PSALM 80 - A PRAYER OF RESTORATION & SALVATION

INTRODUCTON - READ PSALM 80

This Psalm, another written by Asaph's descendents, was a prayer for restoration and salvation, particularly for the Northern Kingdoms in Israel. It has been broken up into 4 sections, with a refrain follow each section. It is indeed a PRAYER OF FAITH, UNDERSTANDING AND DEPENDENCE.  expressing trust and confidence in a strong God' who Asaph knew would deliver his people from their crisis.

1. A PRAYER TO ISRAEL'S SHEPHERD - Read Psalm 80:1-3, Psalm 23, 

                                                                                     John 10:11-16

The image of a king or ruler as a shepherd for his people was common in the ancient world. Jeremiah was also called a shepherd to God's people in their time of exile. 

"And I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will guide you with knowledge and understanding."  Jeremiah 3:15

 Asaph understood, like David, and many other Prophets and writers in the Bible, that the greatest `shepherd' of all was God who would `lead' his people 'like a flock'.

"He will feed His flock like a shepherd. He will carry the lambs in His arms, holding them close to His heart. He will gently lead the mother sheep with their young." Isaiah 40:11

He recalls, as David did his famous Psalm 23, that God is our guide and omnipresent Shepherd. Asaph would have had this same special relationship that David had, not only as a lost sheep in His flock, but one who had experienced His mercy and love in a special way.

"The Lord is my Shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside still waters, He refreshed my soul. He guides me along the right paths for His name's sake.... Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever" Psalm 23:1-3, 6 (NIV)

In this time when his people's land and their lives needed restoration, Asaph prayed this prayer to Israel's shepherd, and we can pray this same prayer to our Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ, who gave his life so we too can have this same mercy, love and grace. 

"I am the Good Shepherd; I know my own sheep, and they know me, just as my Father knows me and I know my Father. So I sacrifice my life for the sheep. I have other sheep, too, that are not in this sheepfold. I must bring them in also. They will listen to my voice, and there will be one flock with one Shepherd." John 10:14-16  (NLT)

2. DESPAIR OF GOD'S ANGER - Read Psalm 80:4-7

 Over and over the people of Israel had been mourning because of their enemies scorn and attacks by neighbouring nations. Their "grevious sin" - idoltary - had seperated them from God. He had good reason for being angry with them. 

"That God should be angry with us sinning is natural enough, but that He should be angry even with our prayers is bitter grief." Charles H Spurgeon

"Surely the arm of the Lord is not too short to save, nor His ear to dull to hear. But your iniquities have seperated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear." Isaiah 59:1&2

Still,  as in previous psalms, Asaph's heart is full of sorrow and grief when he thinks of God's anger towards his people Israel. In this second part of the psalm he asks God how long it will be before:

* He stops being angry with them.

* They can stop crying "buckets full of tears".

* He stops their enemies fighting and laughing at them.

It did seem at times that their prayers were not being answered. But God gave them hope: "keep on praying, and I will listen and forgive!" This promise can give us great hope when are in despair and grief.

"Then you will call on me and come and pray to me and I will listen. You will seek me and find me if you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you, declares the Lord, and will bring you back from captivity." Jeremiah 29:12-14a (NLT)

3. DESCRIPTION OF GOD'S VINE - Psalm 80:8-15, Isaiah 5:1-7, John 15:1-8

The Vine is a familiar metaphorical image used in the Old and New Testaments to describe the people of Israel and the Church. God planted it, it took root in the Promised Land, and it's branches spread "west to the Mediterranean Sea and east to the Euphrates River".  God cared for the Vine and Israel's task was to give shade to other nations. 

But again, because of their disobedience, God had "broken down the hedges" and removed it's wall of protection, leaving Jerusalem vulnerable to attack. God let "wild animals" - a picture of their enemies - attack and destroy their vines. 

"Now I am going to tell you what I am going to do to My vineyard: I will take away its hedge, and it will be destroyed. I will break down its wall and it will be trampled. I will make it a wasteland, neither pruned nor cultivated, and briers and thorns will grow there. I will command the clouds not to rain on it. The vineyard of the Lord Almighty is the nation of Israel, and the people of Judah are the vine he delighted in. He looked for justice, but saw bloodshed; for righteousness, but heard cries of distress." Isaiah 5:5-7

In John 15, the Church too is represented as a Vine with branches and fruit - and like the Israelites we too can become vulnerable to attack and our fruit can `fall off'. 

"I am the Vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without me you can do nothing." John 15:5  (NKJV)

4. PRAYER OF DIVINE RESTORATION - Read 80:16-19

Asaph knew that Israel needed Divine restoration. We know that man cannot save himself. God, through His Son Jesus Christ is the only way to salvation. 

"The only person who can be said to be "at the right hand of God" as intercessor is JESUS THE MESSIAH. Let Him become OUR DELIVERER and let HIS STRENGTH be manifested in our weakness! By Him are the Jews to be restored, by Him alone can they find mercy, through Him can they be reconciled to God." William Clarke

The "Son of Man" in this context may refer to the Israelites, but in a prophetic sense is also speaks of Jesus Christ the Messiah. The "right hand" is strong because HE IS GOD'S SON! That is why He sent His Son Jesus, as our Redeemer. 

"For I know that my Redeemer lives, and He shall stand at last on the earth." Job 19:25 (NKJV)

"The Redeemer will come to Zion, to those in Jacob who repent of their sins,"declares the Lord."

                                                                                                   Isaiah 59:20

CONCLUSION

Ask God to be your Shepherd and promise to be a sheep in His flock, believing that He will guide you each step of the way. Remember God as your 'sabaoth' - your `army of angels' - that watches over you. Remember God sent His Son to be your restoration and salvation - all you need to do is accept Him as Your Saviour and trust in Him. 

Like Asaph pray this refrain:

Asaph was seeking repentance for the sins of His people, but He knew it would not happen in their own strength, but only with the GRACE OF GOD."

"Grant us the joy of your presence, the comfort of your Spirit, the measures of your love and grace." Webmaster

Asaph knew that the only hope for anyone was the salvation that came from God, through His Son Jesus Christ. 

"For whoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." Romans 10:11 (NIV)

"For God sent His Son into the world not to condemn the world, but that the world, through Him might be saved." John 3:17 (NIV)

"The Holy Bible, New International Version" 2011, Biblica

"Holy Bible, New Living Translation" 2015, Tyndale House Foundation. 

"The Holy Bible, New King James Version"1982, Thomas Nelson.

"Discover the Books of the Bible", 2020, Webmaster@biblestudys.org

Churchyard, Gordon, 2002, "Make Us United - Psalm 80", www.easyenglish.bible

Guzik, David, 2020, "Psalm 80 - Restoring Israel, The Sheep and Vineyard of the Lord", www.enduringword.

PSALM 79: BABYLON!

 INTRODUCTION - Read Psalm 79, 2 Kings 25, 2 Chronicles, Jeremiah 39 &                                                                                  Daniel 1                                                                                                        

Psalm 79 was written about one of the most devestating events in Jewish history - the destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonian empire. It is described a number of times throughout Scripture.

As we read these passages (see above) we realize that Judah's kings at the time were not following the ways of the Lord; and the priest and leaders in the Temple of the Lord were also `wicked, following the example of Godless nations'

"The Lord made the Temple in Jerusalem holy, but the leaders made it unholy."                                                                                                               2 Chron 36:14b (NLT)

The prophet Jeremiah had been sent by God again and again to warn the Israelites, it's kings and spiritual leaders what would happen if they did not repent of their 'wicked ways'. but they refused to listen. We then read how God used Nebuchadnezzar and his Babylonian army to punish his people. 

"Nebuchadnezzar and his army set fire to God's Temple and broke down Jerusalem's walls, burning all the palaces. They took and destroyed every valuable thing in Jerusalem. The few who survived were taken as exiles to Babylon and they became servants to the king and his sons until the king of Persia came to power. So the message of the Lord spoken through Jeremiah was fulfilled. The land finally enjoyed its Sabbath rest, lying desolate until the 70 years were fulfilled, just as the prophet had said." 2 Chronicles 36:20-21 (NLT)

But just as this Psalm ends on a positive note - with a promise to God - we can truly see the hand of God's mercy in the simple kindnesses shown to God's faithful servants: Jeremiah, Gedaliah, and those who were able to stay in Jerusalem. Not only was Gedaliah a friend and helper of Jeremiah, but his name meant,  "Yahweh is great" and was the head of a prominent family in Judah. It is possible that Jeremiah had put in a good word for him with the king. He was a man of honour and good sense, and his treachorous murder by Ishmael was probably due to jealousy and ambition.

Now an old man, Jeremiah was released from prison, protected by the Babylons and was allowed to live among his people in Judah. This is indeed a demonstration of God's grace. 

"But the captain of the guard allowed some of the poorest people to stay behind to care for the vineyards and fields." 2 Kings 25:12 (NLT) 

"Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, left some people in Judah. He appointed Ged aliah, son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, as Governer.... Gedaliah vowed to them that the Babylonian officials meant them no harm: "Don't be afraid of them. Live in the land and serve the king of Babylon, and all will go well with you.", he promised.                                                                                               2 Kings 25:22 & 24 (NLT)

"Find Jeremiah and take care of him. Do not hurt him but do for him what he asked.....They had Jeremiah taken out of the courtyard and turned over to Gedaliah......So they took him home and he stayed among the people left in Judah."                                                               Jeremiah 39:12-14 (NLT)

Later we read how Daniel and his friends, though captives in Babylon were also favoured because of their faithfulness in God. 

"God made Aspharez, the Chief Officer want to be kind and merciful to Daniel."             Daniel 1:9

Ebed-Melech, the Ethiopion, who helped rescue Jeremiah was given a promise from God because of his compassionate acts and trust in God, and finally we have "this comforting sign to the whole captive people, that the Lord would one day end their banishment". After 37years, Judah's king Jehoakin was freed from jail, and given a "higher place the other exiled kings in Babylon".

"He supplied Jehoachin with new clothes to replace his prison garb and allowed him to dine in the king's presence for the rest of his life." 2 Kings 25:29

JERUSALEM'S DEVASTATION - Read Psalm 79:1-4; Lamentations 1

The shocking, brutal fall of Jerusalem made them a disgrace to surrounding nations, and Asaph was feeling this disgrace deeply; especially the defile of the Temple, which God's own people had `brought down' by their own `sin and arrogance'.

Seeing his family and friends- people he had lived and worked with closely fall before him and the Temple laying in a heap of rubble - he would have felt grief, but more so, a heavy heart of lament. He knew that they had "deserved their punishments" for their sins, but still he felt deeply their hurt and humiliation. Like Jeremiah who had tried so hard to bring his people back to God.

"Jerusalem sinned terribly so she had become unclean. All who honoured her despised her, for they have all seen her naked; she herself groans and turns away. Her filthiliness clung to her skirts; she did not consider her future. Her fall was astounding; there was none to comfort her, "Look, Lord, on my affliction, for the enemy has triumphed." Lamentations 1:8&9 (NIV)

ASAPH'S PRAYER FOR GOD'S HELP - Read Psalm 79:5-8, Jeremiah 29

Like Asaph we often ask this question, especially in this season of isolation, lonliness, grief and unknown: "How long?" We may not necessarily feel that God is angry or jealous with us; but we may, like Asaph and the Israelites be feeling 'on the brink of despair,' because life is not going the way we planned.

Asaph was expressing the heart of his people. In the years of Jeremiah, the people had listened to false prophets and had ignored the truth from God, through Jeremiah. Hopefully now, they would listen to God's promise as Asaph's prayer will be answered.

"The good news was that God's anger and jealousy would not burn against His people forever. Jeremiah foretold the judgement to come, but He also told the restoration to come." David Guzik

"For I know the plans I have for you", declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)

Judgement would come upon Babylon as they would be conquered by the Medes and the Persians. As we read in th books of Ezra and Nehemiah, the Jewish people would return to their homeland and rebuild their city and their Temple - God's plans of restoration!

A PRAYER OF FORGIVENESS AND SALVATION - Read Psalm 79:9-11,                                                                                                    Lamentations 3:19-26

Again, speaking on behalf of the Israelites, Asaph humbled himself, seeking forgiveness for the sins of his people and God's salvation.

"Sins accumulate against nations. Generations lay up stores of transgressions to be visited upon their successors;  hence this urgent prayer." Charles Spurgeon

Like Jeremiah, Asaph knew that only God could give them atonement for their sins.

 "The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease.Great is His faithfulness; His mercies begin afresh every morning. I say to myself, 'The Lord is my inheritance; therefore, I hope in Him!" The Lord is good to those who depend on Him, to those who search for Him . So it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord." Lamentations 3:22-26 (NLT)

The people in exile in Babylon were not unlike those who had been in Egypt - there was a lot of misery and moaning. Asaph asked God to watch over them and keep them safe. There may be days that we may be feeling like we are in `exile', but remember, God is watching over us.

"Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; therefore, He will rise up to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are those who wait for Him." Isaiah 30:18 (NIV)

CONCLUSION - Read Psalm 12&13

Asaph's final request was that God would deal with his conquerors with both justice and vengeance, and we know that God keeps his promises, especially to to His people, `the sheep of His pasture". Asaph believed in this, and thus ended his psalm on a positive note.

He showed a grateful dependence on God. He recognized that he indeed was a sheep in God's pasture, and that he would trust in the Shepherd. He encouraged God's people to follow him, as he declared thanks and praise in what he believed would be a bright future!

"We will thank you always, forever and ever, we will praise you." Psalm 79:13b (CEV)

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Guzik, David (2020), "A Prayer from Conquered Exiles", "The Fall of Jerusalem & Captivity of Judah", "The Fall of Jerusalem",  www.@enduringword.com

Spurgeon, Charles.H (1885) (2020) "Treasury of David", Christianity.com

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