Lord, Remember Your Vine

Today were going to look at another following passage. Recall that our series on the seven iambs of Jesus Christ of the gospel of John.

The last one in John 15 was his statement. I am the vine and in the starting that passage we were encouraged to consider the significance of the symbolism of the vine throughout the Bible so last week we looked at Isaiah chapter 5 the passage in which Israel, the nation of Israel is presented as an unfruitful vineyard that passage, Christ picked up and utilized in an expanded parable in the New Testament as he applied that to the nation of Israel in his day, in the judgment that would surely fall upon them today and some chapter 80 were going to look at another vine passage in which we see a vine that has lost its health is found in Psalm 80 vine passage begins in verse eight toward, and on toward the end of the Psalm, but all of it is important to an understanding of this section.

This Psalm is addressed to the chief musician reminder that the Psalms were written as songs to be sung by the worship of God's people, Israel, the chief musician would be something like choir director, timestamp, because he was in charge of all the music in the temple, numerous choirs, orchestras, all of the musical worship that went on in the temple which was extensive, and the chief musician was the one to whom this Psalm was entrusted. It is set.

We are told to the lilies, which is the tune that they say.

I wish we knew what was. Maybe if we did we would like it. I don't, but they said had a whole repertoire standard tunes which they signed and oftentimes several songs would be sung to the same tune that used to be very common in our country. It is not so much anymore but I weakly get an email from a church in Virginia that continues to follow that practice. For the most part and so I have. For example, there Sunday morning order of service here and it says they're going to sing Psalm three to the tune New Britain. I guess they know what that is I don't I could look it up and then are going to sing Psalm 126 to the tune Olivet again.

I presume you're familiar with that and then on Sunday night. They're going to sing to Psalms twos to portions of Psalm 103 which is a longer Psalm and the first Psalm, the first portion they're going to sing to the tune of Beecher and then after another him. They're going to sing the second portion again to the tune Beecher so that's the way it was frequently done regularly done in the United States of America. That is no longer the case. Usually, but that is what is going on in Psalm 80, the author of the Psalm is identified as Asaph and Asaph, of course, was a contemporary with King David and was signed by David to be the chief musician of the temple worship in his day. However, because of the time of the company posting of this Psalm we know that it could not be the original Asus but were quite confident from many references in Scripture that out of a self there was a whole chief musician only line descendents, evasive, and they were all called a seven whoever happened to be the descendent evasive. Who was the chief musician at the time that this was written is a self, and that's the one who is the author of this particular song. It's similar to David.

David has aligned and ends in some cases that the sons of David are called David, though generally they are given their normal name, but this reminder that they are in the line of David.

The kingly line of David and of course Jesus Christ is the ultimate David. He is sometimes called David's greater son though his name was not actually David, but that name is ascribed to him. Because of this lineage. Likewise with a but the time for the writing of this Psalm with the time when the kingdoms were divided northern kingdom southern kingdom, and when the northern kingdom was severely threatened and it looked like it was about to be invaded and probably defeated and it is at that time that a prayer rises up from the godly people all over North and South and primarily the ones who are praying in the Psalm seem to be those who are in the southern kingdom and the crying out for God to rescue and save the nation of Israel and the really is no recognition of the division between the kingdoms here. They're all one when it comes to an invasion from external enemies. If the north northern kingdom falls in the southern kingdom is greatly threatened, will eventually fall as well and so they are all concerned and praying for God's help, so this Psalm is primarily a prayer for help. Prayer for divine aid fact it of the four divisions in the Psalm, and I'm going to give them to you in a moment. Three of them are prayers very similar dollop point that out, and then only the third section, §§ one, section 2 and section 4 are all prayers and then the third section, which is a little bit longer is the one where we have Israel described as a vine in the vineyard. But here's what I see in the Psalm, and I'll give it to you. Recognizing that as we go through the Psalm were going to have to skip rather lightly working after jump over some details were not to be able to look into it as thoroughly as I would like.

I was tempted even to take the four sections and turn them into four separate sermons developing each section is a full sermon, but I decided instead this route which means is going to be a good bit of summary but here's what we have number one prayer for deliverance versus one through three, number two, prayerful restoration. Verses four through seven number three reminder of God's dealings verses eight through 13 number four prayer for revival. Verses 14 through 19.

Prayer for deliverance give ear or Shepherd of Israel, usually Joseph like a flock you who dwell between the cherubim, shine forth before Ephraim Benjamin of Manasseh stir up your strength and come and save us, restore us, or God cause your face to shine and we shall be say a prayer for deliverance.

Notice the person addressed he is addressed first of all, is a Shepherd of Israel.

Give ear Shepherd of Israel. Another beautiful picture of another metaphor that is used first in the Old Testament of God shepherding leading his people. Also, many times of the king of Israel such as David being a shepherd for his people Israel. The human representative of God serving a shepherd for the people of Israel but ultimately that portrait. That picture is fulfilled, and who the Lord Jesus Christ.

Another one of the IM statements when he said in John chapter 10 I am the good shepherd these people are rightly praying to the Shepherd of Israel at this time they don't have enough light to understand how God the son is going to come and become that Shepherd of Israel upon the earth, but it's a beautiful pictures.

They prayed the Shepherd of Israel. Secondly, there praying to a merciful sovereign not only Shepherd of Israel who lead Joseph like a flock beautiful picture but this you who dwell between the cherubim, shine forth, you who dwell between the cherubim but undoubtedly as a reference to the ark of the covenant of the holy of holies the ark of the covenant. As you may recall had on the top of it.

It's covering was what is called the mercy seat and on that mercy seat at each end.

Their work cherubs, cherubim, cherubim is the plural, who faced each other and their wings stretched over the mercy seat and touched each other and it was in that location that God dwelt with his people. He dwelt in the holy of holies that's where God was located for purposes of the worship of God's people. God, of course, cannot be contained in any one location.

God is omniscient he is everywhere present, but he shows to manifest himself in a special presence in that place.

And when things were going well.

Here's glory his Shekinah glory could be seen even extending beyond the holy of holies.

But when things were not going so well that that like that glory faded away. But on that mercy seat once a year, the high priest would come in and sprinkle blood to cover the sins of the people for one more year of the atonement. And so that's why it's called the mercy seat because in this place where the holy God who cannot overlook sin must judge sin allowed the blood of the sacrifice to atone for the sins of his people, so that this God of holiness and righteousness and judgment and justice could come the God of mercy. That's why it's called the mercy seat there praying to the God of mercy, the God who dwells above the cherubim, the God who is merciful to his people. It's why, in the New Testament we call the place where we go in prayer. What we call that the throne of grace. It is the throne of the sovereign ruler of the universe, majestic client, holy, but it is a throne of grace. Same idea here, God dwelling upon his throne above the cherubim, but hovering over the mercy seat and forgiving sins of his people on the basis of the sacrifice that was made. So they are addressing the Shepherd of Israel addressing a merciful sovereign.

There addressing the faithful leader and I have to take a little time with this. It says in verse two, before Ephraim, Benjamin, Manasseh stir up your strength. That is the name of three of the 12 tribes of Israel. Why these three particular ones were chosen, Ephraim and Manasseh were the two sons of Joseph Joseph because of the way God used him in the way he was such a blessing to God's people. He got a double portion that he had instead of the one tribe of Joseph. There were two tribes of Joseph from his two sons Ephraim and Manasseh, but both of those tribes were of the northern kingdom. Whereas Benjamin, who is also mentioned here, was of the southern kingdom along with Judah and yet there grouped together here in such a way that doesn't look like there's any division. In fact, you find Benjamin is placed between Ephraim and Manasseh, almost as if to point out were not thinking here about separation north and south were thinking rather about a unity and that causes us to go further back into the Old Testament history back to the wilderness wanderings back to the time when Israel when they make In order by the design of God around the tabernacle in which was the ark of the covenant of the mercy seat and there were three tribes on the north and three tribes on the east and three tribes of the south, and three tribes on the west. The 12 tribes surrounding that that tabernacle and when the Shekinah glory cloud the fiery pillar of light by night and cloud by day began to move to indicate it was time for them to pack up and to to march on the they would of course disassemble the tabernacle.

Put together all of the utensils that the Levites would do this and take the lead in that, but then the people followed in a particular order signed by God in the first group to follow with the tribes of Ephraim Manasseh and Benjamin.

They followed the ark as it was led by God, and I think that's probably the reference here there praying to the faithful leader they are praying that God will lead his people. Now, like she did God use us in the wilderness God. We are floundering about without leadership.

Now will Lord God, the God that Ephraim Manasseh Benjamin followed your leadership in the wilderness, and leaders. Once again, and so there praying to a faithful leader in the print finally to a powerful Savior stir up your strength come and save us. That's within addressing and what is the petition what is the favor which they desire. In verse three it is restoration. It is divine favor to salvation stir up your strength, and save us normative reference to this shining face three times in the song because your face to shine nothing more about that.

But here's the idea if divine favor is extended then we shall be saved. So shine your face upon us because your face to shine upon us.

The smile of your favorable intentions were not were not seeing that now we see no evidence of your favorable intentions. Things are getting worse and darker and more dangerous and more threatening and we don't see rescue on the horizon all Lord God, and shine your face upon us. That of course was the priestly benediction from Numbers chapter 6 the Lord spoke to Moses, saying speak to Aaron and his sons saying this is the way you shall bless the children of Israel say to them, the Lord bless you and keep you Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you. The Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace. That's what they're talking about here, Lord, let the smile of your favorable intentions shine upon us. Let the smile of your favorable intentions be seen by us because if you will do that.

Here's the inevitable result, we shall be saved. Stir up your strength come and save us restore so God because your face to shine. And if you do what we shall be saved. Prayer for deliverance. Secondly, we have a prayer for restoration, which is very similar, but I had to select slightly different words in order to make an outline receipt so please indulge me, but I chose the word restoration here. The first one was deliverance because it is simply praying for God to deliver them but now the prayer is for God to return to them.

This is a restoration to return to former glory.

Verse 40 Lord God of hosts for long will you be angry against the prayer of your people.

You have fed them with the bread of tears and given them tears to drink in great measure.

You made us a strife to our neighbors and our enemies laugh among themselves, restore us, O God of hosts because your face to shine and we shall be saved. Prayer for restoration, who is the person addressed in this prayer was, of course, the same one God Almighty, Yahweh, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. But here he is addressed as the God of hosts to find that phrase quite often in the Old Testament, the God of hosts one of these hosts. It is generally thought that this refers to the angels. The angelic armies who sometimes are armies who come to the rescue God's people who do God's bidding. We don't see that because angels are invisible to us. Remember when Elisha saw the armies around him. His servant didn't and he prayed that God would show his servant. The armies of God surrounding Samaria and protecting them.

The host of God around them. That is generally the idea when we talk about Lord God of hosts, but is probably actually a bigger term than that and I don't have time to go in all the reasons for it now, but I I think I agree with the commentators who think that actually it includes more than just the angelic armies. It's saying he who has all the forces of the universe at his disposal, the God of hosts to controls everything in the universe and uses all to accomplish his purposes. The God who has all the forces of the universe at his disposal that help because you see, we realize everything that we see that they look very difficult and frightening and formidable to us.

We need to realize this is one of the hosts of God that he is using for his purposes. What about this covered 19. That's one of the armies of God. What about the civil unrest in America. That's another army of God. What about the decline that's happening around us will certainly a sense in which we are responsible for that because of our sin, but don't forget God controls all of these things that all of his disposal. He uses them all for his purposes. That's another army of God, and there praying to the Lord of hosts who has everything in this universe at his disposal in their two questions that they're considering this in the second prayer. The second petition and it is number one.

How long will you be angry.

Number two how long we ignore our prayers. Verse 40 Lord God of hosts, how long will you be angry against the prayer of your people. How long will you be angry there's no answer given to that, but the answer that we would suppose that is until your people turn to you again.

That's how long you will be angry until your people start acting like your people.

Instead of acting like disobedient brats cells all you will be angry but that second one is a little more puzzling how long will you ignore our prayers. Does God ever ignore the prayers of his people there. Many Christians are taught, O God never does that, but they haven't read the Bible very carefully heavily because God does do that at times and here's a reference to it right here.

How long will you be angry against the prayer of your people does God ever ignore the prayers of his people. Yes, he does why and when. Well, the Bible tells us if I regard iniquity in my heart.

The Lord will not hear me if I have unconfessed sin, and will not deal with it. God does not hear my prayers here in the sense of hearing it favorably here in the sense of of responding to it answering to do it.

Listening to my plea favorably.

He hears everything of course. So when I regard sin in my heart. God will ignore my prayers. If I have unbelief in my heart toward the word of God, God will ignore my prayers. If I am insincere in my praying, if it's a hypocritical act rather than a sincere active heartfelt worship and devotion than God will ignore my prayers. In other words, when God's people are going through the motions of hypocritical and effective worship God ignores their prayers. Wonder how many thousands and wondered how many millions of pairs are going to be lifted all across the world today that will not be received by God because they are being lifted in sinful from sinful hearts in life. They about being lifted from unbelieving people who claim to be the people of God but don't really believe the word of God.

They are lifted from hearts of people who are being hypocritical, insincere, they are praying in order to go through the motions but like Israel of all their heart is far from him. How long will you not hear our prayers until you start praying in obedience and insincerity and in faith and to don't think the same thing is true today course, the third in the second petition, there is the chastening experienced from God. It's described as prolonged sorrow, tears upon tears upon tears upon tears a bushel of tears, a barrel of tears you fed us the bread of tears you've given them tears to drink and great measure added to acute vulnerability verse six. You made us a strife to our neighbors. That is, neighboring nations arguing over the spoils of Israel. It's obvious they're going to be conquered. They are weak they are ripe for the picking and now the neighboring countries around them are fighting over who gets what.

It's pretty distressing.

If you're the what they're fighting over. They are the objects of humiliating derision. Verse six. Our enemies laugh among us. They desire the same favor. Verse seven restores O God of hosts cause your face to shyness and we shall be saved. Repetition of the exact words that were spoken in verse three. What are they saying is saying these things that have come upon us. They are certainly the result of our sin, but the prolonged sorrows that we are experiencing God has brought that he fed us the tears of sorrow. He gave us tears and great measure the acute vulnerability. We are just waiting for our neighbors to commit a plucker stop. We are insecure in our own land, who did that God did that God has brought these things upon us, and justly so. But God is able to reverse them. Only God can. But God can. If he does we shall be saved, if he doesn't, we are God regards to any to remind you that we are feeling a lot of these things are lined today unending sorrows. There seems to be hardly recover from one we don't recover from one to another, one hits that sorrow upon sorrow would only recover from that until something else hits and Ansar Massaro wanted to remind you that were feeling great vulnerability in our land today. Gun sales are soaring and soaring sewing.

You think you think by now everybody wanted guns would have all the guns they wanted, but every type something happens there's another rash of gun sales and people stand out in front of their property holding their guns to protect their property against others who are marching by that.

They're fearful of that they're going to break in and plunder, and they have good reason to be afraid whether they went about the right way or not, but they are feeling vulnerable. The whole nation is feeling vulnerable. Everybody's feeling fearful if I didn't know the Lord. I think I would be a bundle of 10 spheres right now but never would let up. Thank God I know the God was on his throne, who is protecting me and protecting all of his children, and who is orchestrating all of these things for our good and Christ section 3 reminder of God's dealings and here's where we get into the extended vine metaphor you have brought a vine out of Egypt. You have cast out the nations and the nations, and planted it. You prepared room for it and caused it to take deep root and fill the land. The hills were covered with the shadows and the mighty Cedars with its bows. She set out her bowels to the sea in her branches to the river. Why have you broken down her hedges so that all who pass by the way plucker fruit. The bore out of the woods uproots it in the wild boar of the field of hours it. What is this well is a history of God's dealings with the nation of Israel, and it starts number one with their being rescued from Egypt. There they were in the good, the most stressful circumstances in Egypt, and God by his mighty power reached out and plucked that vine out of Egypt. The picture is the here's a vine that was growing in Egypt.

He picked it up out of Egypt, he brought it to the promised land. And he transplanted that there a ground prepared for successful growth territory. The land of Canaan, the promised land. The land of Israel. The land of Palestine. The various names we give to it, prepared by God for success and the transplant was successful but had prepared and God planted it and it flourished and expanded the grandeur the description of the goes on here is of a vine that grows and grows and it fills the whole land and it expands to new borders. In fact, beyond the original borders all the way to the Mediterranean Sea all the way to the Euphrates River. It just grows and grows and grows. It is a mighty lamp that just takes covers everything in its path, such as the nation of Israel in the days of its glory and grandeur and then everything changes and it's reduced to insignificance and ruin divine protection is removed and the inevitable destruction that comes when the walls are broken down same imagery that we saw in Isaiah chapter 5 and that Jesus used in Matthew chapter 21 same ending imagery this beautiful vineyard prepared so lovingly and so successfully now the protection of the walls are broken down and the the photos come in of one kind and another.

And the reason for it is not stated specifically here, but it's pretty clear from the rest of the Psalm. The references to the need for repentance and so forth that the reason is because of their sin when they were obeying God. Following God they flourished, flourished, flourished, flourished beyond their greatest imagination and expectations and when they turned from God. They were burned. They work, they were nearly destroyed brings us now to our fourth section in our third prayer, a plea for revival.

Verses 14 through 19 return, we beseech you a God of hosts look down from heaven and see and visit this vine and the vineyard which her right hand has planted in the branch that you made strong for yourself.

It is burned with fire.

It is cut down the parish at the rebuke of your countenance, let your hand be upon the man of your right hand upon the son of man, whom you have made strong for yourself, then we will not turn back from you, revive us, and we shall call upon your name restore. Also God of hosts cause your face to shine and we shall be say prayer for revival, praying for God to return them to their former glory.

Their outward circumstances of of preeminence among the nations of that part of the world, but more importantly return to former spiritual health. The inward condition which allowed the outward grand so there praying for revival now for renewed favor for God to come in. Faye and to them again. That's revival is to revive once again what existed before return the former favor has been withdrawn all God we need revival return that former favor again. Remember the vine that you formerly blessed blessed that vine in the past.

So Lord, please be willing to blessed to get.

We call upon you to do that. Not because we deserve your favor. We know we don't, but you chose to be favorable before and we didn't deserve it the we work being godly in Egypt but you came and rescued us at that time and made us your choice vine God. Would you please do that again.

We know we don't deserve it, but of God are merciful and gracious, your powerful God do it again do it again do it again, please be pleased to do it again. That's what they're praying is a reminder of their distressed condition. They are burned with fire.

They are cut down, suitable to the vine symbolism but also a suitable description of conquered nations and hood that could burn them with fire who cut them down.

Well answer number one, the enemies, the surrounding nations. They did it, but in this Psalm. That's hardly even mentioned Justin passing the source of all of this is continually referred to us from God. God did. God caused it to flourish, caused them to flourish. God has brought them down to weakness and to despair, and so another petition for divine intervention. We need to find enabling let your hand be upon the man of your right hand, who is this the first instance the first understanding of that phrase. This is Israel, what does the name Benjamin mean the very one of the tribes is referred to here is anyone know what the name Benjamin means that the name was given to him at birth Genesis for 3518 mean son of the right hand. Let your hand be upon the son of your right hand.

The Son of Man, another phrase whom you make strong for yourself. Well, who is God's son, Israel is check it out. Exodus 422 and 23 Hosea 11 one. So let your hand be upon the man of your right hand. This this nation that you have blessed and chosen. Let your hand be upon this son of yours. This this nation that you have made your son, but it goes beyond that in order for this nation to be led. They needed a godly leader and so the Davidic dynasty comes into view here who is the man of your right hand is David, whom you have put upon the throne.

It is a line of David, whom you have made strong for the benefit of urination. But you see the Davidic dynasty failed just like the nation of Israel failed Benjamin and all the tribes fail.

David's line failed and so ultimately this refers to David's greater son, the one who will not fail the one who cannot fail, let your hand be upon the man of your right hand, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Let your I am to be upon your son, the Lord Jesus Christ. That's the only place that rescue could ultimately come from the Lord. He revive us. We will call upon your name if you will restore us and cause your face to shine upon us, we will be saved. The summary of this whole Psalm. I can say to these words, the suffering of Israel is due to their own sin.

The restoration comes only as God turns them back to himself. The suffering of Israel due to their own sin. The restoration comes only as God turns them back to himself.

The psalmist didn't seem to think that the that the key to overcoming the problem was to appeal to the will of these people to turn things around to make things right.

The psalmist seem to understand that this was a far bigger problem than that and that these sinful people didn't have that within themselves and if they were left alone or if it was all left up to them, they would continue on their wayward path to destruction: Lord God, if you will intervene if you will sovereignly come if you will extend your grace if you will extend divine favor than we shall be say. Let me very quickly deals with some lessons. First of all, and maybe most importantly for this time of national celebration, but supply all of this to the United States of America for their similar principles at work. As Americans we can see God's favor in the past you should put it this way. As Christian Americans we can see God's favor in the past.

I think many Americans are blind to that now but as Christian Americans we can see the hand of God's favor in the past, we became the great United States of America because of and only because of God's divine favor in the past. Furthermore, as Christian Americans we can see God's judgment. In the present and again I get argument sometimes people will I don't see any evidence of God's judgment blind leaders of the blind and everybody's falling into a ditch. If you can't see the hand of divine judgment upon America today.

You are spiritually blind. It is so obvious. It is so clear, but I'm not surprised that those are natural have difficulty seeing these things, but we see God's favor in the past and we see God's judgment. In the present and we pray for God's mercy in the future. That's what we need to pray for God to return.

But what we praying for.

This is this is key to what I want to say to you. I'm afraid many Americans when they're praying for God to restore America.

What do they want they want us to be restored to peace and tranquility and to financial prosperity. That's it.

God is saying.

The problem is deeper than that. Those are the symptoms of inward spiritual health as are the symptoms of a people who are following God and in listening to his word. You can things without the bluster you can have these good things, and ignore the source from which they came.

Going to have to get deeper than wanting a restoration to those good old days of the 1950s or whatever as if if they were really good old days. I mean they've always been good days and bad days. Sometimes we forget about the bad with the bad things in the good old days. The point is this.

We need our inward man renewed. We need spiritual desires created within us.

We need a humility before God.

We need to repent of our sins we need to return to the word of God. If we hope if we hope to see a favorable restoration of this nation if we don't go about it that way. Listen folks, if we don't see God do that and if we don't understand.

That's what God needs to do and pray to him to do what only he can do because if he doesn't do that. We are God, there's no coming back. Apart from the real work of God in the hearts and lives.

Americans all across this life, but but but restore us. So God cause your face to shine and we shall be saved. Let your hand be upon the man of your right hand, then we will not turn back.

That is away from you, revive us, and we shall call upon your name, there's hope. As long as there's a God in heaven.

That's the only place where the hope is that as long as we are looking at secondary things, then we shall never appeal to God in humility and desperation for what only he can do who did these things that we see coming upon America today. Well as a twofold answer. We did the enemies did enough people want to find somebody to blame but here's the blank it's the Republicans know it's the Democrats know it's this president know it's not president it's these people. It's it's the leftists it's the Hollywood it's folks it's me, it's me, it's me oh Lord, standing in the need of prayer regard to the church of the Lord Jesus Christ.

We have seen our history how the we have great influence in our society when we are dependent upon God and obedient to God and we see how weak we become. When we are self-reliant and disobedient. When we think we can fix it ourselves. Here's a new plan new program a new approach a new worship new music through this new that that'll fix it.

Know well.

Lord, if you will come to us if you will turn us, we will turn to you if you don't there is the program in all the universe can save us. God so my question to you. In closing, is this.

Are you part of the solution or are you part of the problem. Hark, you both are, we were all part of the problem are we really to become part of the solution. If you are part of the problem do understand how and why, because if you don't there is no solution. Do you want to be part of the solution you need to understand how on your knees before the throne of grace. I miss our choir when the songs they sing. That is so powerful and ran through my mind as I was dealing with this message, Lord, at thy mercy seat humbly I bow pleading I promise sleep sweet Lord, hear my call.

I don't remember all the rest a lot words but also how it deals with our need the heart of stone needs to be changed who can change it. I can't change my own heart.

God can change it. I plead with God to do these things and that's where we need to be as individuals is a church as church as designation Lord God help us. We are in desperate need of help. Help us, we pray in