Click here to read PSALM 80 in poetic form.
Background
Psalm 80 is in the Leviticus book of the Psalms (73—89). The Old Testament book of Leviticus focuses on matters in the sanctuary: the priesthood, ceremonial laws, and feasts. Almost all of these 17 Psalms mention the sanctuary and God’s relation to it. Psalms 80, 81, and 82 show God in the sanctuary.
This Psalm has the title “of Asaph.” Psalm 50 in the Exodus book of the Psalms also has this title. There are 11 Psalms (73-83) with this title in the Leviticus book of Psalms. Regarding Asaph, Nehemiah 7:44 speaks of “The singers: the children of Asaph.” They were responsible for worship in the Temple. For further study on Asaph, see II Kings 18:18,37; I Chronicles 6:39; 9:15; 15:17,19; 16:5,7,37; 25:1,2,6,9; 26:1; II Chronicles 5:12; 20:14; 29:13,30; 35:15; Ezra 2:41; 3:10; Nehemiah 2:8; 7:44; 11:17,22; 12:35,46; Psalms 50:1; 73:1; 74:1; 75:1; 76:1; 77:1; 78:1; 79:1; 80:1; 81:1; 82:1; 83:1; Isaiah 36:3,22.
Structure
(Verses 1,2) Prayer to God as Shepherd
(Verse 3) Chorus
(Verses 4-6) Prayer for God’s help against the enemy
(Verse 7) Chorus
(Verses 8-18) Prayer to God as husbandmen of the vineyard
(Verse 19) Chorus
Key Scriptures
Verse 1—“O Shepherd of Israel.” Jacob prophesied of the Messiah in Genesis 49:24: “But his bow abode in strength, and the arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob; (from thence is the shepherd, the stone of Israel:)” Jesus Christ is the great chief shepherd (I Peter 5:4) and “the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner” (Psalms 118:22; Isaiah 28:16; Matthew 21:42; Mark 12:10; Luke 20:17; Acts 4:11; Ephesians 2:20; I Peter 2:6,7). David was set as a shepherd who would “feed” God’s people (II Samuel 5:2; 7:7; Psalms 78:71). Jesus Christ, the Son of David, was the good shepherd (John 10:11-14). See “Psalms in Poetic Form: Psalm 23” for more details on God as the Shepherd, and His Son, Jesus Christ the good shepherd. See also “Jesus Christ: “I am” in the Gospel of John, Part 1.”
Verses 3,7,19—“Turn us again, O God, and cause thy face to shine; and we shall be saved.” This chorus shows the musical nature of the Psalms. Like modern songs, the Psalms repeat major themes and are helpful for memorizing God’s truth.
Verses 8-16—“Thou hast brought a vine out of Egypt.” God uses a beautiful botanical analogy to show how Israel grew and spread in the promised land when they trusted in their God to be the great Husbandman. Her borders are shown by “her boughs unto the sea, and her branches unto the river.” This refers to the Mediterranean Sea and the Euphrates River. Jesus Christ would have read this and remembered this truth when he taught his disciples about the “vine and the branches.” John 15:1: “I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.” For more details on God as the Husbandman and Jesus Christ as the true vine, see “Jesus Christ: “I am” in the Gospel of John, Part 1.”
Verse 17—“Let thy hand be upon the man of thy right hand, upon the son of man whom thou madest strong for thyself.” This is one of the great references to the Messiah in the book of Psalms. Jesus Christ was the only-begotten Son who is now seated at the Father’s right hand. He was the “son of man,” or literally the “Son of Adam.” See “Usages of Kurios [Lord] in the Greek New Testament” for further details on the “son of man.”
Verse 19–Note that the subscript to this Psalm is “upon Gittith.” This subscript means “a winepress” and refers to the Feast of Tabernacles and the harvesting of grapes. See also Psalms 7 and 83 with the same subscript. Here it relates to God’s protection and deliverance in the sanctuary, as when booths were made during the Feast of Tabernacles.
FOR FURTHER STUDY
All 150 of The Psalms in Poetic Form are available from Amazon in a book, either Large Print or a smaller Bedside Reader. Also available for free with a Kindle Unlimited membership. Enjoy!
The entire blog series is now available in the publication The Psalms: Background & Structure with Key Scriptures Explained.
