8 You took a vine out of Egypt: driving out the nations, and planting it in their land. 9 You made ready a place for it, so that it might take deep root, and it sent out its branches over all the land. 10 The mountains were covered with its shade, and the great trees with its branches. 11 It sent out its arms to the Sea, and its branches to the River. 12 Why are its walls broken down by your hands, so that all who go by may take its fruit? 13 It is uprooted by the pigs from the woods, the beasts of the field get their food from it. 14 Come back, O God of armies: from heaven let your eyes be turned to this vine, and give your mind to it, 15 Even to the tree which was planted by your right hand, and to the branch which you made strong for yourself. 16 It is burned with fire; it is cut down: they are made waste by the wrath of your face.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Psalm 80:8-16
Commentary on Psalm 80:8-16
(Read Psalm 80:8-16)
The 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. If a vine do not bring forth fruit, no tree is so worthless. And are not we planted as in a well-cultivated garden, with every means of being fruitful in works of righteousness? But the useless leaves of profession, and the empty boughs of notions and forms, abound far more than real piety. It was wasted and ruined. There was a good reason for this change in God's way toward them. And it is well or ill with us, according as we are under God's smiles or frowns. When we consider the state of the purest part of the visible church, we cannot wonder that it is visited with sharp corrections. They request that God would help the vine. Lord, it is formed by thyself, and for thyself, therefore it may, with humble confidence, be committed to thyself.