◄ Psalm 80:10 ►
The mountains were covered by its shade, and the mighty cedars with its branches.
Study Bible
The mountains were covered by its shade
This phrase evokes the image of a vine growing so abundantly that it provides shade to the mountains. In biblical symbolism, the vine often represents Israel (Isaiah 5:1-7). The mountains could symbolize the nations or the high places of the earth, indicating the expansive influence and blessing of Israel under God's favor. The imagery suggests a time of prosperity and divine protection, reminiscent of the reigns of David and Solomon when Israel's influence was at its peak. The covering shade implies God's provision and care, as seen in other scriptures where God is described as a protective shade (Psalm 121:5).

and the mighty cedars with its branches
The mighty cedars refer to the renowned cedars of Lebanon, known for their strength and grandeur. These trees are often used in the Bible to symbolize power and majesty (1 Kings 4:33). The vine's branches extending to cover these cedars suggest Israel's reach and influence over even the most powerful and majestic entities. This can be seen as a metaphor for the spiritual and political influence Israel was meant to have among the nations. The imagery also points to the idea of God's people being a source of blessing and influence, a theme echoed in the Abrahamic covenant (Genesis 12:2-3). In a typological sense, the vine can be seen as a precursor to Christ, who is the true vine (John 15:1), extending His influence and kingdom over all the earth.

Persons / Places / Events
1. The Psalmist (Asaph or a descendant of Asaph)
The author of Psalm 80, traditionally attributed to Asaph or his descendants, who were Levites appointed by King David to lead worship in the temple.

2. Israel (the Vine)
The nation of Israel is metaphorically represented as a vine that God brought out of Egypt and planted in the Promised Land, as described in the broader context of Psalm 80.

3. Mountains and Mighty Cedars
These natural elements symbolize the vastness and strength of Israel's growth and influence under God's care and blessing.

4. Egypt
The place from which God delivered the Israelites, symbolizing their liberation and the beginning of their journey to becoming a great nation.

5. The Promised Land (Canaan)
The land where God planted Israel, allowing it to grow and flourish, as depicted in the imagery of the vine spreading its branches.
Teaching Points
God's Provision and Care
Just as God provided for Israel, He provides for us today. Recognize and be thankful for His care and blessings in your life.

Spiritual Growth and Influence
Like the vine covering mountains and mighty cedars, our spiritual growth should extend and influence those around us. Seek to grow in faith and impact your community positively.

Dependence on God
Israel's flourishing was due to God's intervention. Similarly, our success and growth depend on our reliance on God. Trust in His guidance and provision.

Fruitfulness in Christ
Reflect on how abiding in Christ, the true vine, leads to spiritual fruitfulness. Evaluate areas in your life where you can deepen your connection to Him.

Accountability and Stewardship
Israel was accountable for the blessings it received. Consider how you are stewarding the resources and opportunities God has given you.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does the imagery of the vine in Psalm 80:10 help us understand God's relationship with Israel and His expectations for them?

2. In what ways can we see God's provision and care in our own lives, similar to how He cared for Israel as described in this Psalm?

3. How can the metaphor of the vine covering mountains and mighty cedars inspire us to expand our spiritual influence in our communities?

4. Reflect on John 15 and discuss how abiding in Christ as the true vine can lead to personal and communal spiritual growth.

5. What practical steps can we take to ensure we are good stewards of the blessings and opportunities God has given us, in light of the accountability seen in Israel's history?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Isaiah 5
This chapter also uses the vineyard metaphor to describe Israel, highlighting God's care and the people's failure to produce good fruit.

John 15
Jesus refers to Himself as the true vine, connecting the imagery of Israel as a vine to the New Testament understanding of abiding in Christ for spiritual growth and fruitfulness.

Ezekiel 17
This passage uses the imagery of a vine to describe Israel's political alliances and God's sovereignty over nations.
Sermons
One Antidote for Many IllsCharles Haddon Spurgeon Psalm 80:10
God's RedemptionC. Short Psalm 80:1-19
The Almighty in Relation to Erring ManHomilistPsalm 80:1-19
The God that Dwelleth Between the CherubimsJ. S. Broad, M. A.Psalm 80:1-19
The Mercy-SeatJ. Parsons.Psalm 80:1-19
The Relative DeityHomilistPsalm 80:1-19
The Word God Means the Shining OneCynddylan Jones.Psalm 80:1-19
The Vine of GodS. Conway Psalm 80:8-15
People
Asaph, Benjamin, Joseph, Manasseh, Psalmist
Places
Jerusalem
Topics
Boughs, Branches, Cedars, Covered, God's, Goodly, Hills, Mighty, Mountains, Shade, Shadow, Thereof, Trees
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Psalm 80:10

     4424   cedar

Psalm 80:1-19

     8149   revival, nature of

Psalm 80:8-17

     4534   vine

Psalm 80:8-19

     4458   grape

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: 1859

Dishonest 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

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