Psalms 80:6

Thou makest us a strife unto our neighbours: and our enemies laugh among themselves. THOU MAKEST US A STRIFE UNTO OUR NEIGHBOURS - i:e., an object of strife to the petty tribes on Israel's borders, so that they quarrel about the spoils which they have taken from us, availing themselves of the opportunity afforded by the more powerful nations, Assyria and Egypt, which oppress us. AND OUR ENEMIES LAUGH AMONG THEMSELVES - i:e., make us their laughing-stock....

1-7 He that dwelleth upon the mercy-seat, is the good Shepherd of his people. But we can neither expect the comfort of his love, nor the protection of his arm, unless we partake of his converting grace. If he is really angry at the prayers of his people, it is because, although they pray, their ends are not right, or there is some secret sin indulged in them, or he will try their patience and perseverance in prayer. When God is displeased with his people, we must expect to see them in tears, and their enemies in triumph. There is no salvation but from God's favour; there is no conversion to God but by his own grace....

Verse Psalms 80:6. _THOU MAKEST US A STRIFE_] The neighbouring districts have a controversy about us; we are a subject of contention to them. A people so wonderfully preserved, and so wonderfully punished, is a mystery to them. They see in us both the _goodness_ and _severity_ of God. Or, all the neighbouring nations join together to malign and execrate us. We are hated by all; derided and cursed by all....

THOU MAKEST US A STRIFE - An occasion of strife or wrangling; that is, of strife among themselves, to see who will get the most of our spoils; or of contention, to see which could do most to aggravate their sufferings, and to bring disgrace and contempt upon them. They were emulous with each other in the work of desolation and ruin. UNTO OUR NEIGHBORS - The surrounding nations. See Psalms 79:4. AND OUR ENEMIES LAUGH AMONG THEMSELVES - Over our calamities. They exult; they glory; they triumph in our ruin....

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

THOU MAKEST US A STRIFE UNTO OUR NEIGHBOURS,.... Either obliges us to contend with them for our defence and safety; or having given us into their hands, they strive and contend one with another about dividing the spoil: AND OUR ENEMIES LAUGH AMONG THEMSELVES; at us, and because there is no help for us in God, as they imagine; or at God himself, as Kimchi, saying he cannot save as....

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

LAUGH AMONG THEMSELVES. Some codices, with Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate, read "have mocked at us"....