There's an additional study note table, "PRAYER IN THE BOOK OF PSALMS" accompanying this psalm in my Bible that I share with you below. But first...
PSALM 80. For the director of music. To the tune of “The Lilies of the Covenant.” Of Asaph. A psalm.
Theme: A prayer for revival and restoration after experiencing destruction. God is our only hope for salvation.
Author: Asaph (or one of his descendants), probably written after the northern kingdom of Israel was defeated and its people deported to Assyria
https://www.biblestudytools.com/psalms/80.html
1 Hear us, Shepherd of Israel, you who lead Joseph like a flock. You who sit enthroned between the cherubim, shine forth 2 before Ephraim, Benjamin and Manasseh. Awaken your might; come and save us. 3 Restore us, O God; make your face shine on us, that we may be saved. 4 How long, LORD God Almighty, will your anger smolder against the prayers of your people? 5 You have fed them with the bread of tears; you have made them drink tears by the bowlful. 6 You have made us an object of derision to our neighbors, and our enemies mock us. 7 Restore us, God Almighty; make your face shine on us, that we may be saved. 8 You transplanted a vine from Egypt; you drove out the nations and planted it. 9 You cleared the ground for it, and it took root and filled the land. 10 The mountains were covered with its shade, the mighty cedars with its branches. 11 Its branches reached as far as the Sea,its shoots as far as the River. 12 Why have you broken down its walls so that all who pass by pick its grapes? 13 Boars from the forest ravage it, and insects from the fields feed on it. 14 Return to us, God Almighty! Look down from heaven and see! Watch over this vine, 15 the root your right hand has planted, the son you have raised up for yourself. 16 Your vine is cut down, it is burned with fire; at your rebuke your people perish. 17 Let your hand rest on the man at your right hand, the son of man you have raised up for yourself. 18 Then we will not turn away from you; revive us, and we will call on your name. 19 Restore us, LORD God Almighty; make your face shine on us, that we may be saved.
Study Notes:
80:1 Cherubim are mighty angels.
80:3, 7, 19 Three times the writer calls on God to "restore us". Before restoration must come repentance, turning away from sin. Repentance involves humbling ourselves and turning to God to receive his forgiveness. As we turn to God, he helps us see ourselves, including our sin, more clearly. Then, as we see our sin, we must repeat the process of repentance. Only then can we constantly be restored to fellowship with God.
80:17 "The man at your right hand" is probably not the Messiah, but Israel, whom God calls elsewhere his "firstborn son" (Exodus 4:22). The psalmist is making a plea that God would restore his mercy to Israel, the people he chose to bring his message into the world.
PRAYER IN THE BOOK OF PSALMS
Prayer is human communication with God. Psalms can be described as a collection of song-prayers. Probably the most striking feature of these prayers is their unedited honesty. The words often express our own feelings--feelings that we would prefer that no one, much less God, ever knew. Making these psalms our prayers can teach us a great deal about how God wants us to communicate with him. Too often we give God a watered-down version of our feelings, hopung we won't offend him or make him curious about our motives. As we use the psalms to express our feelings, we learn that honesty, openness, and sincerity are valuable to God. Following are several types of prayers with examples from Psalms. Note that the psalm writers communicated with God in a variety of ways for a variety of reasons. Each of us is invited to communicate with God. Using the psalms will enrich your personal prayer life.
Prayers of... References
Praise to God... Psalms 100; 113; 117 Thanksgiving by a community... Psalms 67; 75; 136 Thanksgiving by an individual... Psalms 18; 30; 32 Request by the community... Psalms 79; 80; 123 Request by an individual... Psalms 3; 55; 86 Sorrow by the community... Psalms 44; 74; 137 Sorrow by an individual... Psalms 5; 6; 120 Anger... Psalms 35; 109; 140 Confession... Psalms 6; 32; 51 Faith... Psalms 11; 16; 23
Today was a day of confession and repentance for me. Yesterday I was irritated and belligerent to spouse. This morning I told spouse I was tired of being belligerent and we agreed to not be belligerent (or at least try). I also talked to God about it along with a multitude of other things. I feel comfortable with God because he knows me, and I know he knows me completely--motivations, circumstances, lack of intelligence, stupidity, my heart, my forgetfulness, everything. I remember God is allknowing and that he is forgiving. It is just really cool talking to him about it all. He is better than any bartender because, among everything else, he is omnipresent too.
Lord, thanks for listening to my prayers and for really knowing me. Thanks for your guidance as I try to be good. Help the decisions I make and the things I do be for good. Bless our nation, Lord, keep us safe and awake in your care. Keep us connected to you and your saving grace. We love you, Lord, help our decisions and conduct show it. In the name of Jesus, I pray. Your Son, my Savior. Amen.
A Song: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=FPnGlemJ9fs
Have a blessed day.
12 Why have you broken down its walls so that all who pass by pick its grapes?
What a profound verse. David is lamenting the loss of the "fruits" of Israel but does not yet fully understand the fruits of the Gospel that these "grapes" spread among all the nations. The grape, crushed to yield it's wine, as Christ was crushed to yield His Blood. The boars from the forest (Black Forest - Assyrians) ravaging the vine. This whole chapter is a prophecy.
80:17 "The man at your right hand" is probably not the Messiah, but Israel,
I know you didn't write this but be cautious when discerning this. Israel does not save itself. Only One saves, and He is the Highest, the King and Lord of all, sitting at the right Hand of the Father.
Yeah, I had a lot of problem with study note for verse 17. I cannot say I agree with it. But, I did faithfully put in here as it is in my study Bible. I was hoping someone would comment. Thank you!
I don't believe the author meant any ill intent with this, he's carrying some Old Covenant baggage around, as many still do. No one is saved by the law, they are condemned by it. The Messiah regathers the lost sheep, even Genesis tells of this.
I had this same type of scenario play out on me yesterday. I read a 5 hour study, I don't remember how many parts. Brilliantly done, scripturally sound, full of learning, and then, at the very last paragraph, these people popped universalism on me. Now this is a grievous error. Does it nullify what I learned in the other 5 hours? Probably not but I still have the question.
I’m so confused about why you post these scriptures? Do you think this is prophecy for America or that it somehow relates to what’s going on and is instructions for us?
Do you not understand who this is written to and what it’s about?
But that is my point, this has nothing to do with what is happening today in the Untiled States and thinking that what Israel has been promised is also meant for our country today is false and will confuse people. At the end of the day the Bible is a book and is meant to be read like a book and put into context of the timeline and who it's addressed to.
Romans 11:25 KJV For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.
Take your gift with a glad and joyous heart.
It's an amazing gift we were given, we got the best deal because of their rejection.