Psalms 80:8-14

3. Israel’s downtrodden condition 80:8-14a

The psalmist now changed his figure and pictured Israel as a vine that God had transplanted from Egypt to Canaan (cf. Ezekiel 17:6-10; Hosea 10:1). He cleared the land of Canaan for her by driving the native people out. Israel had taken root in the Promised Land and, as a vine, had spread out in all directions. It had become strong and luxuriant under God’s blessing. However, God had broken down the wall that protected it, and its neighbors were now consuming it (cf. Isaiah 5:5). This section closes with a refrain similar to, yet slightly different from, the one in Psalms 80:3; Psalms 80:7; Psalms 80:19.

The figure of a vine to represent Israel is very old. It probably originated in Jacob’s blessing of Joseph (Genesis 49:22). The prophets used it often (cf. Isaiah 5:1-7; Isaiah 27:2-6; Jeremiah 2:21; Jeremiah 12:10; Ezekiel 15; Ezekiel 19:10-14; Hosea 10:1). The Lord Jesus also used it to describe Himself, the ideal Israel (John 15:1; John 15:5). It is an appropriate figure because a vine is a source of blessing to others (cf. Genesis 12:3).