************************
A Prayer for the Nation's Restoration
Psalm 80.9-17
Good News Translation (GNT)
9 You cleared a place for it to grow; its roots went deep,
and it spread out over the whole land.
10 It covered the hills with its shade; its branches
overshadowed the giant cedars.
11 It extended its branches to the Mediterranean Sea and as
far as the Euphrates River.
12 Why did you break down the fences around it?
Now anyone passing by can steal its grapes;
13 wild hogs trample it down, and wild animals feed on it.
14 Turn to us, Almighty God! Look down from heaven at us;
come and save your people!
15 Come and save this grapevine that you planted,
this young vine you made grow so strong!
16 Our enemies have set it on fire and cut it down;
look at them in anger and destroy them!
17 Preserve and protect the people you have chosen,
the nation you made so strong.
*************************
Commentary taken from from the 'word-on-the-web' supplied by the Scripture Union'
'The relationship between God and his people'
Once again there is an appeal
to the covenant nature
of the relationship between
God and his people
as the psalmist likens Israel
to a vine that God
had planted and established.
The psalm expresses the pain
and bewilderment of an exiled people
who feel disconnected, abandoned, ruined.
The language is general enough
to be helpful to most people
in most situations.
including deep despair.
The psalmist is wondering
why God has allowed his vine (Israel)
to prosper and then to be
trampled underfoot.
He pleads for God to care for his vine.
It is intriguing that Jesus
also takes this image and says:
'I am the true vine' (John 15:1).
Psalm 80 is set
when the walls are broken down,
razed to the ground (vs 12,16).
This was when the northern
state of Israel was plundered
by Assyria and many were exiled (722 BC).
The psalmist prays that
God will again tend to his vine, Israel.
We read this through the lens of Jesus.
He is the vine, we are the branches.
Those who were once planted
and protected as God's vine,
though now ravaged by enemies,
will experience renewal
of fruitful national life (vs 8-18).
How does this process
of human restoration take place?
The first stage is to recognise
the areas of life
in which we need restoration.
Maybe we identify with Israel's issues;
probably we have our own.
The second stage is
to call on the Lord God Almighty
to do for us what we cannot do for ourselves.
Words originally spoken to Israel
are equally applicable to all God's people,
including us today.
The process of restoring people
with free will is surely more challenging -
than restoring inanimate objects!
Other versions are available here
Return to the Home Page
Contact the Rector
The Revd.Nic.Edwards
The Rectory,
Church Lane,
BUGBROOKE,
Northampton,
NN7 3PB
Land Line: 01604 - 815496
(Can be accessed from the mobile device)
Mobile: .....
E-mail:
thebeneficeofbhkandr at gmail dot com
Contact the Benefice Office
Sunday School Rooms, Church Lane,
BUGBROOKE, Northampton, NN7 3PB
Land Line: 01604 830373
E-mail:
thebeneficeofbhkandr at gmail dot com
Mon., Tues., Wed,, Thur., Fri.
9:00am to 11:30am
For Baptism bookings (Christenings)
to arrange an appointment please contact
the Benefice Office.
For Wedding bookings:
please contact the Benefice Office to arrange an
appointment.
Who Made This?
Seeing as you asked, if you can give helpful advice or report
factual corrections and 'deliberate mistakes',email
regparker3 at gmail dot com
Email addresses shown using words in an attempt to avoid 'spam',
Type the email address replacing 'at' with '@', and 'dot' with '.'
|