Psalm 80 (79):6Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

What does it mean to be moderate? Consider the words of the apostle: Faithful is God, who does not allow you to be tempted beyond your strength. (1 Cor. 10:13) The standard is based on your ability: it is intended for your edification, not for your destruction.

In this instance, the time has shifted, and various translators interpret it as a completed action: You have nourished us with bread soaked in tears and provided us with drink measured by our sorrows. The Prophet declares that our sustenance has been mingled with weeping, as we consume our necessary provisions amidst our sighs and lamentations. Yet, You have done this in accordance with our transgressions. Likewise, the Lord proclaims, ‘In the same way you measure, it will be measured to you’ (Matthew 7:2). The Prophet Zechariah also beheld this measure, prophesying the fall of Babylon (Zechariah 5:9-11); he described seeing two women who had wings and carried the measuring container, instructed to transport it to Babylon. From this, we understand the unwavering nature of God's decree.

The common adverb is suggested here: When, He asks, will You provide us with bread to consume amid tears, and wine to sip alongside those same tears? By these statements, the Jewish people reveal that they accustomed themselves to partake of food and drink with weeping. Alternatively, this could be interpreted as acknowledging that instead of nourishment, You allowed us to partake of sorrow. The phrase "in measure" implies that it reflects the extent of our transgressions. According to Theodoret, You will give us tears; Aquila and Symmachus translated it as providing sustenance and drink. If we weep during mealtimes, when do we find solace? This may imply laboring and grieving over virtue as a kind of sustaining nourishment.

It is commonly stated, "Until then," because the prophets were nourished by sorrowful sustenance and drink, lamenting for humanity until the arrival of Christ, who became the Bread and Cup of Life. The prophet wisely remarked, “in measure,” indicating that God's actions are always deliberate, as all experiences, whether of anger or punishment, are administered for the benefit of humankind in accordance with divine order and proportion.

In these expressions, the faithful convey the depth of their grief and the prolonged nature of their suffering, as if to say they have moved from profound sorrow and tears to their utmost limits. The term used here signifies a measure, much like “by measure,” and the Hebrew text refers to it as being “in the measure of the honeycomb,” a quantity that, though now indeterminate, was certainly significant. Furthermore, it is noted that they are subjected to the taunts of their neighbors, enduring the mockery and disdain of the surrounding nations, revealing that their foes are as numerous as their neighbors.

Ultimately, this represents the culmination of prophecy, particularly regarding Christ the Lord, as articulated in this psalm, inspired by the Holy Spirit and penned by David. It reflects the transformation of the Jewish people, who have shifted from the goodness of God to the depths of repentance, alongside others who have turned from wickedness to faith, transitioning from sinful error to the path of righteousness under their true shepherd, Christ, the living God.