Psalms 80:12

Why hast thou then broken down her hedges, so that all they which pass by the way do pluck her? WHY HAST THOU THEN BROKEN DOWN HER HEDGES, SO THAT ALL THEY WHICH PASS BY THE WAY DO PLUCK HER? - i:e., pluck off not merely the fruit, but the "branches" and "boughs," whose luxuriance he had just described in . The answer to the question is given in the threat, and the reason assigned by Yahweh in Isaiah 5:4. Compare also . Pul, Tiglath-pileser, Shalmaneser, and Sennacherib were these who did "pluck" Israel....

12_Why then hast thou broken down its hedges? _This is the application of the similitude; for nothing seems more inconsistent than that God should abandon the vine which he had planted with his own hand, to be rooted up by wild beasts. It is true that he often threatened and forewarned the people by his prophets that he would do this; but what constrained him to inflict upon them so strange and dreadful a species of punishment was, that he might render their ingratitude the more detestable. At the same time, it is not without reason that true believers are enjoined to take encouragement from such distinguished liberality on the part of God; that, even in the midst of this rooting up, they might at least hope that He, who never forsakes the work of his own hands, would graciously extend his care towards them, (Psalms 138:8.) The people were brought to desolation, on account of their o

8-16 The church is represented as a vine and a vineyard. The root of this vine is Christ, the branches are believers. The church is like a vine, needing support, but spreading and fruitful. If a vine do not bring forth fruit, no tree is so worthless. And are not we planted as in a well-cultivated garden, with every means of being fruitful in works of righteousness? But the useless leaves of profession, and the empty boughs of notions and forms, abound far more than real piety. It was wasted and ruined. There was a good reason for this change in God's way toward them. And it is well or ill with us, according as we are under God's smiles or frowns. When we consider the state of the purest part of the visible church, we cannot wonder that it is visited with sharp corrections. They request that God would help the vine. Lord, it is formed by thyself, and for thyself, therefore it may, with hu...

Verse Psalms 80:12. _WHY HAST THOU BROKEN DOWN_] 7. When a vineyard is planted, it is properly _fenced_ to preserve it from being trodden down, or otherwise injured by beasts, and to protect the fruit from being taken by the unprincipled passenger. So God protected Jerusalem and his temple by his own almighty arm; and none of their enemies could molest them as long as they had that protection. As it was _now spoiled_, it was a proof that that protection had been withdrawn; therefore the psalmist addresses the Lord with, "Why hast thou broken down her hedges?" Had God continued his protection, Jerusalem would not have been destroyed....

WHY HAST THOU THEN BROKEN DOWN HER HEDGES? - Why hast thou dealt with thy people as one would with a vineyard who should break down all its enclosures, and leave it open to wild beasts? The word rendered hedges means wall or enclosure. Compare the notes at Isaiah 5:2. SO THAT ALL THEY WHICH PASS BY THE WAY - All travelers; or, wild beasts. So that there is nothing to prevent their coming up to the vine and plucking the grapes. DO PLUCK HER - Pluck, or pick off the grapes; or, if the phrase “all which pass by the way” denotes wild beasts, then the meaning is, that they eat off the leaves and branches of the vine....

EXPOSITION A PSALM in which the writer entreats God to restore his favour once more to Israel, and especially to the ten tribes, who are in affliction, and in danger of perishing (Psalms 80:1, Psalms 80:2, Psalms 80:15). The psalm is evidently written while the temple is standing (Psalms 80:1), and while Israel still occupies the Holy Land (Psalms 80:8), but in a time of deep suffering, when the nation has sustained a severe blow. It probably belongs to the period immediately preceding the final captivity of the ten tribes, whe

WHY HAST THOU THEN BROKEN DOWN HER HEDGES,.... After having done all this for her; which signifies the Lord's removing his presence, power, and protection, from Israel; which were the hedge he set about them, and by which they were secured and defended from their enemies; but these being gone, they became an easy prey to them; see Job 1:10, the hedge about the church and people of God are the angels that encamp about them; salvation, which is as walls and bulwarks to them; and the Lord himself, who is a wall of fire around them; which may be said to be broken down when he withdraws his presence, and does not exert his power in the protection of them; but suffers them to be exposed to the persecutions of men: SO THAT ALL THEY WHICH PASS BY THE WAY DO PLUCK HER? the hedge being broken down, all passengers and travellers plucked the fruit of the vine as they passed along, there being

Psalms 80:1. _Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, thou that leadest Joseph like a flock; thou that dwellest between the cherubims, shine forth. Before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh stir up thy strength, and come and save us. Turn us again, O God, and cause thy face to shine; and we shall be saved._ To whom could Israel go, in times of distress, but unto her God? It was well that her psalmists should teach her thus to pray. Notice the form of this prayer: «Come and save us. Turn us again, O God.» We cannot be saved except by being turned from the ways of sin into the path of holiness. But who shall turn us? What power can reverse the current of the human soul? As well might Niagara begin to ascend of its own accord as for man to turn to God except as God turns him. Psalms 80:4

Psalms 80 Looking to Heaven for Help Through the Man at His Right Hand _ 1. Calling to the Shepherd (Psalms 80:1)_ 2. The ruin of His inheritance (Psalms 80:5) 3. The Man of the right hand (Psalms 80:17) This Psalm continues the same theme. They call now definitely to the Shepherd, He who is enthroned in glory between the Cherubim. They ask Him to “shine forth,” to manifest Himself in glory and power for their salvation, to answer their cries for help. Three times they plead, “Turn us again, O God, and cause Thy face to shine, and we shall be saved.” Ancient Jewish comments on this verse say that the face wh

LXXX. THEN AND NOW. THE MESSIANIC HOPE. The Ps. depicts Judah's forlorn condition, first directly (Psalms 80:1) and then under the figure of a vine (Psalms 80:8). It is divided into strophes by the refrain in Psalms 80:3; Psalms 80:7; Psalms 80:19. (In Psalms 80:3 insert of hosts (LXX) as in Psalms 80:7; Psalms 80:19