Let thy hand be upon the man of thy right hand, upon the son of man whom thou madest strong for thyself.
This psalm was composed for the ten tribes after their kingdom began to waste away. The psalmist names Joseph, Ephraim, and Manasseh deliberately: these three tribes followed closest behind the ark in the wilderness march, and so they call upon God who dwelt between the cherubim to remember His ancient faithfulness and restore them.
AI summary
Commenting on Psalm 80:1-19
Let thy hand be upon the man of thy right hand. Let thy power rest on thy true Benjamin, son of thy right hand; give a commission to some chosen man by whom thou wilt deliver. Honour him, save us, and glorify thyself. There is no doubt here an outlook to the Messiah, for whom believing Jews had learned to look as the Saviour in time of trouble.
The Church is like a vine: weak, needing support, outwardly unpromising, yet spreading and fruitful with the most excellent fruit. God swept the nations away like dirt with the besom of destruction to make room for it, and then caused it to strike deep root through a firm establishment of government and worship that no enemy could upraise.
AI summary
Commenting on Psalm 80:8-19