Psalm 80
A Prayer for the Restoration of the Northern Kingdom of Israel
*Written by Asaph.
*The tribes of the Northern Kingdom of Israel were: (1) Asher (2) Dan (3) Ephraim (4) Gad (5) Issachar (6) Manasseh (7) Naphtali (8) Reuben (9) Simeon (10) Zebulun. They were all son's or grandson's of Jacob. The ten tribes formed the independent Northern Kingdom of Israel. The tribes of the Southern Kingdom were: (1) Judah (2) Benjamin. After the death of King Solomon in about 931 B.C., his son Rehoboam became king. The ten Northern tribes refused to accept Rehoboam as their king. Israel split into two kingdoms, the Northern Kingdom and the Southern Kingdom. The Northern Kingdom continued to be called "The Kingdom of Israel". The Southern Kingdom was called "The Kingdom of Judah".
*Psalm 80, is concerned entirely with the Northern Kingdom called "Israel". Psalm 80 seems to refer to the defeat of Samaria, the capital of the Northern Kingdom in 722 B.C.
*Psalm 80, is a plea for the deliverance of the Northern Kingdom from the defeat of the Assyrian armies around 722 B.C. The Northern Kingdom suffered defeat due to its sins. Psalm 80 was probably written in Jerusalem in astonishment at the defeat and captivity of the Northern Kingdom(10 tribes) in 722 B.C. The psalmist recognized that the Northern Kingdom had removed its self from the blessings of God, due to its apostasy. "Apostasy", means abandonment. Apostasy is sin.
*Psalm 80 outline:
- Prayer for divine restoration in verses 1-3
- Despair over God's anger in verses 4-7
- Description of God's Vine in verses 8-16a
- Prayer for divine restoration in verses 16b-19
*Sin separates us from God. God's spirit can not dwell where sin reigns. Therefore, God will remove His Spirit. When God removes His Spirit, His protection is removed to.
