Psalms 80

When the pipes are cut off that used to bring us comfort, can we live upon God, in whom are all our fresh springs? When we have no bread to eat but the bread of carefulness (Ezekiel 19:8), when we have no waters to drink unless tears (Psalm 80:5): You give them tears to drink in…

If Adam, says Bernard, had a downfall in Paradise, what shall we do that are cast forth to the dunghill? Let us therefore often come to a serious consideration of our own weakness, and follow withal the practice of David, who being privy to himself touching his own corruption, p…

1. These places were holy, because in them were the standing signs and symbols of God's presence, which is therefore called his symbolical presence, to distinguish it from his extraordinary presence before-mentioned, and from his spiritual presence, which is not tied to any plac…

It is ordained that he who is wounded in the stones, or has his privy member cut off, or is a Bastard, or an Ammonite, or a Moabite, shall not enter into the Congregation of the Lord to the tenth generation. The word is Kahal in the Hebrew, and [⟨in non-Latin alphabet⟩] in the v…

Israel is an empty Vine. The Church is often in Scripture compared to a Vine, in Psalms 80:8. "You have brought a Vine out of Egypt: you have cast out the Heathen and planted it." And in that known place Isaiah 5:1. "Now will I sing to my well beloved a song of my beloved, touch…

The carnal offer thousands of rams, and rivers of oil, and the fruit of the body for the sin of their soul (Micah 6:6-7). They would give anything for a sufficient sin-offering; indeed the renewed and pardoned have not so firm a peace as to be able always to look upon themselves…

For that which is the end of God's laws, must also be the end of all good laws in all commonwealths and kingdoms, namely, to shut up the people into the unity of one faith. The Church of the Jews, is called a fountain sealed, a garden enclosed (Song of Songs 4:12), a vineyard he…

For they could not be ignorant of the benefits which they had received from God. You (says the Psalmist) brought a vine out of Egypt, and having driven out the nations, did plant them in (Psalm 80:9). Isaiah follows not all the parts of the similitude, neither was it needful: it…

But while the familiar intercourse between God and the people depended on a Mediator, what had not yet fully taken place was shadowed out by symbols. His seat and residence is placed "between the Cherubim," (Psalm 80:1,) because the ark was the figure and visible pledge of his g…

The same persons were both assistentes and ministrantes, they stood to minister before the Lord. Now because of this standing and ministering of angels, that is their waiting on God in a readiness to do his will, they may be said in some sense to be the throne of God, from where…

[in non-Latin alphabet] and [in non-Latin alphabet] What. Psalm 80. v. 16, 18. [in non-Latin alphabet] how to be rendered.

By the breath of his nostrils they are consumed (Job 4:9). Indeed, he can look you to death: They perish at the rebuke of your countenance (Psalm 80:16). Are you able to contend with this God; are you a fit match for the Almighty?

Your months will be months of vanity, they will fly away and see no good (Job 7:3). If he will but quicken you again, then you must call upon his name (Psalm 80:18). But in a dead and languishing condition, you are no more fit for any work of God, than a sick man is for manual l…

2. It implies sickness and weakening of the person, as in Amnon's love to his sister Tamar (2 Samuel 13:1, 2, 3, 4). It comes from apprehended wrath, and the curse of the Law (Psalms 90:8; Psalms 32:3, 4; Psalms 6:1; Psalms 38:1, 2, 3, 4, &c.; Daniel 9:11; Romans 7:24; Isaiah 33…

Psalm 31:16. Make your face to shine upon your servant. Psalm 80:3, 7, 19. 6. Its lawful to deprecate the anger of God.

1. The renewing of comfort, Quicken me, revive me, or restore life to me again; and this either by outward deliverance, so quickening is used, Psalm 71:20. You who has showed me great and sore troubles, shall quicken me again, and shall bring me up again from the depths of the e…

Quicken me after your loving kindness, so shall I keep the testimonies of your mouth. Then we do good to good purpose indeed, it is not enough for us to pray, but we must pray with life and vigor, Psalm 80:18. Quicken me, and I will call upon your name, so we should hear with li…

But religion is an irksome thing when we are dead-hearted. For particular duties, it is not enough to pray, but it must be with life (Psalm 80:18). Quicken us, and we will call upon your name.

Therefore this is the desire and earnest prayer of all God's people in common, that God would cause his face to shine upon them. (Psalm 80:17). You who dwell between the Cherubim, shine forth: that is, that sit upon the mercy seat, O that he would be good to them in Christ, for…

David was forsaken to be humbled and bettered; but Saul was forsaken utterly to be destroyed. Says Theophylact, God may forsake his people so as to shut out their prayers (Psalm 80:4), so as to interrupt the peace and joy of their heart, to abate their strength; the spiritual li…

So the Psalmist uttered himself (Psalm 22:2), "O my God, I cry in the day time, but you hear not me, and in the night season, and am not silent." No, it may be to their apprehension, God answers them in anger, and gives them the most discouraging returns; as he expostulates (Psa…

It is not to be restrained to the church of God's elect, and effectually called; for though his elect do till conversion abide unfruitful, yet all his called ones do bring forth fruit to him; but here is a tree in the Vineyard that bears none, and is supposed never so to do. I k…

It says there is some fault that he finds with it, that it does not answer his expectation; that its returns have not been according to the improvement. They are therefore to look beyond instruments; yes his Church does acknowledge his anger in it (Psalm 80:18), and this tells u…

Consider the poor — behold their tears, their sighs, their dying groans; look upon the deep furrows made in their faces and consider if there is not reason why you should scatter your seed of mercy in these furrows. The poor man feeds upon sorrow, he drinks tears (Psalm 80:5); l…

The Lord has planted us in rich soil; he may say to us as to his vineyard (Isaiah 5:1): my beloved has a vineyard in a very fruitful hill — he fenced it and planted it with the choicest vine, and he looked that it should bring forth grapes, and it brought forth wild grapes. Hill…

Our turning away our eye from the Covenant is the cause why we succumb; Christ, under his sorest assault with hell and hell's pursuivants and officers, devils, and the felt anger of a forsaking God, doubles his grips on the Covenant, my God, my God (Psalm 22:1) (Matthew 27), O m…

Paul says this of the Gentiles in Romans 1:20-24: because when they knew God they did not honor him as God, God gave them over to dishonorable passions. So also Psalm 80:11-12: 'My people would not listen, and Israel would have none of me, so I gave them over to their own heart'…

From whom as all things take their beginning, so is it fitting that they have also their end appointed and directed to him. There is no man (I say) but he ought to be seized to embrace the lawmaker, to the keeping of whose commandments, he is taught that he is peculiarly chosen:…

Horrible then is the least sin that strikes an infinite great God, and lamentable is the estate of all those with whom this God is angry: you have infinite goodness to forsake you, and infinite power and wrath to set against you. 4. He is an eternal God, without beginning or end…

Do not undertake to fulfill any part of the covenant or any condition in it, or any duty required of you, of yourself, but go empty to Christ, and say as David, Lord I will run the ways of your salvation, if you will set my heart at liberty (Psalm 119:32-33) (1 Kings 8:57-58). Q…

Every branch, says the second verse, that is, every one that has born fruit in any age, bears all its fruit in him: branches in him fear no drought (Jeremiah 17:8). Thirdly, for largeness of spreading, no such vine as this: He (as the Psalmist says, Psalm 80:11-12) sends out his…

When the church is in any distress or misery, go to him that is the husbandman; such is the usual condition of this his vine, spread over the face of the earth. Complain as they, Psalm 80:12: 'Why have you broken down her hedges, so as all they which pass by do pluck her?', 'the…

Suppose a man have a willing mind, to pray in the power of God's Spirit, to confer fruitfully, etc., that he might build up his soul in his holy faith, now all that comes from him is a lively fruit of grace, be it otherwise never so weak (Psalm 103:14). God knows what we are mad…