Daily Devotion of Psalm 80

Daily Nugget:
Similar pleas and fears found in Psalm 79:5, also appear in this Psalm. Asaph, the psalmist, felt that God was angry at Israel because He would not answer their prayers (Psalm 80:4).
“LORD God of hosts, how long wilt thou be angry against the prayer of thy people?” Psalm 80:4
“How long, LORD? wilt thou be angry for ever? shall thy jealousy burn like fire?” Psalm 79:5

Because of God not answering their prayers and protecting His people, the ungodly neighbors again looked at Israel, lost respect for them, and laughed at them. In the previous Psalm, Asaph again (Psalm 79:4, 10), was concerned about what the observing heathens thought about Israel.
“Thou makest us a strife unto our neighbours: and our enemies laugh among themselves.” Psalm 80:6
“We are become a reproach to our neighbours, a scorn and derision to them that are round about us.” Psalm 79:4

Aspah’s solution to the predicament his nation put themselves in was for God to help them. The psalmist knew if God would again “… cause thy face to shine ...” on them that the nation would be blessed, have God’s leadership, and once again have respect from their neighbors.
“Turn us again, O God, and cause thy face to shine; and we shall be saved.” Psalm 80:3
“Turn us again, O God of hosts, and cause thy face to shine; and we shall be saved.” Psalm 80:7

He was right! If God would again do as he had done in the past, Israel would once again be the great nation they once were. However, one thing was not emphasized that should have been in this song. God was not angry at them because He was finicky or unreasonable. He had turned against the people and failed to protect them the way he had because of their sin.

In this song, there was little promise to turn back to following Him. Psalm 80:18 mentioned some sorrow they felt, but it was not the commitment that should have been made. Their regret over their sin and a new repentant attitude was not compelling them to be the children of the King they should have been.
“So will not we go back from thee: quicken us, and we will call upon thy name.” Psalm 80:18

People today, as they did in biblical days, know that God can make everything alright. He can do anything and change any situation. However, what is still missed by many as did Israel, is that God lets one manage their problems all by themselves when they have deliberately rebelled against Him and His commandments. He makes them face the consequences they have enabled. It is only when rebellious sin is addressed, repented of, and forsaken that God will again “ … cause thy face to shine ….”

God always wants to help and be our God, but as any good parent would also do, He will not tolerate continued sin. God demands that we obey Him and live the way He desires. Many times, if we are left to face the consequences of our forsaking and disobeying Him, we will again strive to be obedient. Our heavenly Father is very forgiving and patient with us. He wants us to follow Him willingly. Sometimes we will not do so unless we learn our “lessons” the hard way.

Today’s Thought: 
Sin and Hell are married unless repentance proclaims the divorce. — Spurgeon

Words to Understand:
Cherubims: a winged creature created by God for His use
Shoshannimeduth: a type of trumpet

Today’s Reading:
Psalm 80
1 To the chief Musician upon Shoshannimeduth, A Psalm of Asaph. Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, thou that leadest Joseph like a flock; thou that dwellest between the cherubims, shine forth.
2 Before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh stir up thy strength, and come and save us.
3 Turn us again, O God, and cause thy face to shine; and we shall be saved.
4 O LORD 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.
8 ¶ Thou hast brought a vine out of Egypt: thou hast cast out the heathen, and planted it.
9 Thou preparedst room 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 were like the goodly cedars.
11 She sent out her boughs unto the sea, and her branches unto the river.
12 Why hast thou then 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 that thou madest strong for thyself.
16 It is burned with fire, it is 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 whom 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, O LORD God of hosts, cause thy face to shine; and we shall be saved.