances God’s face can shine. His face may never shine all over this country like it once did, but I intend to let the shekinah shine in my heart if it shines nowhere else. Noah and his Family were rejoicing over the fact that they were saved from the judgment of God.
1. “Cause thy face to shine” -- I shall be saved
2. “Cause thy face to shine” -- My Family shall be Saved
3. “Cause thy face to shine” -- My Church shall be Saved
