Psalm 80 Meaning Explained

A communal prayer using the poignant metaphor of a transplanted vine. Israel is a vine God brought from Egypt, cleared ground for, and it filled the land. Now its walls are broken, and it is burned and cut down. The thrice-repeated refrain, 'Restore us, O God of hosts; let your face shine, that we may be saved!' pleads for the Gardener to return His gaze to the ruined vineyard.

A clear explanation of Psalm 80, its meaning, context, and message for believers today

Psalms Chapter 80 | KJV

1. To the chief Musician upon Shoshannimeduth, A Psalm of Asaph. Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, thou that leadest Joseph like a flock; thou that dwellest between the cherubims, shine forth.
2. Before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh stir up thy strength, and come and save us.
3. Turn us again, O God, and cause thy face to shine; and we shall be saved.
4. O LORD God of hosts, how long wilt thou be angry against the prayer of thy people?
5. Thou feedest them with the bread of tears; and givest them tears to drink in great measure.
6. Thou makest us a strife unto our neighbours: and our enemies laugh among themselves.
7. Turn us again, O God of hosts, and cause thy face to shine; and we shall be saved.
8. Thou hast brought a vine out of Egypt: thou hast cast out the heathen, and planted it.
9. Thou preparedst room before it, and didst cause it to take deep root, and it filled the land.
10. The hills were covered with the shadow of it, and the boughs thereof were like the goodly cedars.
11. She sent out her boughs unto the sea, and her branches unto the river.
12. Why hast thou then broken down her hedges, so that all they which pass by the way do pluck her?
13. The boar out of the wood doth waste it, and the wild beast of the field doth devour it.
14. Return, we beseech thee, O God of hosts: look down from heaven, and behold, and visit this vine;
15. And the vineyard which thy right hand hath planted, and the branch that thou madest strong for thyself.
16. It is burned with fire, it is cut down: they perish at the rebuke of thy countenance.
17. Let thy hand be upon the man of thy right hand, upon the son of man whom thou madest strong for thyself.
18. So will not we go back from thee: quicken us, and we will call upon thy name.
19. Turn us again, O LORD God of hosts, cause thy face to shine; and we shall be saved.

Historical Context

Psalm 80, attributed to Asaph, reflects national distress and appeals for God’s mercy and restoration using the image of Israel as a vine.