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Sunday, November 6, 2011 pm                Return to Psalms Studies

Restore Us, O God
Psalm 80

 Tonight we continue our study of the psalms.  As with the past several psalms, this one is attributed to Asaph.  IT is also the 4^th psalm, “Set to the lilies”.  As to the timing of this psalm, we do not know.  But we find that Israel is under siege.  As this is written, Israel is probably still intact (tribes of the north are mentioned in vs. 2).  Some have associated this psalm with the fall of Northern Israel to Assyria.  Such is possible. 

It is a psalm crying to God for deliverance.  There is analogy to their being the vine that He planted.  Unlike some of the more self-centered psalms we have noted recently, this one seems to demonstrate a genuine humility as they seek to return to God.  We will notice this as we examine this psalm.

 I.                    A plea for God to restore them (1-3)

a.        Obviously they have been defeated in some way.  That is why there is a cry for restoration

b.       The Shepherd of Israel – He leads Joseph like a flock.  Israel would be familiar with the shepherd analogy since they were a shepherding people.  ALSO, David having penned the 23^rd psalm, would have given them spiritual understanding of this concept.
IT is an acknowledgment that God had provided for and protected them.
In times of crisis, may we turn to our Lord as our Shepherd – John 10:4, 11, 14-18.

c.        You who dwell between the cherubim – a reference to the mercy seat of God upon the Ark of the Covenant. (Exodus 25:20-22)   This was where God met with Israel once a year for atonement.  And it was where Israel would have to turn for deliverance and salvation.

d.       Shine forth - is reference to the glory that emanates from God.
Recall how Moses, after having been in the presence of God, his face shone – cf. Ex. 34:29-34.
Also when God works, His works are manifested in that glory – Deut. 32:2, Psa. 50:2, etc.

e.       Before Ephraim, Benjamin and Manasseh – two of the northern tribes.  Benjamin had been assimilated into Judah, but note that Benjamin was Joseph’s only full blood brother.  Evidently this was a time when God still dwelt with both northern and southern Israel (though Northern Israel was never faithful to Him).  Incidentally, BOTH were affected by the Assyrian captivity. 

f.         Restore us, O God (vs. 3) – This is the first of 3 times this phrase is mentioned. 

                                                   i.      There is a need for restoration – only God can truly restore.  How?  Through His terms and by His power. 
Do we need restoration?  If so, how do we achieve it?  Let us return to “the old paths” (cf. Jer. 6:16).  Let us return to His pattern (like Judah in the days of Nehemiah – cf. Neh. 8:13-18).

                                                  ii.      Cause Your face to shine –the desire ought to be that His glory be manifested  - May all we do be FOR His glory.  Num. 6:24-25 – the priestly blessing consisted of His face shining upon the people. 

                                                iii.      And we shall be saved!  Let us learn that our only hope of salvation is in Him.

                                                iv.      The phrase in this verse is the desire is that God can restore us to our state of relationship with Him as before.  If we will repent, He can and will forgive us – 1 John 1:9.

 II.                  The devastation they faced (4-7)

a.        Typically the plea – “How long”?  So often, we are ready to end our chastisement before the Lord is done.  Let us understand that punishment to be effective must be adequate.  A shortening of discipline often fails to get the point across.  Consider this miniscule sentences handed out today for some crimes and how quickly they are repeated.  A recent celebrity is not feeling the full wrath of discipline and therefore doesn’t appreciate her depraved behavior.

b.       He was not hearing their prayers for deliverance.  When we persist in sin, God will NOT hear us – Isa. 1:15, Jer. 7:16.  Friends, understand that we may reach a point where God will NOT hear us.  If we persist living in sin, that is what we face.

c.        They faced tears in great measure

d.       They were the scorn of their enemies – a part of the humiliation designed to turn them back to Him.

e.       Restore us O God.  A second time for this plea.  This time we see that God can restore His name in our lives.  Even though we through misconduct might have damaged it, if we return to Him, it CAN be restored.  Our reputation which glorifies God can be restored.   BUT understand that such restoration will require great effort, commensurate with the damage we have done.  In other words, don’t expect your problems to go away or your reputation to be restored overnight.  You have to prove yourself.

 III.                The Vine of Israel (8-19)

a.        Recalling their deliverance out of Egypt.  In the remainder of this psalm, Asaph makes reference to Israel being God’s vine taken out of Egypt and planted.  Consider the history of Israel as a vine.  Taken out of Egypt and planted in Canaan.  For centuries it thrived.  As it was taken care of, God was pleased and glorified.  But when the people neglected it – it suffered.  The time we are examining deals with times of suffering – perhaps the final sufferings of Northern Israel.

b.       Application: We are described as the branches of Christ (John 15:1-8). 
Rom. 11:11-24 speaks of us being a branch grafted into the olive tree of His salvation.

c.        Brought out of Egypt – that became the beginning of Israel as the nation of God.

d.       Planted in the Promised Land - Having cast out the nations because of their wickedness.  The book of Joshua describe God giving them the land and the opportunity to root themselves.

e.       It took deep root – While Israel and Judah were small, they became well established in the land and to surrounding nations.  Consider their dominance during the reigns of David and Solomon.  Joshua

f.         Her boundaries established.
Joshua 21:45 tells us that not a word failed of all the good things the LORD promised Israel.   
FYI, the boundaries God promised Abraham in Gen. 15:18-20 were fulfilled during the time of Solomon – 1 Kings 4:24-25, 2 Chron. 9:26

g.        But now the vine is broken (12-13)

                                                   i.      Hedges (or walls) of protection broken down – we do NOT want to reach a point where God is not with us anymore.  We need His protection.

                                                  ii.      Wild beasts devour it – a symbol of enemies overtaking the land (and our lives).

h.       Return and visit the vine (14-15) – a pleading for restoration.

i.         It is damaged (burned and cut down).

j.         Vs. 17 – Let Your hand be upon the man of Your right hand and the one You made strong – an acknowledgment that the only strength they ever had was from Him.

k.        Vs. 18 - The promise – deliver us and we will not turn back from You.  Revive us and we will call upon Your name.  SADLY, we know this to be an empty promise for Israel and Judah, while loyal after deliverance for a while, always reverted back to their sinful ways.

l.         Vs. 19 – Restore us, O Lord God of hosts – God can again firmly establish us. 

 When we find ourselves out of favor with God, may we seek His restoration for good.