Psalm 80
Shining Salvation
The long winter nights are setting in. The darkness creeps through ever more hours in the day. It’s never far and is always drawing closer. As we plunge into the final weeks of the year, we long for the warmth of a light that will sustain our souls.
A long Winter Darkness has set in over the people of Israel. God’s judgment has settled on their rebellion. And in this Psalm, the people are longing for the warmth and light of God’s grace to shine on them once more.
Do you long to know God’s light? This is the prayer for you.
For the director of music. To the tune of ‘The Lilies of the Covenant’. Of Asaph. A psalm.
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 smoulder
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 neighbours,
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.
The people of God sing this Psalm as we stand before the overwhelming glory and potency of God. Four times he is referred to as God Almighty (4, 7, 14 19). In other translations, it is rendered as God of Hosts or Armies. This is God arrayed in his full splendour and might against the sin and enemy that rebels against his will.
The reference to him sitting enthroned among the cherubim re-enforces this picture. This the same image as in Psalm 18 or Ezekiel 1 where we encounter God riding forth on his war chariot in judgement over the world. The formidable and volcanic power of God is at the forefront of this Psalm.
And the problem in this Psalm is that Israel is at the forefront of God’s righteous judgement.
God’s wrath smokes against his people (v4). God caters for them with misery and suffering (5). God has caused them to be a laughing stock among the nations (6). This is remarkably familiar to Psalms 74 & Psalm 79 and in all likelihood is set in the same time after the fall of Jerusalem.
Their situation and this judgement is then vividly captured in the story of a vine (8-18). A vine was lifted out of Egypt and planted in a new land (8). The reference to Egypt evokes the Exodus, where God liberated his people from back-breaking & hope-sapping slavery to Pharaoh. God cleared out all the weeds (9), which are the other nations, and caused the vine to blossom and flourish, until it filled the whole land (10-11).
But God has removed his protection from it. Wild beasts from neighbouring territories have invaded and devastated the vine (12-13). The vine has burned up in smoke (16).
And if it wasn’t obvious, it is made clear that the vine is God’s people (16).
Israel (both the northern and southern kingdoms), over the centuries, had not just flirted with the surrounding nations but flung themselves at them. And so God has removed his protection and they reap the consequences of their dalliances with wild boars. This is the same as how God has given humanity over to the consequences of surrendering to futile idols, empty lies and treacherous lusts (Romans 1.18-32).
And so we pray, three times (4,7,19), when we sing this song, for God to restore his people. Thrice we plead with God to shine upon his people. In the Scriptures, light is a way of speaking of how God reveals his manifold perfections and the beauty of his character. Light is also the imagery for how God brings about restoration, redemption and renewal for his people in the darkness of a world ruled by sin. The light of God is his salvation. A vine needs the succour of the sun’s radiance for its growth and nourishment. And so the people of the world need the light of the gospel for our salvation and new life (2 Corinthians 4.6).
This vine, is twice called God’s son (15 & 17), as Israel was called in Exodus 4.22-23. And this gives more colour and substance when we hear that Jesus calls himself the True Vine (John 15.1).
Where Israel failed, Jesus stayed true to God’s word. Where Israel rebelled, Jesus was obedient. Where Israel sinned, Jesus was righteous. Jesus is the true vine. Jesus is the true Israel.
And in fulfilment of this Psalm, he is cut down and broken for his people. He was the substitute on the cross for the people of God. But the radiant smile of his Heavenly Father was upon him and the true vine planted in death is raised to new life and bears great fruit. When we are united to Jesus by faith, God’s face shines on us. And his Kingdom will grow larger than the old Kingdom of Israel ever did. From a small seed, a mighty Kingdom will grow that will fill the whole earth with light filled people (Matthew 13.31-32).
Glory be to God the Father, whose radiant face shines on his people in kindness and grace.
Glory be to God the Son, who is the true vine in whom we have everlasting life.
Glory be to God the Spirit, who shines the light of the gospel in our hearts.
Ever three and ever One.
Home Group: Healthy Gospel Church Week 9
What have you found most helpful about this series on spiritually healthy Christians and spiritually healthy churches?
Read 1 Timothy 4.1-16
Paul is writing to Timothy about ministry and provides a number of instructions. List all the words that indicate that hard work and effort is necessary.
Of the seven characteristics we have explored, what do you think needs most improvement in your own life?
Which areas of church life do you think are currently healthy? Which of the seven characteristics do you think might need the most improvement in your congregation?
What are you going to take away and implement over the coming months?