◄ Psalm 80:11 ►
It sent out its branches to the Sea, and its shoots toward the River.
Study Bible
It sent out its branches to the Sea
This phrase metaphorically describes the expansion of Israel, often symbolized as a vine or vineyard in Scripture. The "Sea" here likely refers to the Mediterranean Sea, which was the western boundary of the Promised Land. This imagery reflects the fulfillment of God's promise to Abraham about the vastness of his descendants' territory (Genesis 15:18). The vine spreading to the sea signifies prosperity and influence, echoing the blessings of obedience found in Deuteronomy 28:1-14. The vine imagery is also a type of Christ, who is the true vine (John 15:1), suggesting that the ultimate fulfillment of Israel's expansion and blessing is found in Him.

and its shoots toward the River
The "River" refers to the Euphrates, the northeastern boundary of the land promised to Israel. This indicates the extent of Israel's reach and influence at its zenith, particularly during the reigns of David and Solomon (1 Kings 4:21). The Euphrates was a significant geographical marker, representing the farthest extent of Israel's territorial claims. This expansion is a testament to God's faithfulness in fulfilling His covenant promises. The imagery of shoots suggests growth and vitality, pointing to the life-giving power of God. In a prophetic sense, this can be seen as a foreshadowing of the Kingdom of God, which will extend to all nations through Christ (Isaiah 9:7).

Persons / Places / Events
1. The Vine
Symbolically represents Israel, God's chosen people, whom He nurtured and planted in the Promised Land.

2. The Sea
Likely refers to the Mediterranean Sea, symbolizing the western boundary of Israel's influence and expansion.

3. The River
Refers to the Euphrates River, symbolizing the eastern boundary and the extent of Israel's reach and prosperity.

4. Asaph
The author of Psalm 80, a prominent Levite musician and seer in the time of King David, who composed this psalm as a communal lament and plea for restoration.

5. God as the Gardener
Represents God's role as the caretaker and protector of Israel, responsible for its growth and expansion.
Teaching Points
God's Provision and Care
Just as God expanded Israel's borders, He provides for and nurtures His people today. Trust in His provision and care in your life.

Spiritual Growth and Influence
Like the branches reaching out, believers are called to grow spiritually and extend their influence for God's kingdom.

Dependence on God
Recognize that any growth or expansion in our lives is due to God's work. Remain humble and dependent on Him.

Restoration and Hope
Psalm 80 is a plea for restoration. In times of spiritual decline, turn to God with hope for renewal and revival.

Boundaries of Influence
Consider the areas of your life where God is calling you to extend your influence and witness for Him.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does the imagery of the vine in Psalm 80:11 help us understand God's relationship with Israel and His people today?

2. In what ways can we apply the concept of "branches to the Sea" and "shoots toward the River" to our personal spiritual growth and influence?

3. How does the metaphor of the vine in John 15:1-8 deepen our understanding of our relationship with Christ and our role in bearing fruit?

4. Reflect on a time when you experienced God's provision and care in your life. How did it impact your faith and trust in Him?

5. What steps can you take to ensure that you remain connected to God, the source of your spiritual growth and expansion?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Isaiah 5:1-7
This passage also uses the imagery of a vineyard to describe Israel, highlighting God's care and the people's failure to produce good fruit.

John 15:1-8
Jesus uses the metaphor of the vine and branches to describe the relationship between Himself and His followers, emphasizing the importance of remaining in Him to bear fruit.

Genesis 15:18
God's covenant with Abraham, promising land from the river of Egypt to the Euphrates, aligns with the territorial imagery in Psalm 80:11.

Ezekiel 17:22-24
Uses the imagery of a tree to describe God's promise to restore Israel, similar to the expansion described in Psalm 80:11.
Sermons
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
Arms, Boughs, Branches, Forth, River, Sending, Shoots, Sucklings
Dictionary of Bible Themes
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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