mh_parser/vol_split/19 - Psalms/Chapter 80.xml

<div2 id="Ps.lxxxi" n="lxxxi" next="Ps.lxxxii" prev="Ps.lxxx" progress="49.78%" title="Chapter LXXX">
<h2 id="Ps.lxxxi-p0.1">P S A L M S</h2>
<h3 id="Ps.lxxxi-p0.2">PSALM LXXX.</h3>
<p class="intro" id="Ps.lxxxi-p1">This psalm is much to the same purport with the
foregoing. Some think it was penned upon occasion of the desolation
and captivity of the ten tribes, as the foregoing psalm of the two.
But many were the distresses of the Israel of God, many perhaps
which are not recorded in the sacred history some whereof might
give occasion for the drawing up of this psalm, which is proper to
be sung in the day of Jacob's trouble, and if, in singing it, we
express a true love to the church and a hearty concern for its
interest, with a firm confidence in God's power to help it out of
its greatest distresses, we make melody with our hearts to the
Lord. The psalmist here, I. Begs for the tokens of God's presence
with them and favour to them, <scripRef id="Ps.lxxxi-p1.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.80.1-Ps.80.3" parsed="|Ps|80|1|80|3" passage="Ps 80:1-3">ver.
1-3</scripRef>. II. He complains of the present rebukes they were
under, <scripRef id="Ps.lxxxi-p1.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.80.4-Ps.80.7" parsed="|Ps|80|4|80|7" passage="Ps 80:4-7">ver. 4-7</scripRef>. III. He
illustrates the present desolations of the church, by the
comparison of a vine and a vineyard, which had flourished, but was
now destroyed, <scripRef id="Ps.lxxxi-p1.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.80.8-Ps.80.16" parsed="|Ps|80|8|80|16" passage="Ps 80:8-16">ver. 8-16</scripRef>.
IV. He concludes with prayer to God for the preparing of mercy for
them and the preparing of them for mercy, <scripRef id="Ps.lxxxi-p1.4" osisRef="Bible:Ps.80.17-Ps.80.19" parsed="|Ps|80|17|80|19" passage="Ps 80:17-19">ver. 17-19</scripRef>. This, as many psalms before
and after, relates to the public interests of God's Israel, which
ought to lie nearer to our hearts than any secular interest of our
own.</p>
<scripCom id="Ps.lxxxi-p1.5" osisRef="Bible:Ps.80" parsed="|Ps|80|0|0|0" passage="Ps 80" type="Commentary"/>
<scripCom id="Ps.lxxxi-p1.6" osisRef="Bible:Ps.80.1-Ps.80.7" parsed="|Ps|80|1|80|7" passage="Ps 80:1-7" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Ps.80.1-Ps.80.7">
<h4 id="Ps.lxxxi-p1.7">Mournful Complaints.</h4>
<div class="Center" id="Ps.lxxxi-p1.8">
<p id="Ps.lxxxi-p2">To the chief musician upon Shoshannim, Eduth. A psalm of
Asaph.</p>
</div>
<p class="passage" id="Ps.lxxxi-p3">1 Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, thou that
leadest Joseph like a flock; thou that dwellest <i>between</i> the
cherubims, shine forth.   2 Before Ephraim and Benjamin and
Manasseh stir up thy strength, and come <i>and</i> save us.  
3 Turn us again, O God, and cause thy face to shine; and we shall
be saved.   4 <span class="smallcaps" id="Ps.lxxxi-p3.1">O Lord</span> God of
hosts, how long wilt thou be angry against the prayer of thy
people?   5 Thou feedest them with the bread of tears; and
givest them tears to drink in great measure.   6 Thou makest
us a strife unto our neighbours: and our enemies laugh among
themselves.   7 Turn us again, O God of hosts, and cause thy
face to shine; and we shall be saved.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.lxxxi-p4">The psalmist here, in the name of the
church, applies to God by prayer, with reference to the present
afflicted state of Israel.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.lxxxi-p5">I. He entreats God's favour for them
(<scripRef id="Ps.lxxxi-p5.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.80.1-Ps.80.2" parsed="|Ps|80|1|80|2" passage="Ps 80:1,2"><i>v.</i> 1, 2</scripRef>); that is
all in all to the sanctuary when it is desolate, and is to be
sought in the first place. Observe, 1. How he eyes God in his
address as the Shepherd of Israel, whom he had called the <i>sheep
of his pasture</i> (<scripRef id="Ps.lxxxi-p5.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.79.13" parsed="|Ps|79|13|0|0" passage="Ps 79:13">Ps. lxxix.
13</scripRef>), under whose guidance and care Israel was, as the
sheep are under the care and conduct of the shepherd. Christ is the
great and good Shepherd, to whom we may in faith commit the custody
of his sheep that were given to him. He <i>leads Joseph like a
flock,</i> to the best pastures, and out of the way of danger; if
Joseph follow him not as obsequiously as the sheep do the shepherd,
it is his own fault. He <i>dwells between the cherubim,</i> where
he is ready to receive petitions and to give directions. The
mercy-seat was between the cherubim; and it is very comfortable in
prayer to look up to God as sitting on a throne of grace, and that
it is so to us is owning to the great propitiation, for the
mercy-seat was the propitiatory. 2. What he expects and desires
from God, that he would give ear to the cry of their miseries and
of their prayers, that he would shine forth both in his own glory
and in favour and kindness to his people, that he would show
himself and smile on them, that he would <i>sir up his
strength,</i> that he would excite it and exert it. It had seemed
to slumber: "Lord, awaken it." His cause met with great opposition
and the enemies threatened to overpower it: "Lord, put forth thy
strength so much the more, and come for salvation to us; be to thy
people a powerful help and a present help; Lord, do this <i>before
Ephraim, Benjamin, and Manasseh,</i>" that is, "In the sight of all
the tribes of Israel; let them see it to their satisfaction."
Perhaps these three tribes are named because they were the tribes
which formed that squadron of the camp of Israel that in their
march through the wilderness followed next after the tabernacle; so
that before them the ark of God's strength rose to scatter their
enemies.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.lxxxi-p6">II. He complains of God's displeasure
against them. God was angry, and he dreads that more than any
thing, <scripRef id="Ps.lxxxi-p6.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.80.4" parsed="|Ps|80|4|0|0" passage="Ps 80:4"><i>v.</i> 4</scripRef>. 1. It
was great anger. He apprehended that God was <i>angry against the
prayer of his people,</i> not only that he was angry
notwithstanding their prayers, by which they hoped to turn away his
wrath from them, but that he was angry with their prayers, though
they were his own people that prayed. That God should be angry at
the sins of his people and at the prayers of his enemies is not
strange; but that he should be angry at the prayers of his people
is strange indeed. He not only delayed to answer them (that he
often does in love), but he was displeased at them. If he be really
angry at the prayers of his people, we may be sure it is because
they ask amiss, <scripRef id="Ps.lxxxi-p6.2" osisRef="Bible:Jas.4.3" parsed="|Jas|4|3|0|0" passage="Jam 4:3">Jam. iv. 3</scripRef>.
They pray, but they do not wrestle in prayer; their ends are not
right, or there is some secret sin harboured and indulged in them;
they do not lift up pure hands, or they lift them up with wrath and
doubting. But perhaps it is only in their own apprehension; he
seems angry with their prayers when really he is not; for thus he
will try their patience and perseverance in prayer, as Christ tried
the woman of Canaan when he said, <i>It is not meet to take the
children's bread and cast it to dogs.</i> 2. It was anger that had
continued a great while: "<i>How long wilt thou be angry?</i> We
have still continued praying and yet are still under thy frowns."
Now the tokens of God's displeasure which they had been long under
were both their sorrow and shame. (1.) Their sorrow (<scripRef id="Ps.lxxxi-p6.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.80.5" parsed="|Ps|80|5|0|0" passage="Ps 80:5"><i>v.</i> 5</scripRef>): <i>Thou feedest them
with the bread of tears;</i> they eat their meat from day to day in
tears; this is the vinegar in which they <i>dipped their
morsel,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.lxxxi-p6.4" osisRef="Bible:Ps.42.3" parsed="|Ps|42|3|0|0" passage="Ps 42:3">Ps. xlii. 3</scripRef>.
They had tears given them to drink, not now and then a taste of
that bitter cup, but in great measure. Note, There are many that
spend their time in sorrow who yet shall spend their eternity in
joy. (2.) It was their shame, <scripRef id="Ps.lxxxi-p6.5" osisRef="Bible:Ps.80.6" parsed="|Ps|80|6|0|0" passage="Ps 80:6"><i>v.</i>
6</scripRef>. God, by frowning upon them, made them a strife unto
their neighbours; each strove which should expose them most, and
such a cheap and easy prey were they made to them that all the
strife was who should have the stripping and plundering of them.
Their enemies laughed among themselves to see the frights they were
in, the straits they were reduced to, and the disappointments they
met with. When God is displeased with his people we must expect to
see them in tears and their enemies in triumph.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.lxxxi-p7">III. He prays earnestly for converting
grace in order to their acceptance with God, and their salvation:
<i>Turn us again, O God!</i> <scripRef id="Ps.lxxxi-p7.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.80.3" parsed="|Ps|80|3|0|0" passage="Ps 80:3"><i>v.</i>
3</scripRef>. <i>Turn us again, O God of hosts!</i> (<scripRef id="Ps.lxxxi-p7.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.80.7" parsed="|Ps|80|7|0|0" passage="Ps 80:7"><i>v.</i> 7</scripRef>) and then <i>cause thy
face to shine and we shall be saved.</i> It is the burden of the
song, for we have it again, <scripRef id="Ps.lxxxi-p7.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.80.19" parsed="|Ps|80|19|0|0" passage="Ps 80:19"><i>v.</i>
19</scripRef>. They are conscious to themselves that they have gone
astray from God and their duty, and have turned aside into sinful
ways, and that it was this that provoked God to hide his face from
them and to give them up into the hand of their enemies; and
therefore they desire to begin their work at the right end: "Lord,
turn us to thee in a way of repentance and reformation, and then,
no doubt, thou wilt return to us in a way of mercy and
deliverance." Observe, 1. No salvation but from God's favour:
"<i>Cause thy face to shine,</i> let us have thy love and the light
of thy countenance, and then we shall be saved." 2. No obtaining
favour with God unless we be converted to him. We must turn again
to God from the world and the flesh, and then he will cause his
face to shine upon us. 3. No conversion to God but by his own
grace; we must frame our doings to turn to him (<scripRef id="Ps.lxxxi-p7.4" osisRef="Bible:Hos.5.4" parsed="|Hos|5|4|0|0" passage="Ho 5:4">Hos. v. 4</scripRef>) and then pray earnestly for his
grace, <i>Turn thou me, and I shall be turned,</i> pleading that
gracious promise (<scripRef id="Ps.lxxxi-p7.5" osisRef="Bible:Prov.1.23" parsed="|Prov|1|23|0|0" passage="Pr 1:23">Prov. i.
23</scripRef>), <i>Burn you at my reproof; behold, I will pour out
my Spirit unto you.</i> The prayer here is for a national
conversion; in this method we must pray for national mercies, that
what is amiss may be amended, and then our grievances would be soon
redressed. National holiness would secure national happiness.</p>
</div><scripCom id="Ps.lxxxi-p7.6" osisRef="Bible:Ps.80.8-Ps.80.19" parsed="|Ps|80|8|80|19" passage="Ps 80:8-19" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Ps.80.8-Ps.80.19">
<h4 id="Ps.lxxxi-p7.7">The Desolated Vine.</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Ps.lxxxi-p8">8 Thou hast brought a vine out of Egypt: thou
hast cast out the heathen, and planted it.   9 Thou preparedst
<i>room</i> before it, and didst cause it to take deep root, and it
filled the land.   10 The hills were covered with the shadow
of it, and the boughs thereof <i>were like</i> the goodly cedars.
  11 She sent out her boughs unto the sea, and her branches
unto the river.   12 Why hast thou <i>then</i> broken down her
hedges, so that all they which pass by the way do pluck her?  
13 The boar out of the wood doth waste it, and the wild beast of
the field doth devour it.   14 Return, we beseech thee, O God
of hosts: look down from heaven, and behold, and visit this vine;
  15 And the vineyard which thy right hand hath planted, and
the branch <i>that</i> thou madest strong for thyself.   16
<i>It is</i> burned with fire, <i>it is</i> cut down: they perish
at the rebuke of thy countenance.   17 Let thy hand be upon
the man of thy right hand, upon the son of man <i>whom</i> thou
madest strong for thyself.   18 So will not we go back from
thee: quicken us, and we will call upon thy name.   19 Turn us
again, <span class="smallcaps" id="Ps.lxxxi-p8.1">O Lord</span> God of hosts, cause
thy face to shine; and we shall be saved.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.lxxxi-p9">The psalmist is here presenting his suit
for the Israel of God, and pressing it home at the throne of grace,
pleading with God for mercy and grace for them. The church is here
represented as a vine (<scripRef id="Ps.lxxxi-p9.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.80.8 Bible:Ps.80.14" parsed="|Ps|80|8|0|0;|Ps|80|14|0|0" passage="Ps 80:8,14"><i>v.</i> 8,
14</scripRef>) and a vineyard, <scripRef id="Ps.lxxxi-p9.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.80.15" parsed="|Ps|80|15|0|0" passage="Ps 80:15"><i>v.</i> 15</scripRef>. The root of this vine is
Christ, <scripRef id="Ps.lxxxi-p9.3" osisRef="Bible:Rom.11.18" parsed="|Rom|11|18|0|0" passage="Ro 11:18">Rom. xi. 18</scripRef>. The
branches are believers, <scripRef id="Ps.lxxxi-p9.4" osisRef="Bible:John.15.5" parsed="|John|15|5|0|0" passage="Joh 15:5">John xv.
5</scripRef>. The church is like a vine, weak and needing support,
unsightly and having an unpromising outside, but spreading and
fruitful, and its fruit most excellent. The church is a choice and
noble vine; we have reason to acknowledge the goodness of God that
he has planted such a vine in the wilderness of this world, and
preserved it to this day. Now observe here,</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.lxxxi-p10">I. How the vine of the Old-Testament church
was planted at first. It was <i>brought out of Egypt</i> with a
high hand; <i>the heathen were cast out</i> of Canaan to make room
for it, seven nations to make room for that one. <i>Thou didst
sweep before it</i> (so some read <scripRef id="Ps.lxxxi-p10.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.80.9" parsed="|Ps|80|9|0|0" passage="Ps 80:9"><i>v.</i> 9</scripRef>), to make clear work; the nations
were swept away as dirt with the besom of destruction. God, having
made room for it, and planted it, cause it to take deep root by a
happy establishment of their government both in church and state,
which was so firm that, though their neighbours about them often
attempted it, they could not prevail to pluck it up.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.lxxxi-p11">II. How it spread and flourished. 1. The
land of Canaan itself was fully peopled. At first they were not so
numerous as to replenish it, <scripRef id="Ps.lxxxi-p11.1" osisRef="Bible:Exod.23.29" parsed="|Exod|23|29|0|0" passage="Ex 23:29">Exod.
xxiii. 29</scripRef>. But in Solomon's time <i>Judah and Israel
were many as the sand of the sea;</i> the land was filled with
them, and yet such a fruitful land that it was not over-stocked,
<scripRef id="Ps.lxxxi-p11.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.80.10" parsed="|Ps|80|10|0|0" passage="Ps 80:10"><i>v.</i> 10</scripRef>. The hills of
Canaan were covered with their shadow, and the branches, though
they extended themselves far, like those of the vine, yet were not
weak like them, but as strong as those of the goodly cedars. Israel
not only had abundance of men, but those mighty men of valour. 2.
They extended their conquests and dominion to the neighbouring
countries (<scripRef id="Ps.lxxxi-p11.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.80.11" parsed="|Ps|80|11|0|0" passage="Ps 80:11"><i>v.</i> 11</scripRef>):
<i>She sent out her boughs to the sea,</i> the great sea westward,
and <i>her branches to the river,</i> to the river of Egypt
southward, the river of Damascus northward, or rather the river
Euphrates eastward, <scripRef id="Ps.lxxxi-p11.4" osisRef="Bible:Gen.15.18" parsed="|Gen|15|18|0|0" passage="Ge 15:18">Gen. xv.
18</scripRef>. Nebuchadnezzar's greatness is represented by a
flourishing tree, <scripRef id="Ps.lxxxi-p11.5" osisRef="Bible:Dan.4.20-Dan.4.21" parsed="|Dan|4|20|4|21" passage="Da 4:20,21">Dan. iv. 20,
21</scripRef>. But it is observable here concerning this vine that
it is praised for its <i>shadow,</i> its <i>boughs,</i> and its
<i>branches,</i> but not a word of its fruit, for <i>Israel was an
empty vine,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.lxxxi-p11.6" osisRef="Bible:Hos.10.1" parsed="|Hos|10|1|0|0" passage="Ho 10:1">Hos. x. 1</scripRef>.
God came looking for grapes, but, behold, wild grapes, <scripRef id="Ps.lxxxi-p11.7" osisRef="Bible:Isa.5.2" parsed="|Isa|5|2|0|0" passage="Isa 5:2">Isa. v. 2</scripRef>. And, if a vine do not bring
forth fruit, no tree so useless, so worthless, <scripRef id="Ps.lxxxi-p11.8" osisRef="Bible:Ezek.15.2 Bible:Ezek.15.6" parsed="|Ezek|15|2|0|0;|Ezek|15|6|0|0" passage="Eze 15:2,6">Ezek. xv. 2, 6</scripRef>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.lxxxi-p12">III. How it was wasted and ruined: "Lord,
thou hast done great things for this vine, and why shall it be all
undone again? If it were a plant not of God's planting, it were not
strange to see it rooted up; but will God desert and abandon that
which he himself gave being to?" <scripRef id="Ps.lxxxi-p12.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.80.12" parsed="|Ps|80|12|0|0" passage="Ps 80:12"><i>v.</i> 12</scripRef>. <i>Why hast thou then broken
down her hedges?</i> There was a good reason for this change in
God's way towards them. This noble vine had become <i>the
degenerate plant of a strange vine</i> (<scripRef id="Ps.lxxxi-p12.2" osisRef="Bible:Jer.2.21" parsed="|Jer|2|21|0|0" passage="Jer 2:21">Jer. ii. 21</scripRef>), to the reproach of its great
owner, and then no marvel if he <i>took away its hedge</i>
(<scripRef id="Ps.lxxxi-p12.3" osisRef="Bible:Isa.5.5" parsed="|Isa|5|5|0|0" passage="Isa 5:5">Isa. v. 5</scripRef>); yet God's
former favours to this vine are urged as pleas in prayer to God,
and improved as encouragements to faith, that, notwithstanding all
this, God would not wholly cast them off. Observe, 1. The malice
and enmity of the Gentile nations against Israel. As soon as ever
God <i>broke down their hedges</i> and left them exposed troops of
enemies presently broke in upon them, that waited for an
opportunity to destroy them. Those that passed by the way plucked
at them; the <i>board out of the wood</i> and the <i>wild beast of
the field</i> were ready to ravage it, <scripRef id="Ps.lxxxi-p12.4" osisRef="Bible:Ps.80.13" parsed="|Ps|80|13|0|0" passage="Ps 80:13"><i>v.</i> 13</scripRef>. But, 2. See also the restraint
which these cruel enemies were under; for till God had <i>broken
down their hedges</i> they could not pluck a leaf of this vine. The
devil could not hurt Job so long as God continued the <i>hedge
round about him,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.lxxxi-p12.5" osisRef="Bible:Job.1.10" parsed="|Job|1|10|0|0" passage="Job 1:10">Job i.
10</scripRef>. See how much it is the interest of any people to
keep themselves in the favour of God and then they need not fear
any wild beast of the field, <scripRef id="Ps.lxxxi-p12.6" osisRef="Bible:Job.5.23" parsed="|Job|5|23|0|0" passage="Job 5:23">Job v.
23</scripRef>. If we provoke God to withdraw, <i>our defence has
departed from us,</i> and we are undone. The deplorable state of
Israel is described (<scripRef id="Ps.lxxxi-p12.7" osisRef="Bible:Ps.80.16" parsed="|Ps|80|16|0|0" passage="Ps 80:16"><i>v.</i>
16</scripRef>): <i>It is burnt with fire; it is cut down;</i> the
people are treated like thorns and briers, that are nigh unto
cursing and whose end is to be burned, and no longer like vines
that are protected and cherished. They perish not through the rage
of the wild beast and the boar, but <i>at the rebuke of thy
countenance;</i> that was it which they dreaded and to which they
attributed all their calamities. It is well or ill with us
according as we are under God's smiles or frowns.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.lxxxi-p13">IV. What their requests were to God
hereupon. 1. That God would help the vine (<scripRef id="Ps.lxxxi-p13.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.80.14-Ps.80.15" parsed="|Ps|80|14|80|15" passage="Ps 80:14,15"><i>v.</i> 14, 15</scripRef>), that he would
graciously take cognizance of its case and do for it as he thought
fit: "<i>Return, we beseech thee, O Lord of hosts!</i> for thou
hast seemed to go away from us. <i>Look down from heaven,</i> to
which thou hast retired,—from heaven, that place of prospect,
whence thou seest all the wrongs that are done us, that place of
power, whence thou canst send effectual relief,—from heaven, where
thou hast prepared thy throne of judgment, to which we appeal, and
where thou hast prepared a better country for those that are
Israelites indeed,—thence give a gracious look, thence make a
gracious visit, to this vine. Take our woeful condition into thy
compassionate consideration, and for the particular fruits of thy
pity we refer ourselves to thee. Only behold the vineyard, or
rather the root, which <i>thy right hand hath planted,</i> and
which therefore we hope thy right hand will protect, that <i>branch
which thou madest strong for thyself,</i> to show forth thy praise
(<scripRef id="Ps.lxxxi-p13.2" osisRef="Bible:Isa.43.21" parsed="|Isa|43|21|0|0" passage="Isa 43:21">Isa. xliii. 21</scripRef>), that
with the fruit of it thou mightest be honoured. Lord, it is formed
by thyself and for thyself, and therefore it may with a humble
confidence be committed to thyself and to thy own care." <i>As for
God, his work is perfect.</i> What we read the <i>branch</i> in the
Hebrew is the <i>son (Ben</i>), whom in thy counsel thou hast made
strong for thyself. That branch was to come out of the stock of
Israel (<i>my servant the branch,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.lxxxi-p13.3" osisRef="Bible:Zech.3.8" parsed="|Zech|3|8|0|0" passage="Zec 3:8">Zech. iii. 8</scripRef>), and therefore, till he should
come, Israel in general, and the house of David in particular, must
be preserved, and upheld, and kept in being. <i>He is the true
vine,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.lxxxi-p13.4" osisRef="Bible:John.15.1 Bible:Isa.11.1" parsed="|John|15|1|0|0;|Isa|11|1|0|0" passage="Joh 15:1,Isa 11:1">John xv. 1; Isa.
xi. 1</scripRef>. <i>Destroy it not for that blessing is in it,</i>
<scripRef id="Ps.lxxxi-p13.5" osisRef="Bible:Isa.65.8" parsed="|Isa|65|8|0|0" passage="Isa 65:8">Isa. lxv. 8</scripRef>. 2. That he
would help the vine-dresser (<scripRef id="Ps.lxxxi-p13.6" osisRef="Bible:Ps.80.17-Ps.80.18" parsed="|Ps|80|17|80|18" passage="Ps 80:17,18"><i>v.</i> 17, 18</scripRef>): "<i>Let thy hand be
upon the man of thy right hand,</i>" that king (whoever it was) of
the house of David that was now to go in and out before them; "let
thy hand be upon him, not only to protect and cover him, but to
own him, and strengthen him, and give him success." We have this
phrase, <scripRef id="Ps.lxxxi-p13.7" osisRef="Bible:Ezra.7.28" parsed="|Ezra|7|28|0|0" passage="Ezr 7:28">Ezra vii. 28</scripRef>,
<i>And I was strengthened as the hand of the Lord my God was upon
me.</i> Their king is called the <i>man of God's right hand</i> as
he was the representative of their state, which was dear to God, as
his Benjamin, the <i>son of his right hand,</i> as he was president
in their affairs and an instrument in God's right hand of much good
to them, defending them from themselves and from their enemies and
directing them in the right way, and as he was under-shepherd under
him who was the great shepherd of Israel. Princes, who have power,
must remember that they are <i>sons of men,</i> of <i>Adam</i> (so
the word is), that, if they are strong, it is God that has made
them strong, and he has made them so for himself, for they are his
ministers to serve the interests of his kingdom among men, and, if
they do this in sincerity, <i>his hand shall be upon them;</i> and
we should pray in faith that it may be so, adding this promise,
that, if God will adhere to our governors, we will adhere to him:
<i>So will not we go back from thee;</i> we will never desert a
cause which we see that God espouses and is the patron of. Let God
be our leader and we will follow him. Adding also this prayer,
"<i>Quicken us,</i> put life into us, revive our dying interests,
revive our drooping spirits, and then <i>we will call upon thy
name.</i> We will continue to do so upon all occasions, having
found it not in vain to do so." We cannot call upon God's name in a
right manner unless he quicken us; but it is he that puts life into
our souls, that puts liveliness into our prayers. But many
interpreters, both Jewish and Christian, apply this to the Messiah,
the Son of David, the protector and Saviour of the church and the
keeper of the vineyard. (1.) He is the man of God's right hand, to
whom he has <i>sworn by his right hand</i> (so the Chaldee), whom
he has exalted to his right hand, and who is indeed his right hand,
the arm of the Lord, for all power is given to him. (2.) He is that
son of man whom he <i>made strong for himself,</i> for the
glorifying of his name and the advancing of the interests of his
kingdom among men. (3.) God's hand is upon him throughout his whole
undertaking, to bear him out and carry him on, to protect and
animate him, that the <i>good pleasure of the Lord might prosper in
his hand.</i> (4.) The stability and constancy of believers are
entirely owing to the grace and strength which are laid up for us
in Jesus Christ, <scripRef id="Ps.lxxxi-p13.8" osisRef="Bible:Ps.68.28" parsed="|Ps|68|28|0|0" passage="Ps 68:28">Ps. lxviii.
28</scripRef>. In him is our strength found, by which we are
enabled to persevere to the end. Let thy hand be upon him; on him
let our help be laid who is mighty; let him be made able to save to
the uttermost and that will be our security; <i>so will not we go
back from thee.</i></p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.lxxxi-p14">Lastly, The psalm concludes with the same
petition that had been put up twice before, and yet it is no vain
repetition (<scripRef id="Ps.lxxxi-p14.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.80.19" parsed="|Ps|80|19|0|0" passage="Ps 80:19"><i>v.</i> 19</scripRef>):
<i>Turn us again.</i> The title given to God rises, <scripRef id="Ps.lxxxi-p14.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.80.3" parsed="|Ps|80|3|0|0" passage="Ps 80:3"><i>v.</i> 3</scripRef>, <i>O God!</i> <scripRef id="Ps.lxxxi-p14.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.80.7" parsed="|Ps|80|7|0|0" passage="Ps 80:7"><i>v.</i> 7</scripRef>, <i>O God of hosts!</i>
<scripRef id="Ps.lxxxi-p14.4" osisRef="Bible:Ps.80.19" parsed="|Ps|80|19|0|0" passage="Ps 80:19"><i>v.</i> 19</scripRef>, <i>O Lord
(Jehovah) God of hosts!</i> When we come to God for his grace, his
good-will towards us and his good work in us, we should pray
earnestly, continue instant in prayer, and pray more earnestly.</p>
</div></div2>