This psalm is titled To the
Chief Musician. Set to “The Lilies.” A Testimony of Asaph. A Psalm. As with
Psalms 45, 60 and 69, this psalm is set to “The Lilies.” The phrase may refer
to the general beauty of the composition, to the tune, or even to a
six-stringed instrument known as the Shoshannim (the literal translation of the
Hebrew).
As with several of the Asaph
psalms, this one is often attributed to a later Asaph. “Here not only the
southern kingdom but also the northern kingdom – it calls God the ‘Shepherd of
Israel’ and speaks of Ephraim and Manasseh, two of the major northern tribes –
and since it asks for Israel’s deliverance, it is best seen as a plea for the
deliverance of the northern kingdom sometime before its fall to the Assyrian
armies in 721 B.C.” (James Montgomery Boice)[2]
Twice in this section (and
thrice in the entire psalm), the refrain beseeches the Lord, Restore us, O
God; let your face shine, that we | may be saved! The immediate context of
the psalm was the dark days which had fallen upon the Northern Kingdom of
Israel, the people and her kings having forsaken the true God and lapsed into
idolatry. For us, the darkness is that of sin, which we desire to be put away
and atoned for. Such has been accomplished for us by the Savior of the
world, God in man made manifest to us: Jesus Christ. He has saved
and restored us.
Collect for Psalm 80: Lord God, you so tend the vine you planted that now it extends its branches even to the farthest shore. Keep us in your Son as branches on the vine, that, rooted firmly in your love, we may testify before the whole world to your great power working everywhere; through Jesus Christ our Lord .[3]
[1]
The Visitation, Schnorr Von Carolsfeld woodcuts © WELS permission granted for
personal and congregational use
[3]
Collect for Psalm 80, For All the Saints, A Prayer Book For and By the Church
Vol. I © 1994 The American Lutheran Publicity Bureau, Delhi, NY
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