Psalm 80 (79):13Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

What is declared about Jerusalem? "I will sing to my Beloved a song concerning His vineyard. My Beloved established a vineyard on a high, barren hill. He surrounded it, removed its stones, planted esteemed vines, erected a tower in its center, and excavated a winepress, expecting it to yield excellent grapes, but instead, it produced wild fruits. Now, inhabitants of Jerusalem and people of Judah, judge my vineyard. What more could I have done for my vineyard that I did not? Why, when I anticipated good grapes, did it yield wild fruits?

You can observe the downfall of this nation, the Jews: as noted in another psalm, they dismantled it with axe and hammer. When could this have occurred if it weren't by breaching her boundaries? What defines her boundaries? Her protection. She stood defiantly against her Creator. The servants sent to her who sought justice were scourged, beaten, and even killed; the only begotten Son came too, declaring, "This is the Heir; come, let us slay Him, and our inheritance shall be ours." He was put to death and cast out of the vineyard. Yet, in being expelled, He more fully claimed the very place from which He had been removed. Thus, He warns her through Isaiah, "I will break down her hedge." Why? Because I anticipated her to produce fruitful grapes, but instead, she yielded thorns.

Why have You brought low his fortress? His fortress was the protection of angels, which God has removed from them. All who walk by are destroyed; for they are abandoned to vile spirits that consume their souls, stripping them of spiritual nourishment.

A righteous individual is a valuable treasure. Therefore, safeguard this treasure and envelop it with thoughtful reflections, shielding it with the thorns of vigilance. Take care to prevent the unruly desires of the flesh from invading and ensnaring him. Influenced by Philo of Alexandria, St. Ambrose embraces the Platonic dichotomy between the intellect and bodily desires, ensuring that one is not overwhelmed by distressing turmoil, which could ravage the vineyard of those who pass by. Protect the inner person; do not disregard or undervalue him, for he is indeed a cherished possession, worthy of great esteem. His fruit is not fleeting or temporary, but everlasting, leading to eternal salvation. Nurture your treasures, and you will reap the rewards of cultivated fields.

Why have You abandoned it without Your guardianship, allowing anyone to bring harm to it? The Prophet referred to God's protection as a fortress; as a fortress serves the vine, so the Providence of God supports those who know how to seek it. However, those who traverse the path are adversaries; just as fearless travelers exploit the unprotected and vulnerable grapes and seize their produce, so too is one who is left without the care of God susceptible to the offenses of anyone who seeks to harm them.

Why, Lord, do You appear to have removed the protective barrier of Israel, that is, Your divine oversight and safeguarding, as noted by Theodoret? You have allowed it to be cut off and harmed by all the nations that journey through. In response to the mournful inquiry of the Jewish people, God, the heavenly gardener, speaks through Isaiah: ‘I took away its hedge, because I expected it to bring forth fruit, but it brought forth thorns’ (Isaiah 5:4). Additionally, according to Athanasius, the stronghold was the protection of holy angels, which God withdrew from the Jews. They are left vulnerable to unclean spirits, who consume their very souls, rendering them devoid of spiritual richness.

The safeguard surrounding the Israelite vine represents the law. If you are uncertain about this, consider the words of Isaiah, who states, ‘My Beloved had a vineyard on a fertile hill’ (Isaiah 5:1), and adds, ‘and he fenced it’ (Isaiah 5:2)—certainly through the law—‘and removed its stones,’ indicating cleansing through the commandments, ‘and planted it with the choicest vines’ (Isaiah 5:2). Jerusalem is likened to the tower that was constructed in the midst of it, while the phrase ‘and he hewed out a winepress in it’ (Isaiah 5:2) refers to the temple. The prophecy continues, ‘now I will tell you what I will do to my vineyard: I will take away its hedge, and it shall be consumed; I will break down its wall, and it shall be trampled’ (Isaiah 5:5).

In depicting the magnificence and fortitude of the Jewish nation through the metaphor of grapes, the prophet mourns their destitution, which they have encountered due to the divine displeasure. He continues with the same imagery, expressing a plea: "Lord, why have You withdrawn Your support from this people, which served as a fortress, safeguarding the grapes from every direction? Why do You permit Your adversaries to dominate Your people and seize them, just as grapes are taken by those who pass by once the stronghold is breached?" The prophet addresses this in regard to neighboring foes such as the Philistines and Midianites, who frequently troubled the Israelites with their incursions and plundered their territory when God, angered by the people's transgressions, left it unprotected.

Ultimately, this represents the realization of prophecy, particularly regarding Christ the Lord, as expressed in this psalm, which the Holy Spirit inspired David to compose. It reflects the transformation of the Jewish people from goodness to the fall into sin against God, alongside others who have transitioned from wickedness to faith, changing from their sinful errors to follow their benevolent shepherd, Christ, the true God. The testimony of Asaph serves this purpose, as this psalm was entrusted to the chief of singers to proclaim a prophetic message about the impending destruction of Jerusalem and the establishment of the Holy Church, firmly rooted in the grace of Christ the Savior, which the gates of hell cannot overcome (Matthew 16:18).