Psalm 80 (79):17Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

What are those things that are consumed by flames and unearthed, which fade away under the reproach of His countenance? Let us examine and understand these elements that are set ablaze and excavated. What did Christ reprimand? It was sin: by the rebuke of His presence, sin is rendered powerless. Why, then, are sins eradicated by fire and forcibly removed? In humanity, two primary forces drive sin: desire and fear. Reflect, ponder, and search your hearts; can sin arise except from desire or fear? A temptation may present itself as a reward enticing you to sin by offering pleasure, prompting you to act out of desire. Conversely, when bribes do not sway you, perhaps fear motivates your actions; you may sin out of fear. For instance, one might be enticed to perjure themselves through a bribe.

Consumed by flames and uprooted, he has met his end, as You have imposed this judgment upon him. Therefore, “fulfill also,” and equip him for salvation, preparing him through the Son of Man; for the phrase “on the Son of Man” signifies 'through the Son of Man.' Who else could be the Son of Man but our Lord Himself, the one who refers to Himself by this title in the Gospels?

Consumed by flames and unearthed, it becomes particularly clear that the psalm alludes to the king of Babylon rather than Antiochus, as some suggest. The king of Babylon not only set the temple ablaze but also caused much of the city to be destroyed by fire. The text reveals that the adversaries did not merely leave after harvesting but also uprooted and scorched the fruits. Through the withdrawal of Your presence, they shall meet their end. Your hand will rest upon the man at Your right hand, and upon the son of man whom You have bolstered. We will remain steadfast in our devotion to You. With the proclamation of this beginning from us, all humanity will recognize the true God and proclaim the love of God manifested to them. Revive us, and we will invoke Your name. Therefore, the power of death will be shattered, and we will enjoy eternal life in worship of You, O Redeemer God.

Consumed by flames and unearthed. Here the concealed action is to consume. The grapes symbolize the land or the city of Jerusalem, as the Babylonians not only set Jerusalem ablaze but also laid it bare, as noted in the fourth book of Kings. By the forbidding of Thy countenance, they shall perish. This forbidding may be interpreted as divine displeasure; the Lord declares that His wrath will bring ruin upon the Jews, allowing the Babylonians to execute this devastation. For had you not removed the protective barrier from the grapes of Israel, meaning Your guidance and Your care, the Babylonians would not have triumphed over and destroyed them. Another interpretation suggests this refers explicitly to the Babylonians who scorched Jerusalem. For at Thy command, it is said, they will flee and be annihilated; for when You choose to enact judgment upon them, no effort is necessary—one mere word of warning suffices to obliterate them all.

The prophet compared the people of Judah to a vineyard, leading him to separate his discourse—first addressing the metaphor, then discussing those to whom it refers. Consequently, the vineyard of the Jews, represented by the synagogue, was set ablaze. Christ Himself remarked, ‘I have come to bring fire upon the earth, and how I wish it were already burning!’ (Luke 12:49). The fire has indeed descended, and the vineyard has been uprooted so that the hidden foundation within may be uncovered, as indicated by Isaiah: ‘Behold, I lay a stone for a foundation in Zion, a tried stone, a precious cornerstone, firmly established: he that believeth in it shall not be ashamed’ (Isaiah 28:16).

In this passage, the downfall of the people of Israel is depicted more vividly. The Prophet previously mentioned that the fruits of God were left to be ravaged by wild beasts. However, here it is stated that they were consumed by fire and uprooted. To be consumed by flames and uprooted, resulting in complete destruction, is far worse than falling prey to wild beasts. The subsequent phrase, "They shall perish by the forbidding of Thy face," conveys a similar message. It can be interpreted as if the faithful lamented that if God continued to display His anger towards them, their demise would be certain.

Ultimately, this serves as the realization of prophecy, particularly regarding Christ the Lord, as conveyed in this psalm, which was inspired by the Holy Spirit for David to compose. It reflects the transformation of the Jews who have turned from goodness to repentance against God and others who have shifted from wickedness to faith, from unrighteousness to righteousness. This especially applies to those errant sheep who have moved from the way of sin into the following of their good shepherd, Christ, the true God.