📅 February 15: Psalm 79, 80 - Cry for Restoration and Revival

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February 15: Psalm 79, 80 - Cry for Restoration and Revival

A Deep Dive into Israel’s Lament and Plea for Renewal

Introduction: Unfathomable Hope Amid Despair

Psalms 79 and 80 are moving laments of the Israelites in times of great despair. They depict a beleaguered Israel crying out to God for deliverance and restoration. Though the circumstances are filled with suffering, the underlying theme shines with faith, resilience, and a steadfast trust in the Lord’s saving power.

Psalm 79: A Heartfelt Plea for Deliverance

The Psalmist pleads God to attend to the ruins of Jerusalem, desecrated by foreigners. The scene is grim but the cry sincere.
* Key Verse: Psalm 79:8 - “Do not hold against us the sins of past generations; may your mercy come quickly to meet us, for we are in desperate need.”

Psalm 80: The Exodus Shepherd

Three times, the Psalmist repeats the heartfelt plea for restoration, invoking the powerful metaphor of God as Israel’s Shepherd.
* Key Verse: Psalm 80:3 - “Restore us, O God; make your face shine on us, that we may be saved.”

Key Themes and Reflections

• Living Amid Ruins but Not Ruined: The Israelites lived amid ruins but their spirits soared high. It teaches us that our circumstances, no matter how grim, should not break our spirit or diminish our faith in God’s saving power.
• The Shepherd’s Care: Metaphorically referencing God as the shepherd of His flock depicts His unending love, care, and protection towards His people. It reminds us of His eternal benevolence and kindness.

Today’s Application

True faith is often tested during hardships. Let the Israelites’ plea for deliverance inspire us to remain hopeful and trust in His divine timing. We must not lose heart in adversity but firmly believe in His mercy and kindness.

Hidden Gem

The repeated verse - “Restore us, O God; make your face shine on us, that we may be saved” (Psalm 80:3,7,19) - is an affirmation of the unwavering faith in the Lord’s power to restore and bring life back to normalcy.

Reflective Q&A

What does the repetition of the plea for restoration signify?
A: It signifies the unyielding faith and hope of the psalmist in the benevolent nature of God.

How can we apply the lessons from these Psalms in our lives today?
A: We should continue to trust in His mercy and kindness in times of despair, and also hold onto our faith while going through any hardships.

How does God the Shepherd comfort us?
A: God the Shepherd is a beacon of protection, love, guidance, and care. His shepherding reminds us of His constant presence in our life.

Join the Discussion:

Share your thoughts on the profundity of Psalm 79 and 80. How has reading these Psalms impacted you? Have you ever felt God’s restoring power in your life? Share your experiences and reflect on how God’s mercy has been evident in your life.

See You Tomorrow in Psalm 81, 82 :
Join us tomorrow as we explore the Psalms of Asaph and his reflections on the faithfulness of God and mankind’s disobedience despite His benevolence. Let’s keep this Bible study fruitful and engaging!

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Psalms 79,80
Psalm 79 is designed for the second Passover, which was provided for any who may have been ceremonially defiled by the incident of death, or absent for the first. This was to teach important lessons concerning the Passover. It was not to be avoided on account of defilement or absence, for it was prophetic of the Redeemer who would become The True Passover. The connection between our two Psalms for today is evident from the last verse of Psalm 79, “We are Thy people and the sheep of Thy pasture” and Psalm 80 which begins “Give ear O Shepherd of Israel.” Psalm 79 relates to the same great calamity we encountered in Psalm 74, and in comparison there are points of similarity as well as differences. In the one, the destruction of the temple is to the foreground; in the other, the great devastation which made the streets of Jerusalem run with blood is the main subject of lamentation. Comparisons to be made include, Psa. 79:1 and 74:3, 7 — 79:2 and 74:19 — 79:12 and 74:10, 18, 22 etc. Both Psalms stand in the same relation to Jeremiah. Psalm 79:6-7 is repeated verbatim in Jeremiah 10:25. The word ‘Lord’ in v. 12 should read ‘Yahweh.’ Psalm 79 reveals: [1] A lament for the Fallen State of Israel: vv. 1-4. [2] Prayer that Yahweh Cease to be Angry with His People, and Destroy Their Enemies: vv. 5-8. [3] A Plea to Yahweh to Vindicate His Name: vv. 9-12. [4] A Vow of Thanksgiving: v. 13. • Psalm 80 can be headed ‘A Prayer for Yahweh’s Vine’ and Thirtle suggests that this Psalm was marked out for use at the Feast of Tabernacles. In Mk. 12:1-9, ‘The Parable of the Wicked Husbandmen’ has as its basis the O.T. statements concerning Israel as Yahweh’s Vine, clearly seen in this Psalm (vv. 8-16). See also Isa. 5; Eze. 15; and Hos. 10. The Psalm sets out: [1] A Prayer for Israel: vv. 1-3. [2] An Appeal: How Long will Israel Suffer?: vv. 4-7. [3] Yahweh’s Protection of His Vineyard in the Past: vv. 8-11. [4] Israel’s Present Ravaged State: vv. 12-16. [5] A Prayer for Restoration through Messiah: vv. 17-19. The Psalm opens with one of the titles of Deity featured in Psalm 23, as ‘Shepherd of Israel’ (Yahweh Roi), and has a principle reminder taken from Gen 49:24 in relation to Joseph. Whilst turning to complaints in the middle of the Psalm, the Psalmist concludes with prayer to God for the preparing of mercy for them and the preparing of them for mercy (vv. 17-19). Note the repeated cry of the Psalmist in vv. 3, 7, 14 and 19: ‘Turn us again.’ Verse 3: ‘O God’ (Heb. Elohim, mighty ones). Verse 7: ‘O Elohim of hosts’ (tzvaoth, companies, groups). Verse 19: ‘O Yahweh Elohim of companies.’ The spirit of the Psalmist is designed to give us an awareness of our own failings and cause us to ask for this same mercy, and to seek the pathway of salvation, revealed by the work of Yahweh in His Son. It is through this means that a glorious “company” (tzvaoth) of an eternal flock will be established. — Logos