Reflections
Psalm 80: 9, 12, 13-14, 15-16, 19-20 (Read)
"O Lord, take care of this vine;
protect what your right hand has planted."
The Psalm is a prayer to restore
the Israelites to God’s vineyard.
Psalm 80: 9, 12, 13-14, 15-16, 19-20 (Read)
"O Lord, take care of this vine;
protect what your right hand has planted."The Psalm is a prayer to restore
the Israelites to God’s vineyard.
The chosen people have lost God’s
protection; God has removed the
hedge that He put up around them.
protection; God has removed the
hedge that He put up around them.
“God brought a vine out of Egypt
and planted it.” But what kind
of fruit did God’s vineyard bear?
and planted it.” But what kind
of fruit did God’s vineyard bear?
The prophet Isaiah says in
Sunday's first reading that
despite all of God’s efforts,
Sunday's first reading that
despite all of God’s efforts,
nothing but wild grapes
was produced. (Isaiah 5:2)
was produced. (Isaiah 5:2)
And so God broke down the
vineyard’s walls, letting,
“The boar strip the vine,
vineyard’s walls, letting,
“The boar strip the vine,
and the beasts of the field
feed upon it.”
feed upon it.”
There is a message here for
all of us who do not bear fruit
or use our resources wisely.
all of us who do not bear fruit
or use our resources wisely.
We could lose God’s protection,
and we may not be able to defend
ourselves from the evil one that
prowls about like a roaring lion.
ourselves from the evil one that
prowls about like a roaring lion.
We, like the psalmist, need to beg
for God’s mercy. “Turn again,
O Lord of hosts, attend to this vine.”
for God’s mercy. “Turn again,
O Lord of hosts, attend to this vine.”
If we’re not careful, the kingdom
will be taken away from us,
will be taken away from us,
as it was in the Gospel, and
given to a people that will produce
its fruit. (Matthew 21: 43)
given to a people that will produce
its fruit. (Matthew 21: 43)
We, like the Israelites, need
to be restored. The Psalm's
to be restored. The Psalm's
verses pray, “Give us new life,
and we will call on your name.”
and we will call on your name.”
Where does our hope for revival come from?
It comes from our Savior,
sent by the Lord, our cornerstone,
“The son of man whom God himself
made strong.”
“The son of man whom God himself
made strong.”
In Him we are restored.
As the Psalm says, “Lord of hosts
restore us; let your face shine
upon us, that we may be saved.”
restore us; let your face shine
upon us, that we may be saved.”
Amen
Discussion Questions for Reflection
1. The Psalm says, “Lord, take care of this vine; then we will no more withdraw
from you. Give us new life, and we will call upon your name.” Have you noticed
at times when we stray off His path how the Lord tugs at each of us so that
we return to His ways. Give an example from your own experience.
2. Our psalmist is writing about the scattered people of Israel, but his words may
apply to each of us in our separation from God. In what way are you inspired by the
Psalm's verses to repent and seek renewal?
This psalm gives a short history that pictures Israel as a vine that God transplanted from Egypt to Canaan. At first it flourished and grew, but now it is neglected and overrun by those that plunder it. This leads to the final impassioned prayer for God to take care of His devastated people by restoring and saving them.
ReplyDeleteThe church is represented as a vine and a vineyard. The root of this vine is Christ, the branches are believers. The church is like a vine, needing support, but spreading and fruitful. The Messiah, the Protector and Savior of the church, is the Man of God's right hand; He is the Arm of the Lord, for all power is given to Him. In Him is our strength, by which we are enabled to persevere to the end. The vine, therefore, cannot be ruined, nor can any fruitful branch perish; but the unfruitful will be cut off and cast into the fire. The end of our redemption is, that we should serve Him who hath redeemed us, and not go back to our old sins.
God is upset and angry with the people in BOTH the United States and Israel. OUR ABORTIONS, GUNS AND KILLING, OUR LACK OF RESPECT AND LOVE FOR ONE ANOTHER, AND OUR FAILURE TO GIVE TO GOD WHAT BELONGS TO GOD, HAVE CAUSED OUR RESPECTIVE COUNTRIES TO LOSE GOD’S FAVOR. THE EVIL ONE HAS NEVER BEEN MORE ACTIVE.
ReplyDeleteYou are the branch of our vineyard and we are your vine.
ReplyDeleteThis psalm is the prayer of Asaph. He realizes that his relationship with God has to be restored and revived. He calls out to God, “Restore us O Lord, make your face shine upon us that we may be saved.”
In reading Asaph’s prayer I’ve learned God’s true message that I should bear fruit as His vine. And without true, humble repentance, my sins will not be forgiven. He will hide His face no matter how many times I plead for His forgiveness.
Whenever I sense that red signal, and before I stray off from His path, I turn to God to ask His forgiveness and again ask Him to show me the area in my life where His light has been turned off.
God surely helps me to see my sins clearly. I examine my behavior, repent my wrongdoings against God. And I express my desire to restore my fellowship with God.
The psalmist encourages me to repent and seek restoration because God is our Salvation. Otherwise we will be ruined, and the Kingdom might be taken away from us.
Lord, I call on your name. Help me to produce good fruit. Revive me.