The Pruning Process Produces Restoration

Psalms 80:1–19
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This Psalm is a national prayer for restoration. The key word might be translated either “restore us” or “bring us back” (from captivity). The Palmist urges God to listen, wake up, and go to work to save His people (vv. 1-2). Three times is this chapter the writer calls on God to restore us “Turn us again"(vv. 3, 7, 19). The Israelites didn’t need a change of circumstances, but a change of character. They are praying for God to smile on them (v. 3). It was not that God’s back was toward them but their back was toward Him. They were the ones that needed to turn around, not God.

Repentance must come before restoration which means a turning from sin. Repentance involves humbling ourselves and turning to God to receive His forgiveness. As we turn to God, he helps us see ourselves, including our sin more clearly. Then as we see our sin we must repeat the process of repentance. The psalmist uses the metaphor of a vine for Israel (vv. 8-19). In ancient times the vineyards were often enclosed by stone fences (Isa. 5:5). The psalmist wonders why God has broken down those fences so that any passerby has the opportunity to pluck and ravage her grapes. On the earth today, the vine is His Church. Its prosperity depends on the Lord looking down from heaven and visiting the vine. He brings us to Himself by His pruning. The branches that bear no fruit are cut off. The farmer will tell you that in order to grow good grapes you have to prune the vine. The better they are pruned the stronger the vines grow and the more luscious the fruit is.

Application

If there is one thing I do not like in my spiritual experience, it is when God begins to prune me. However from that experience of loss there comes a fruitfulness which makes me glad. After the pruning there comes a new and luxurious restoration of life in which I can really enjoy God.