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Christmas · The Nativity of Our Lord (Christmas Dawn)

Psalm 80:1-7

Restore Us, O God

December 25, 2025

The Good Shepherd, Thomas Cole
The Good Shepherd, Thomas Cole, 1848Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art
A wide valley at evening with the flock coming down toward the water and the shepherd small among them.Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, you who lead Joseph like a flock. Stir up your might and come to save us.Thomas ColeCole, who founded the Hudson River School and painted the shepherd as one small figure in a great deal of country.Crystal Bridges Museum of American ArtThe Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art.Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art
Historic One-Year Lectionary
GospelLuke 2:(1-14) 15-20Lk 2:(1-14) 15-20
EpistleTitus 3:4-7Ti 3:4-7
Old TestamentMic. 5:2-5aMi 5:2-5a
PsalterPs. 80:1-7Ps 80:1-7

Overview & Insights

“Restore us, God Almighty; make your face shine on us, that we may be saved.” (Psalm 80:7)

The occasion underlying this corporate prayer psalm appears to be one of extreme national distress: passers-by ravage as they please, burning and destroying (vv. 12–13, 16). The people experience sorrow and strife (vv. 5–6). The question “How long?” implies that this tragedy has persisted for some time. As with most psalms, historical details are omitted so the psalm can be used for any similar national emergency (see the Additional Note).

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Commentary

Psalm 80 - A Prayer to the Shepherd of IsraelPs 80 - A Prayer to the Shepherd of Israel Enduring Word · David Guzik

David Guzik's commentary on the repeated plea 'Restore us, O God'.

Psalm 80:1 CommentariesPs 80:1 Commentaries BibleHub

Classic commentary collection on the Shepherd of Israel enthroned on the cherubim.

Background & Word Study

Psalms 80Ps 80 Sefaria

Hebrew text with Jewish commentary on this psalm of restoration.

Psalm 80:1 InterlinearPs 80:1 Interlinear BibleHub

Hebrew-English interlinear for word study of 'shepherd' and 'restore'.

The Church Fathers

Catena: Psalm 80Catena: Ps 80 Catena

Patristic comments from the church fathers on Psalm 80.

Questions preachers ask

What is the vine in Psalm 80?

The psalm remembers Israel as a vine God brought out of Egypt and planted, now broken down, and pleads for God to look down from heaven and restore it, sharing the vineyard image of the Isaiah reading.

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