PSALM LXXX. THE author, under the figure of a vine, portrays in this Psalm the former and present state of the Israelitish nation, and prays, that God would take compassion on its miseries: moreover, he entreats, that the same assistance, which had been openly rendered to their forefathers, may now be as openly rendered to themselves; and concludes with a promise of obedience, as a grateful and just return for the divine favor. There is much difficulty in determining, with any degree of probability, which Asaph composed the Psalm, and on what occasion. It cannot, however, as is frequently the case, be positively referred to the Babylonish captivity, for, from the latter portion of the first verse, it seems not unlikely, that the temple was still standing. John 10. 3, 4. Isai. 42. 13, 14. Num. 6. 25, 26. Isai. 59. 2. Lam. 3. 44. HEAR, O thou shepherd of Israel, thou, that leadest Joseph like a sheep [flock]: shew thyself also, thou, that sittest upon the cherubims. 2 Before Ephraim, Benjamin, and Manasses, stir up thy strength, and come and help [save] us. 3 Turn us again, O God: shew the light of thy countenance, and we shall be whole. 4 O Lord God of hosts, how long wilt thou be angry with thy people, that prayeth? 1 Joseph. See on Psalm LXXvii. 15.-That sittest, &c. Thou, that sittest enthroned upon the cherubims, above the ark of the covenant. Exod. xxv. 17, &c. But see on Psalm xviii. 10. 2 Before Ephraim, &c. These three tribes are clearly put for the whole number. Psalm LXviii. 27: cxiv. 2. They are, perhaps, particularly mentioned in consequence of Joseph's name occurring in the preceding verse, since Benjamin was his only uterine brother, and the other two were his sons. But it may have happened from the circumstance, that, according to the order established by God, the same three tribes, during the forty years' wandering in the wilderness, used immediately to follow the ark. Num. ii. 17, &c. For the Psalmist supplicates, that Jehovah would now shew himself their powerful champion and mighty deliverer, in the same public manner as he did formerly, when they were journeying towards the land of Canaan, and, as it were, by a solemn procession of all his people. Psalm LXviii. 7. 3 Turn us again, &c. Restore us to our late prosperity and happiness. This, the seventh, and the last, verse, were, in all likelihood, sung by the assembled people, as a chorus.- Shew the light, &c. See on Psalm iv. 7. 4 Lord God of hosts. See on Psalm xxiv. 10.- -That prayeth. That now devoutly and humbly seeks for thy aid by prayer. 5 Thou feedest them with the bread of tears, and givest them plenteousness of tears to drink. 6 Thou hast made us a very strife unto our neighbours, and our enemies laugh us to scorn. 7 Turn us again, thou God of hosts: shew the light of thy countenance, and we shall be whole. 8 Thou hast brought a vine out of Egypt: thou hast cast out the heathen, and planted it. 9 Thou madest room for it; and, when it had taken root, it filled the land. 10 The hills were covered with the shadow Ps. 104. 16. of it, and the boughs thereof were like the goodly cedar-trees. 11 She stretched out her branches unto the Gen. 15. 18. sea, and her boughs unto the river. 12 Why hast thou, then, broken down her hedge, that all they, that go by, pluck off her grapes? it 1 Chron. 18. 3. Isai. 5. 5, &c. 13 The wild boar out of the wood doth root Ezek. 19. 12. up, and the wild beasts of the field devour it. 14 Turn thee again, thou God of hosts: look down from heaven: behold, and visit this vine; 15 And the place of the vineyard, that thy right hand hath planted; and the branch, that thou madest so strong for thyself. Ps. 44. 10. 6. 12, 13. Ps. 76. 7. 16 It is burnt with fire, and cut down; and they shall perish at the rebuke of thy counte- Ezek. 15. 6. nance. 6 A very strife, &c. A mere cause of contention to our neighbours: a prey, which they all endeavor to seize upon. 10 The boughs thereof, &c. The branches of this flourishing vine became thick, and grew to a great height, like very tall and large cedars. See on Psalm xxix. 5. 11 She stretched out, &c. Here we have a change of gender, as again ver. 16. This vine shot out its boughs so far, as to extend from the Mediterranean sea to the Euphrates. Deut. xi. 24. 15 The branch, &c. By this appellation may be denoted some righteous king, who lived in the days of the Psalmist; or, some particular family, as that of David, which had been especially raised up and established by God himself, to accomplish his eternal purposes. Ver. 17. The phrase has even been conceived to designate, in his state of humiliation, the Messiah, who elsewhere is styled "the branch." Isai. xi. 1. Jer. xxiii. 5, 6. It has likewise been applied to the whole nation of the Israelites. 16 They shall perish, &c. These words appear to contain a predic tion respecting the fate of those enemies, who had thus destroyed the Iɛai. 49. 5, 6. Phil. 2: 12, 13. 17 Let thy hand be upon the man of thy right hand, and upon the son of man, whom thou madest so strong for thine own self. 18 And so will not we go back from thee: O let us live, and we shall call upon thy name. 19 Turn us again, O Lord God of hosts: shew the light of thy countenance, and we shall be whole. PSALM LXXXI. THIS Psalm is attributed, and not improbably, to the Asaph, who lived during the reign of David. It was evidently composed for the feast of trumpets, or the first full moon of the civil year (Lev. xxiii. 24), but may likewise have been sung on other festivals. There is comprised in it an exhortation to obedience, in consequence of the paternal love, the vast beneficence, and the gracious promises, of the Deity. Jehovah is also personally introduced, as complaining of his people's ingratitude, though he had wonderfully delivered them out of Egypt; and of their obstinacy, in preferring the gratification of their own desires to the happiness, which he would have bestowed upon them. Phil. 4. 13. Col. 3. 16. Ps. 149. 3. SING ING we merrily [aloud] unto God our strength: make a cheerful noise unto the God of Jacob. 2 Take the psalm: bring hither the tabret, the merry harp with the lute. 3 Blow up the trumpet in the new moon, vine, when God should, at length, vouchsafe to deliver his people out of their hands. 17 Let thy hand, &c. Let thy wonted goodness be again extended to him, whom, for the protection of thy people, and for "the maintenance of thy true religion," thou hast preserved by the right hand of thy power, from so many former difficulties and dangers. The expressions of this verse, in their full and prophetic acceptation, seem, however, also to denote the Messiah himself, though they have equally been referred to the Jewish people collectively. 1 Sing we merrily, &c. The praises of God were wont to be publicly celebrated by the Israelites with singing and music: indeed, on such occasions, they displayed a remarkable degree of joy and liveliness, bounding, as it were, with delight. 2 Chron. xx. 19. 2 Take the psalm, &c. We have here evidently an address to the Levites, who were appointed to take care of the instruments of music. The word translated "the psalm" perhaps denotes, either some particular instrument, or, in general, all those to the sound of which psalms were usually sung, and which are definitely mentioned in the remainder of the verse. Was the following meaning intended?-take (upon your lips), that is, chant the psalm. 3 Blow up, &c. The months of the Israelites were lunar, nor did even in the time appointed, and upon our so- | Ephes. 5. 19. lemn feast day; 4 For this was made a statute for Israel, and a law of the God of Jacob; 5 This he ordained in Joseph for a testimony, when he came out of the land of Egypt, and had heard a strange language. 6 I eased his shoulder from the burden; and his hands were delivered from making the pots. 7 Thou calledst upon me in troubles, and I delivered thee; and heard thee, what time as the storm fell upon thee. Deut. 4. 45. Ex. 1. 14. Isai. 10. 26, 27. 14. 10. Ex. 17.7. 8 I proved thee also at the waters of strife. 9 Hear, O my people, and I will assure [tes-Isai. 55. 3. tify unto thee, O Israel: if thou wilt hearken unto Me, 10 There shall no strange god be in thee, neither shalt thou worship any other god. 11 I am the Lord thy God, who brought thee out of the land of Egypt: open thy mouth wide, and I shall fill it. Ex. 20. 3, &c. Isai. 43. 12. John 7. 37, 38: 15. 7. they begin till the moon had actually made its appearance. Persons were, therefore, commanded to watch on the tops of mountains, and, as soon as they saw it, to inform the Sanhedrim. Public notice of the event was then given by the sounding of trumpets, and by lighting beacons, or sending messengers through the land. All the new moons, or beginnings of months, were so observed (Num. x. 10), but especially that, which occurred in September. In 5 In Joseph. See on Psalm Lxxvii. 15.-For a testimony. perpetual remembrance of the many miracles wrought for their benefit in Egypt and in the desert. 6 The burden. Baskets might possibly have been employed in carrying both the materials, of which the bricks were made, and also the bricks themselves.- -The pots. See on Psalm LXviii. 13. 7 The storm. This may mean nothing more than a storm of tronbles and dangers; unless, indeed, there is a reference to that tempest, which is conceived to have happened, when the Egyptians were overwhelmed in the Red sea. See on Psalm LXXvii. 17. 8 I proved thee, &c. I likewise tried thy temper and disposition at Meribah, that I might ascertain, whether, after that most manifest proof of my power and goodness, thou wouldst remain firm in thy allegiance to me, and trust in me unhesitatingly. 9 If thou wilt, &c. If thou art really desirous of giving an indisputable sign of obedience to Me, there must no strange god, &c. 11 Open thy mouth, &c. Jehovah now seems to adduce his deliverance of the Israelites out of Egyptian bondage, as a clear testimony, that, if "they continued stedfast in his covenant," they might confidently expect to have their utmost desires and wishes gratified, since they could ask in prayer for "no good thing," which they would not Ex. 32. 1. Acts 7. 42. Deut. 5. 29: Josh. 23. 13.. Joel 3. 20, 21. Deut. 32. 13, 14. 12 But my people would not hear [hearken to] my voice, and Israel would not obey me; 13 So I gave them up unto their own hearts' lusts, and let them follow their own imaginations [counsels]. 14 0 that my people would have hearkened unto me! for, if Israel had walked in my ways, 15 I should soon have put down their enemies, and turned my hand against their adversaries; 16 The haters of the Lord should have been found liars [yielded feigned obedience unto him], but their time should have endured for ever; 17 He should have fed them also with the finest wheat-flour [of the wheat]; and with honey out of the stony rock should I have satisfied thee. readily obtain from him. It has, however, been suggested, that a better agreement with the verses immediately succeeding will be produced, if we understand the sentence of a readiness to receive and obey the instructions of God's revealed word, inasmuch as we often find his precepts and commands compared to food, which is given to man to eat. Jer. xv. 16. Ezek. ii. 8. 14 In my ways. In the paths pointed out by me. See on Psalm i. 1. According to my advice and direction; and not after their own foolish counsels. 16 The haters, &c. The sudden and frequent changes of person in this Psalm are remarkable. All the opponents of Jehovah and of his servants should have been so daunted, as to dissemble their inward hatred, and been forced, at least, to counterfeit submission.—But their time, &c. On the contrary, the prosperity of the Israelites should have continued uninterrupted and permanent. Had the chosen people persevered in their obedience, they would have retained their peculiar privileges until the coming of Christ, who would then have incorporated them into his Church, which will exist on earth to the end of time, and in heaven to all eternity. 17 The finest wheat-flour. See on Psalm cxLvii. 14.- -Honey, &c. The Holy land, by reason of its numerous odoriferous herbs, was peculiarly favorable for the production of honey. Jonathan and his followers discovered it flowing on the ground, and dropping from the trees in a wood (1 Sam. xiv. 25, &c); and the food of John the Baptist, during his abode in the wilderness, consisted of wild honey, which he, most probably, obtained from rocks and hollow trees. Matt. iii. 4. |