Psalms 80:1

“Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, etc.] The title of a shepherd for the most part belongs to the Messiah, and who is expressly called the Shepherd and stone of Israel, as distinct from the God of Jacob, (<014924>Genesis 49:24) and may be so called because he was to be, and was of Israel, according to the flesh, and sent to the lost sheep of the house of Israel, and appointed by his Father as a Shepherd over them; and it is on the mountains of Israel he provides a good fold, and pasture for his sheep, ( <450904>Romans 9:4,5 <401524> Matthew 15:24 <263423>Ezekiel 34:23,24) and it is for the spiritual Israel, his sheep, his elect, both among Jews and Gentiles, for whom he laid down his life; by…”

“Gittith--(See on Psa 8:1, title). A festal Psalm, probably for the passover (compare Mat 26:30), in which, after an exhortation to praise God, He is introduced, reminding Israel of their obligations, chiding their neglect, and depicting the happy results of obedience. (Psa. 81:1-16) our strength-- (Psa 38:7).”

“Give ear - Incline the ear; as if the ear of God was then turned away, or as if he was inattentive to what was occurring. See the notes at Psalms 5:1. O Shepherd of Israel. See the notes at Psalms 23:1. Thou that leadest Joseph like a flock - Joseph, the father of Ephraim and Manasseh. See the notes at Psalms 78:67. The name Joseph seems here to be used poetically to represent the whole people of Israel, as he was a man so prominent in their history, and especially as Egypt is mentioned as the country from which the vine had been transplanted - a country where Joseph had acted so important a part, and in connection with which his name would be so naturally associated. The meaning is, that…”

“Joseph - The children of Joseph or Israel. The name of Joseph, the most eminent of the patriarchs, is elsewhere put for all the tribes. Cherubim - Which were by the mercy seat above the ark. Psalms 80:2”

“Ps 80 This psalm of lament might originate with the remnant of the northern kingdom after its fall in 722 BC. The people call on God as their Shepherd and as the God of Heaven’s Armies in the hope that he will return to them and restore them. They remember the Exodus and their special relationship with the Lord and conclude with an expression of renewed commitment to him (80:18). 80:title The tune “Lilies of the Covenant” is unknown today. 80:1-3 The psalmist urgently calls upon the Lord to act. 80:1-2 God is the Shepherd of Israel: See also 23:1; 28:9; 78:52-53. • radiant glory . . . power: These expressions (145:11) refer to God’s manifest presence.”

“A Psalm: This Psalm is generally supposed to have been written during the Babylonian captivity; but some think it refers to the desolations made by Sennacherib. of Asaph: or, for Asaph Give ear: Psa 5:1, Psa 55:1 O Shepherd: Psa 23:1, Psa 23:2; Isa 40:11; Eze 34:23; Joh 10:14; Heb 13:20; Pe1 2:25, Pe1 5:4 leadest: Psa 77:20, Psa 78:52; Isa 49:9, Isa 49:10, Isa 63:11; Joh 10:3, Joh 10:4 dwellest: Psa 99:1; Exo 25:20-22; Sa1 4:4; Sa2 6:2; Kg2 19:15; Eze 1:13, Eze 10:4 shine: Psa 80:3, Psa 80:7, Psa 80:19, Psa 50:2, Psa 94:1; Deu 33:2; Job 10:3; Isa 60:1; Eze 43:2; Dan 9:17; Rev 21:23 Psalms 80:2”

“The first strophe contains nothing but petition. First of all the nation is called Israel as springing from Jacob; then, as in Psa 81:6, Joseph, which, where it is distinct from Jacob or Judah, is the name of the kingdom of the ten tribes (vid., Caspari on Oba 1:18), or at least of the northern tribes ( Psa 77:16; Psa 78:67.). Psa 80:3 shows that it is also these that are pre-eminently intended here. The fact that in the blessing of Joseph, Jacob calls God a Shepherd (רעה), Gen 48:15; Gen 49:24, perhaps has somewhat to do with the choice of the first two names. In the third, the sitting enthroned in the sanctuary here below and in the heaven above blend together; for the Old Testament is…”