Psalm 79-80
Dear RTB’ers,
In both of today’s psalms the psalmist is asking God for deliverance from Israel’s enemies, but in Psalm 79 the psalmist couches this request in terms of God’s “reputation” with those nations who scorn Him. See especially verses 6 (…kingdoms that do not call upon Your name…), 9 (…for the glory of Your name … for Your name’s sake…), and 12 (Return sevenfold … [to them]… the taunts with which they have taunted You, O Lord!). These verses struck me differently than the many other requests psalmists have raised for God’s intervention.
Three tribes, Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh are specifically mentioned in Psalm 80:2. Our STS book suggests that these three tribes were mentioned in the context of their following the Ark when Israel marched in the Wilderness. Then my Study Bible suggested that these three tribes were meant to reflect the Northern Kingdom, with Ephraim and Benjamin being the nearest neighbors to Judah. However, my connection to these three tribes is that these tribes are Rachel’s children. Rachel was Jacob’s true love; of the twelve sons born to Jacob, only Joseph and Benjamin were born from Rachel. So while the other books note these three tribes for good reasons, I like their descendancy better.
I also like the allegory of Israel being the vine that was taken up from Egypt and transplanted in the Promised Land (Ps. 80:8-16). Jesus refers to Himself in similar fashion, I am the true vine… (John 15:1, 5). It is very possible the He was reflecting back to this Psalm when He said those words. Sweet…!
Blessings.
See also: