Restore us, O God

The content of this psalm is similar to the previous where it acknowledges who God is first, then it asks God how long will His anger be upon them. It seemed that the nation was then being oppressed or conquered by an enemy nation. The writer calls upon God to save and restore them.

The second part reminisces about how God had taken Israel out of Egypt. Israel is likened to a vine, uprooted by God from Egypt, and planted deeply in the land of Canaan. Since then, protection has been lifted from Israel and she became vulnerable to her neighbours. The psalm ends with a call again to God to restore and save them.



Psalm 80
To the Chief Musician. Set to “The Lilies.”[a] A Testimony[b] of Asaph. A Psalm.

 1 Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel,
         You who lead Joseph like a flock;
         You who dwell between the cherubim, shine forth!
 2 Before Ephraim, Benjamin, and Manasseh,
         Stir up Your strength,
         And come and save us!
       
 3 Restore us, O God;
         Cause Your face to shine,
         And we shall be saved!
       
 4 O LORD God of hosts,
         How long will You be angry
         Against the prayer of Your people?
 5 You have fed them with the bread of tears,
         And given them tears to drink in great measure.
 6 You have made us a strife to our neighbors,
         And our enemies laugh among themselves.
       
 7 Restore us, O God of hosts;
         Cause Your face to shine,
         And we shall be saved!
       
 8 You have brought a vine out of Egypt;
         You have cast out the nations, and planted it.
 9 You prepared room for it,
         And caused it to take deep root,
         And it filled the land.
 10 The hills were covered with its shadow,
         And the mighty cedars with its boughs.
 11 She sent out her boughs to the Sea,[c]
         And her branches to the River.[d]
       
 12 Why have You broken down her hedges,
         So that all who pass by the way pluck her fruit?
 13 The boar out of the woods uproots it,
         And the wild beast of the field devours it.
       
 14 Return, we beseech You, O God of hosts;
         Look down from heaven and see,
         And visit this vine
 15 And the vineyard which Your right hand has planted,
         And the branch that You made strong for Yourself.
 16 It is burned with fire, it is cut down;
         They perish at the rebuke of Your countenance.
 17 Let Your hand be upon the man of Your right hand,
         Upon the son of man whom You made strong for Yourself.
 18 Then we will not turn back from You;
         Revive us, and we will call upon Your name.
       
 19 Restore us, O LORD God of hosts;
         Cause Your face to shine,
         And we shall be saved!