Psalm 80

In the translation I'm using -- NLT -- the word "vine" is used 28 times.

It is used most famously in John where Jesus says, "15:5 "Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who [abide] in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing."

It is used most frequently -- ten times -- in Ezekial: "17:7 the vine sent its roots and branches out toward [essentially another god, another king, another country, another priority] for water. 8 The vine did this even though it was already planted in good soil and had plenty of water so it could grow into a splendid vine and produce rich leaves and luscious fruit."

It is used most illuminatingly in today's Psalm too. Throughout the latter part of this Psalm, the vine is used again and again as a powerful symbol.

1) It is a symbol of God's care: "8 You brought us from Egypt as though we were a tender vine; you drove away the pagan nations and transplanted us into your land. 9 You cleared the ground for us, and we took root and filled the land."

2) It is a symbol of Israel's success when they were following God, abiding in his love: "10 The mountains were covered with our shade; the mighty cedars were covered with our branches. 11 We spread our branches west to the Mediterranean Sea, our limbs east to the Euphrates River.

3) It is also a symbol of the need for tender-hearted gardener ... and it reminds us what happens when the gardener takes away his hand of protection: "12 Why," asks the Psalmist, "12 why have you broken down our walls so that all who pass may steal our fruit?" Why? Perhaps another prophet answers the question -- Hosea 10 -- "1 How prosperous Israel is – a luxuriant vine loaded with fruit! But the more wealth the people got, the more they poured it on the altars of their foreign gods."

Think for a moment of the life cycle of a long-living plant. There are good years and bad years. There is sun and rain. There are caterpillars and drought. What do we need? A tender-hearted gardener. The history of Israel reminds us 1) that God cares. It reminds us 2) that when we abide in his love, we will flourish. And it reminds us 3) of what happens when we chase away the gardeners hand of protection.

Have you ever seen a tiny child chase away their parent's protection? "Do it m'self," is the toddling refrain. And so the parent steps back, knowing the perils, but always ready to catch them when they fall.

This Psalm isn't about a vine, it's about our need to quit chasing away our Father in heaven. It's about our need -- through the ups and down and successes and especially the perils of life -- to keep looking for God's nurturing hand. It's about our need to quit turning to other kings, other gods, other priorities. It's about our need to quit relying on ourselves and abide more fully in the care of the constant gardener.

The theme of this Psalm -- and it says it at the beginning and at the end -- is "3 and 19 Turn us again to yourself ... Make your face shine down upon us. Only then will we be saved."

Tender Gardener, Gracious God,

in the good years, prune my pride,

and in the seasons of drought,

help me know that when

I "5 drink tears by the bucketful,"

it's those tears -- and your grace --

that will heal the parched ground.

You are with me always.

Help me abide with you ... always ...

Amen.