Hear us, O Shepherd of Israel, who leads Joseph like a flock; You who sit enthroned between the cherubim, shine forth. For the choirmaster.This phrase indicates that the psalm was intended for public worship and was directed to the leader of music in the temple. The role of the choirmaster was crucial in ancient Israelite worship, as music was a central part of their religious expression. This highlights the communal aspect of the psalm, meant to be sung or recited by the congregation. To the tune of “The Lilies of the Covenant.”
This suggests a specific melody or musical setting known to the original audience. The mention of "Lilies" may symbolize beauty or purity, while "Covenant" underscores the theme of God's promises to His people. The use of specific tunes for psalms was common, aiding in memorization and worship. A Psalm of Asaph.
Asaph was a prominent Levite musician appointed by King David. He is credited with several psalms and was known for his role in temple worship. This attribution connects the psalm to a tradition of worship and prophecy, as Asaph's psalms often contain themes of divine justice and deliverance. Hear us, O Shepherd of Israel,
The image of God as a shepherd is a powerful biblical metaphor, emphasizing His guidance, care, and protection. This phrase calls upon God to listen to the pleas of His people, invoking the intimate relationship between a shepherd and his flock. It connects to other scriptures like Psalm 23 and John 10:11, where Jesus is identified as the Good Shepherd. who leads Joseph like a flock;
"Joseph" here represents the Northern Kingdom of Israel, often referred to by the name of one of its prominent tribes. This phrase recalls the patriarch Joseph, whose leadership and faithfulness were instrumental in preserving Israel. It underscores God's role in guiding and sustaining His people through history. You who sit enthroned between the cherubim,
This refers to the mercy seat on the Ark of the Covenant, where God's presence was believed to dwell. The cherubim were angelic figures on the ark, symbolizing God's majesty and holiness. This imagery emphasizes God's sovereignty and His role as the divine King, connecting to passages like Exodus 25:22 and Isaiah 37:16. shine forth
A plea for God's presence and glory to be revealed. This request for divine intervention and illumination is a common theme in the psalms, expressing a desire for God's guidance and deliverance. It echoes the Aaronic blessing in Numbers 6:24-26, where God's face shining upon His people signifies favor and peace. Persons / Places / Events 1. Shepherd of IsraelThis title refers to God as the caretaker and guide of the nation of Israel, emphasizing His role in leading and protecting His people. 2. JosephRepresents the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh, descendants of Joseph, and by extension, the Northern Kingdom of Israel. Joseph is often used to symbolize the people of Israel as a whole. 3. CherubimAngelic beings associated with the presence of God, particularly in the Holy of Holies in the Tabernacle and the Temple, where God's glory was said to dwell. 4. EnthronedThis term signifies God's sovereign rule and authority, highlighting His position as the ultimate King and Judge over Israel and all creation. 5. Shine ForthA plea for God to reveal His power and presence, bringing deliverance and restoration to His people. Teaching Points God as ShepherdRecognize God's role as the ultimate guide and protector in our lives. Just as a shepherd cares for his sheep, God is intimately involved in our well-being. Divine SovereigntyAcknowledge God's supreme authority and His rightful place as King over all. This understanding should lead us to trust in His plans and purposes, even when circumstances are challenging. Presence of GodSeek and cherish the presence of God in our daily lives. Just as the Israelites longed for God's presence, we too should desire to experience His nearness and guidance. Prayer for DeliveranceLike the psalmist, we can boldly approach God with our requests for help and restoration, trusting in His power to intervene in our situations. Symbolism of LightEmbrace the symbolism of light as a representation of God's truth and guidance. Allow His light to shine in our hearts, dispelling darkness and leading us in His ways. Bible Study Questions 1. How does the imagery of God as a shepherd in Psalm 80:1 enhance your understanding of His character and relationship with His people? 2. In what ways can you experience and acknowledge God's sovereign rule in your life today? 3. How does the presence of God, as symbolized by the cherubim, impact your approach to worship and prayer? 4. Reflect on a time when you needed God to "shine forth" in your life. How did you see His presence and power at work? 5. How can the themes of Psalm 80:1 be applied to your current circumstances, and what other scriptures can you connect to these themes for further encouragement? Connections to Other Scriptures The imagery of God as a shepherd is echoed in Psalm 23, where the Lord is depicted as a shepherd who provides, guides, and protects His flock. The concept of God being enthroned between the cherubim is also found in Exodus 25, where the Ark of the Covenant is described, symbolizing God's presence among His people. The plea for God to "shine forth" can be connected to Numbers 6, where the Aaronic blessing asks for God's face to shine upon His people, indicating favor and blessing. People Asaph, Benjamin, Joseph, Manasseh, PsalmistPlaces JerusalemTopics Asaph, Cherubim, Chief, Covenant, Enthroned, Flock, Forth, Joseph, Lead, Lilies, Music, Musician, O, Psalm, Shepherd, Shine, Sit, TuneDictionary of Bible Themes Psalm 80:1 1205 God, titles of
1220 God, as shepherd
4150 cherubim
5181 sitting
5409 metaphor
5581 throne
7130 flock, God's
7141 people of God, OT
7786 shepherd, king and leader
8136 knowing God, effects
9230 judgment seat Psalm 80: 4446 flowers
4472 lily
5420 music Psalm 80:1-2 5534 sleep, spiritual Psalm 80:1-19 8149 revival, nature of Library One Antidote for Many Ills
This morning's sermon, then will be especially addressed to my own church, on the absolute necessity of true religion in our midst, and of revival from all apathy and indifference. We may ask of God multitudes of other things, but amongst them all, let this be our chief prayer: "Lord, revive us; Lord, revive us!" We have uttered it in song; let me stir up your pure minds, by way of remembrance, to utter it in your secret prayers, and make it the daily aspiration of your souls. I feel, beloved, that …
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 5: 1859Dishonest Tenants
'And He began to speak unto them by parables. A certain man planted a vineyard, and set an hedge about it, and digged a place for the winefat, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country. 2. And at the season he sent to the husbandmen a servant, that he might receive from the husbandmen of the fruit of the vineyard. 3. And they caught him, and beat him, and sent him away empty. 4. And again he sent unto them another servant; and at him they cast stones, and wounded …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture The Blessing of God.
NUMB. VI. 22-27. We have already seen the grace of GOD making provision that His people, who had lost the privilege of priestly service, might draw near to Him by Nazarite separation and consecration. And not as the offence was the free gift: those who had forfeited the privilege of priestly service were the males only, but women and even children might be Nazarites; whosoever desired was free to come, and thus draw near to GOD. We now come to the concluding verses of Numb. vi, and see in them one …
James Hudson Taylor—Separation and Service Period iii. The Critical Period: A. D. 140 to A. D. 200
The interval between the close of the post-apostolic age and the end of the second century, or from about 140 to 200, may be called the Critical Period of Ancient Christianity. In this period there grew up conceptions of Christianity which were felt by the Church, as a whole, to be fundamentally opposed to its essential spirit and to constitute a serious menace to the Christian faith as it had been commonly received. These conceptions, which grew up both alongside of, and within the Church, have …
Joseph Cullen Ayer Jr., Ph.D.—A Source Book for Ancient Church History The Wicked Husbandmen.
"Hear another parable: There was a certain householder, which planted a vineyard, and hedged it round about, and digged a winepress in it, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country: and when the time of the fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the husbandmen, that they might receive the fruits of it. And the husbandmen took his servants, and beat one, and killed another, and stoned another. Again, he sent other servants more than the first: and they did unto …
William Arnot—The Parables of Our Lord Discourse on the Good Shepherd.
(Jerusalem, December, a.d. 29.) ^D John X. 1-21. ^d 1 Verily, verily, I say to you [unto the parties whom he was addressing in the last section], He that entereth not by the door into the fold of the sheep, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. [In this section Jesus proceeds to contrast his own care for humanity with that manifested by the Pharisees, who had just cast out the beggar. Old Testament prophecies were full of declarations that false shepherds would arise to …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel Homiletical.
Twenty-four homilies on miscellaneous subjects, published under St. Basil's name, are generally accepted as genuine. They are conveniently classified as (i) Dogmatic and Exegetic, (ii) Moral, and (iii) Panegyric. To Class (i) will be referred III. In Illud, Attende tibi ipsi. VI. In Illud, Destruam horrea, etc. IX. In Illud, Quod Deus non est auctor malorum. XII. In principium Proverbiorum. XV. De Fide. XVI. In Illud, In principio erat Verbum. XXIV. Contra Sabellianos et Arium et Anomoeos. …
Basil—Basil: Letters and Select Works Rules to be Observed in Singing of Psalms.
1. Beware of singing divine psalms for an ordinary recreation, as do men of impure spirits, who sing holy psalms intermingled with profane ballads: They are God's word: take them not in thy mouth in vain. 2. Remember to sing David's psalms with David's spirit (Matt. xxii. 43.) 3. Practise St. Paul's rule--"I will sing with the spirit, but I will sing with the understanding also." (1 Cor. xiv. 15.) 4. As you sing uncover your heads (1 Cor. xi. 4), and behave yourselves in comely reverence as in the …
Lewis Bayly—The Practice of Piety The Shepherd of Our Souls.
"I am the good Shepherd: the good Shepherd giveth His life for the sheep."--John x. 11. Our Lord here appropriates to Himself the title under which He had been foretold by the Prophets. "David My servant shall be king over them," says Almighty God by the mouth of Ezekiel: "and they all shall have one Shepherd." And in the book of Zechariah, "Awake, O sword, against My Shepherd, and against the man that is My fellow, saith the Lord of Hosts; smite the Shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered." …
John Henry Newman—Parochial and Plain Sermons, Vol. VIII Farewell Discourse to Disciples.
(Jerusalem. Evening Before the Crucifixion.) ^D John XIV.-XVI. ^d 1 Let not your heart be troubled: believe in God, believe also in me. [That one should betray him and one should deny him, that all should be offended, and that the Lord should depart, raised anxieties which Jesus here seeks to quiet. That they should go out as homeless wanderers without the presence of their Lord and be subjected to persecution, was also in their thoughts. But Jesus sustains their spirits by appealing to them to …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel The Barren Fig-Tree;
OR, THE DOOM AND DOWNFALL OF THE FRUITLESS PROFESSOR: SHOWING, THAT THE DAY OF GRACE MAY BE PAST WITH HIM LONG BEFORE HIS LIFE IS ENDED; THE SIGNS ALSO BY WHICH SUCH MISERABLE MORTALS MAY BE KNOWN. BY JOHN BUNYAN 'Who being dead, yet speaketh.'--Hebrews 11:4 London: Printed for J. Robinson, at the Golden Lion, in St. Paul's Churchyard, 1688. This Title has a broad Black Border. ADVERTISEMENT BY THE EDITOR. This solemn, searching, awful treatise, was published by Bunyan in 1682; but does not appear …
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3 Psalms
The piety of the Old Testament Church is reflected with more clearness and variety in the Psalter than in any other book of the Old Testament. It constitutes the response of the Church to the divine demands of prophecy, and, in a less degree, of law; or, rather, it expresses those emotions and aspirations of the universal heart which lie deeper than any formal demand. It is the speech of the soul face to face with God. Its words are as simple and unaffected as human words can be, for it is the genius …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament Links Psalm 80:1 NIVPsalm 80:1 NLTPsalm 80:1 ESVPsalm 80:1 NASBPsalm 80:1 KJV
Psalm 80:1 Commentaries
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