1.
Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, thou that leadest Joseph like a flock; thou that dwellest between the cherubims, shine forth.
1, 2. Joseph—for Ephraim
(1 Chronicles 7:20-29; Psalms 78:67;
Revelation 7:8), for Israel.
Shepherd—(Compare Revelation 7:8).
leadest, c.— (Revelation 7:8).
dwellest . . . cherubim—
(Exodus 25:20) the place of God's
visible glory, whence He communed with the people (Exodus 25:20).
shine forth—appear
(Psalms 50:2; Psalms 94:1).
2.
Before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh stir up thy strength, and come and save us.
2. Before Ephraim, c.—These
tribes marched next the ark (). The name of Benjamin may be introduced merely in
allusion to that fact, and not because that tribe was identified with
Israel in the schism ( compare also ).
3.
Turn us again, O God, and cause thy face to shine; and we shall be saved.
3. Turn us—that is, from
captivity.
thy face to shine— ().
4.
O LORD God of hosts, how long wilt thou be angry against the prayer of thy people?
4. be angry—(Compare Margin.)
5.
Thou feedest them with the bread of tears; and givest them tears to drink in great measure.
5. bread of tears—still an
Eastern figure for affliction.
6.
Thou makest us a strife unto our neighbours: and our enemies laugh among themselves.
6. strife—object or cause of
(Isaiah 9:11). On last clause
compare Psalms 79:4; Ezekiel 36:4.
7.
Turn us again, O God of hosts, and cause thy face to shine; and we shall be saved.
8.
Thou hast brought a vine out of Egypt: thou hast cast out the heathen, and planted it.
8-11. brought—or, "plucked
up," as by roots, to be replanted.
a vine— (). The figure (Isaiah 16:8)
represents the flourishing state of Israel, as predicted (Isaiah 16:8), and verified (Isaiah 16:8).
9.
Thou preparedst room before it, and didst cause it to take deep root, and it filled the land.
10.
The hills were covered with the shadow of it, and the boughs thereof were like the goodly cedars.
11.
She sent out her boughs unto the sea, and her branches unto the river.
12.
Why hast thou then broken down her hedges, so that all they which pass by the way do pluck her?
12. hedges— ().
13.
The boar out of the wood doth waste it, and the wild beast of the field doth devour it.
13. The boar—may represent the
ravaging Assyrian and
the wild beast—other
heathen.
14.
Return, we beseech thee, O God of hosts: look down from heaven, and behold, and visit this vine;
14, 15. visit this vine—favorably
(Psalms 8:4).
15.
And the vineyard which thy right hand hath planted, and the branch that thou madest strong for thyself.
15. And the vineyard—or, "And
protect or guard what thy right hand," c.
the branch—literally,
"over the Son of man," preceding this phrase, with
"protect" or "watch."
for thyself—a tacit
allusion to the plea for help for
16.
It is burned with fire, it is cut down: they perish at the rebuke of thy countenance.
16. it—the "vine" or
they—the "people"
are suffering from Thy displeasure.
17.
Let thy hand be upon the man of thy right hand, upon the son of man whom thou madest strong for thyself.
17. thy hand . . . upon—that
is, strengthen (Ezra 7:6; Ezra 8:22).
man of . . . hand—may
allude to Benjamin (Genesis 35:18).
The terms in the latter clause correspond with those of Genesis 35:18, from "and the branch," &c., literally, and
confirm the exposition given above.
18.
So will not we go back from thee: quicken us, and we will call upon thy name.
18. We need quickening grace
(Psalms 71:20; Psalms 119:25)
to persevere in Thy right worship (Genesis 4:26;
Romans 10:11).
19.
Turn us again, O LORD God of hosts, cause thy face to shine; and we shall be saved.
19. (Compare , "O God"; , "O God of hosts").