Israel’s lament – Psalm 80:8-19
Psalm 80:8-19
8 You brought us from Egypt like a grapevine;
you drove away the pagan nations and transplanted us into your land.
9 You cleared the ground for us,
and we took root and filled the land.
10 Our shade covered the mountains;
our branches covered the mighty cedars.
11 We spread our branches west to the Mediterranean Sea;
our shoots spread east to the Euphrates River.[a]
12 But now, why have you broken down our walls
so that all who pass by may steal our fruit?
13 The wild boar from the forest devours it,
and the wild animals feed on it.
14 Come back, we beg you, O God of Heaven’s Armies.
Look down from heaven and see our plight.
Take care of this grapevine
15 that you yourself have planted,
this son you have raised for yourself.
16 For we are chopped up and burned by our enemies.
May they perish at the sight of your frown.
17 Strengthen the man you love,
the son of your choice.
18 Then we will never abandon you again.
Revive us so we can call on your name once more.
19 Turn us again to yourself, O Lord God of Heaven’s Armies.
Make your face shine down upon us.
Only then will we be saved.
–Psalm 80:8-19 (NIV)
This Psalm was written by Asaph a Levite appointed by King David to minister before the ark of the covenant in Jerusalem. His poetic description of how God helped the Israelites settle and flourish in the Promised Land is picturesque. But the lament that follows is heartbreaking.
I can see parallels with our own nation, the USA. God helped us to become a strong nation, but we have turned away from God and are quickly falling into decay.
How I wish we as a nation had the resolve of verse 18. I pray that God will reach down and touch hearts, open eyes and ears to his leading, so that we as a nation will once again value his guidance and favor that we have come to take for granted.