ISRAEL AS VINE.
Psalm 80:7-15.
The Psalmist bemoans the plight of the divided tribes of Israel, and boldly expresses his perplexity at God’s dealings with them. Belief in the God of Israel is not blind faith, but an informed trust. One expression of our confidence that the LORD is in control of all things is to make our complaints known to Him.
There is a refrain throughout the Psalm, growing in intensity and boldness. The appeal for our restoration is first addressed to ‘God’ (Psalm 80:3), then to “God of hosts” (Psalm 80:7), and finally to the ‘LORD God of hosts’ (Psalm 80:19).
The prayer that God’s face would shine upon us reminds us of the Aaronic blessing (Numbers 6:24-26), and of the Gospel accounts of Jesus’ transfiguration. It is echoed in Psalm 67:1.
A change in metaphor from ‘God as Shepherd’ to ‘Israel as Vine’ occurs in Psalm 80:8. This begins with the exodus: “You have brought a vine out of Egypt” (cf. Exodus 12:51); continues through the conquest: “You cast out the heathen” (cf. Joshua 24:18); and ends with the settlement of the land: “and planted it” (cf. Psalm 78:55). This is celebrated in Psalm 44:2.
From there the plant grew, eventually filling the land (Psalm 80:9-10; cf. Joshua 24:12). Until, at the height of David’s Empire, it stretched from the Mediterranean Sea to the River Euphrates (Psalm 80:11).
The complaint of the Psalmist, that the God who has so carefully planted and cared for this vine has “broken down her hedges” (Psalm 80:12-13; cf. Psalm 89:40-41) is answered by other prophets. They envision a time when the vine will have gone wild (Jeremiah 2:21) and will yield only wild grapes (Isaiah 5:4-5). Jesus has a curious story about a fig tree planted in a vineyard, which makes the same point to His generation (Read Luke 13:6-9).
The petitioner calls for the LORD to “Return” (Psalm 80:14). He also asks the LORD to “look down and see” (cf. Exodus 3:7); and to “visit” this vine (cf. Exodus 3:16).
“The vineyard that your right hand has planted” (Psalm 80:15) is clearly Israel; but a second clause reads “and the Branch that you made strong for Yourself” and may introduce Messiah. This becomes more explicit in Psalm 80:17.
The only hope for Israel - and by extension for the Church (cf. John 15:5); the only hope for anyone is in the finished work of their Messiah, Jesus. ‘Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is no other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved’ (Acts 4:12).
‘Turn us again, O LORD God of hosts, cause thy face to shine; and we shall be saved’ (Psalm 80:19).
