Psalm 80: Man’s Darkness Cries Out for God’s Light 1. The Sheep Seek the Shepherd Psalm 80:1-3

Text: “Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, Thou that leadest Joseph like a flock; Thou that dwellest between the cherubims, shine forth.            Psalm 80:1.

“This then is the message which we have heard of Him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all.”

1 John 1:5. 

Good morning, enlightened Christian!  Once you and the author were in the total darkness of sin and self, and far from the light of the Lord God’s Salvation.  Now, by His Sovereign grace alone, we are forgiven of all our sins, and enabled to ‘…walk in the light…’ with Him in fellowship – and all because of Christ’s Sacrifice for our sins on Calvary’s Cross.  Hallelujah! What a Saviour!  Glory to the Lamb Who lives forever!  Amen.

“If we (born again Christians) say that we have fellowship with Him (Jesus Christ), and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: but if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the Blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin.”  (1 John 1:6-7)

When the Psalmist penned Psalm 80, the nation of Israel had obviously incurred the righteous anger of our Holy Lord God, Jehovah, by their many and varied manners of disobedience and blatant sin.  God could not ‘shine His face upon them’, for His eye-lids were firmly shut against Israel’s national and personal sin.  God cannot look upon sin without punishing it with His Holy wrath. Fact.

“Thou art of purer eyes to behold (look upon) evil, and canst not look on iniquity: wherefore lookest Thou upon them that deal treacherously, and holdest Thy tongue when the wicked devoureth the man that is more righteous than he?”  (Habakkuk 1:13)

Our Holy Lord God cannot deny Himself.  Our Holy Lord God of wrath against all sin cannot bless us if we are wallowing in such sin – personal and National sin. God is Holy.

Holiness, purity, honesty, humility, and reverence of God and His written Word, are what the Lord God looks for with His Holy eyes; smiles upon with all the righteous countenance of His face; blesses, with all the blessings of His Salvation, protection, and matchless grace.

“Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation (Second Coming) of Jesus Christ; as obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: but as He which hath called you is Holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation (entire lifestyle); because it is written Be ye holy; for I am Holy.”    (1 Peter 1:13-16)

Verse 1. “O Shepherd of Israel, Thou that leadest Joseph like a flock. Now, can you watch such a scene and not think of that Shepherd Who leadeth Joseph like a flock, and of another river which all His sheep must cross?  He, too, goes before and, as in the case of the flock, they who keep near Him fear no evil.  They hear His sweet voice saying, ‘When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee.’  With eye fastened on Him, they scarcely see the stream or feel it’s cold and threatening waves.  

“The great majority, however, ‘linger, shivering on the brink, and fear to launch away.’  They lag behind, look down upon the dark river, and, like Peter on stormy Gennesaret, when faith failed, they begin to sink.  Then they cry for help, but not in vain.  The Good Shepherd hastens to their rescue, and none of all His flock can ever perish.  Even the weakest lambkins are carried safely over.” (W.M. Thomson, in ‘The Land and the Book’,1881)

Verse 1. “Shine forth. …Stretch forth Thine hand for our assistance that the mouth of them that speak iniquities may be shut. We seek not gold and riches or the dignities of this world, but we long for Thy light, we desire more ardently to know Thee; therefore ‘shine forth’."(Girolamo Savonarola, 1452-1498)

Verse 1. “Shine forth. Our greatest dread is the withdrawal of the Lord’s Presence, and our brightest hope is the prospect of His return.”  (C.H. Spurgeon, Treasury of David, page 346)

Mankind, in Adam’s fallen image, is equipped exclusively with a heart that is so utterly prone to live in the darkness of our sin and failure – Adamic failure and personal failure of sin.  When enlightened by God the Spirit; ‘quickened’ from Spiritual death to Spiritual life, by God’s gift of faith, imparted through the hearing of God’s Word – we crave to always walk in the light with the Lord God Almighty Who has redeemed us by the sinless Blood Sacrifice of His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ.  We are earnest seekers after God’s light.

The apostle John, writing under the full inspiration of God the Spirit, teaches us this fact: “This then is the message which we have heard of Him (God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ) (v.3), and declare unto you, that God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all.  If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: but if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the Blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin.”  (1 John 1:5-7)

The quickened ‘sheep’ cannot abide living in the darkness of sin, and loudly bleats to be washed from daily committed sin, that we might walk in the light of the Lord’s Presence.

Verse 3. “Turn us, and cause Thy face to shine. To Thyself, convert us from the earthly to the Heavenly; convert our rebellious wills to Thee, and when we are converted, show Thy countenance that we may know Thee; show Thy power that we may fear Thee; show Thy wisdom that we may reverence Thee; show Thy goodness that we may love Thee; show them once, show them a second time, show them always, that through tribulation we may pass with a happy face and be saved. When Thou dost save, we shall be saved; when thou withdrawest Thy hand, we cannot be saved.” (Girolamo Savonarola, 1452-1498)

Thought: We sheep seek our Shepherd - because He has first sought us, ‘His sheep’.

(c) A Cause of National Rejoicing Psalm 79:10-13

Text: “Let the sighing of the prisoner come before Thee; according to the greatness of Thy power preserve Thou those that are appointed to die.”

Psalm 79:11.

          “Have mercy upon me, O God, according to Thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of Thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.  Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.”

Psalm 51:1-3.

Good morning, progressively sanctified Christian!  Once you and I were lost, now we are found of Christ; once we would sin with impunity, now God the Spirit grieves within us, when we sin, and we probably sin every day in some form – in word, in thought, and in deed. Once our personal sins were being committed and multiplying in guilt, perhaps for many years; now, our sins are ALL under the precious shed and sinless Blood of the Living Lord Jesus Christ.  This is a very real cause for personal rejoicing.  Say, ‘Hallelujah!’ with me?

“If we (born again Christians) say that we have fellowship with Him (Jesus Christ), and walk in darkness, we lie, an do not the truth: but if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the Blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin…if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  If we say we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His Word is not in us.”  (1 John 1:7-10) 

This continual process is theologically defined as the doctrine of Progressive Sanctification. We are progressively sanctified from our naturally committed sins, that we might be enabled, by God’s grace, to fellowship with Him and walk in His light.

National Sin: National sin, on the other hand, is sin committed by an entire nation, in any given territory – but most treacherously in nations that were formed and founded on The Ten Commandments of God, liberated by the Gospel of Jesus Christ; yet have apostatized into open sin and rebellion against the Holiness of the Lord God Almighty.

Governments and politicians within such nations are doubly culpable before our Holy Lord God for blatantly legislating (making national laws) to promote immorality, anti-Christianity; and widespread moral and financial corruption within that nation.

“Shall the throne of iniquity have fellowship with Thee, which frameth mischief by a law? They gather themselves together against the soul of the righteous, and condemn the innocent blood. But the Lord is my defence; and my God is the Rock of my refuge. And He shall bring upon them their own iniquity, and shall cut them off in their own wickedness; yea, the Lord our God shall cut them off.”  (Psalm 94:20-23)

God cannot bless a nation that is living in open rebellion to His Holy Commandments; His will, as revealed in His inspired Word; and in league with Satanic influences of evil.

Verse 9. “God of our Salvation. If human reason were to judge of the many and great blows wherewith God so often smote and wasted His people, it would call God, not the Saviour of the people, but the destroyer and oppressor.  But the faith of the Prophet judges far otherwise of God, and sees, even in an angry and pursuing God, the Salvation of His people. The gods of the nations, though they do not afflict even in temporal things, are gods not of the Salvation of their worshippers, but of their perdition. But our God (capital G!), even when He is most severely angry, and smites, is not the God of destruction, but of Salvation.”  (Wolfgang Musculus, 1497-1563)

Bible-believing Christians today, in this year of 2026, are increasingly being forced to live within our nations as ‘prisoners’! Prisoners of corrupt law-makers, who are squeezing the life out of us by looking at us, and increasingly treating sincere faith in God, and Christianity in particular, as ‘weird’, and ridiculing our genuine Bible-beliefs as nonsense practiced by religious idiots, who dare to believe that a great fish swallowed a man called Jonah, took him down to the depths of the sea, then brought him back up and vomited him upon dry land again.  They would put Bible-believing Christians like ourselves into mental institutions if they could!

Street preachers of the Gospel of Christ’s Salvation are currently being arrested, or just forced off the streets by our national police-force; Christian Bible beliefs and practice are being continually denigrated by our national broadcasting company (BBC), who are promoting a ‘politically correct’ message of utter gender confusion and anti-Christian views.

God is not pleased, nor will He be mocked.  Our nation is under His judgement at present.  Many may well die under the righteous justice of God’s Almighty hand.  (Galatians 6:7-9)

Verse 11. “Let the sighing of the prisoner come before Thee; according to the greatness of Thy power preserve Thou those that are appointed to die. When the captive gazes through the bars of iron which night and day stand like mute sentinels before the narrow window of his cell and when his eyes fall upon the green fields and groves beyond, he sighs and turns away from the scene with a wish.  He spake not a word, yet he wished.  That sigh was a wish that he could be set free.  And such sighs as these are heard by God.  Your longings, your sorrows, when they are not fulfilled, your sad thoughts – “Oh! When shall I be delivered from the burden of my sin, and from the coldness of my heart!”  All these wishes were your sighs, and they have been heard on High.” (Philip Bennett Power 1862)

“And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”  (John 8:32)

National and personal repentance is a very real cause of profound national and personal joy.  There is nothing like knowing for a certainty that one has confessed one’s sins to our Holy Lord God, and received pardon and cleansing from His infinitely gracious hand. JOY! True joy and rejoicing immediately follows personal and national repentance to God for our sins.

“Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.”  Luke 15:10)

Thought: National repentance brings God’s national defence; and national rejoicing.

(b) A Cry for National Defence Psalm 79:6-13

Text: “Help us, O God of our Salvation, for the glory of Thy Name: and deliver us, and purge away our sins, for Thy Name’s sake.”

Psalm 79:9.

Good morning, patriotic Christian! When we are Spiritually regenerated by the Lord God’s power and Sovereign grace – our primary and total allegiance is to our Sovereign Lord: King Jesus the risen Christ, the Son of the Living Lord God. God the Son is our King of all kings. Praise and all worship unto His Holy Name! Amen.

However, in my humble opinion, there is absolutely no conflict of commitment or service, for genuine ‘born again’ Christians to have and practice a healthy patriotism to the nation and the country that he/she loves. 

Patriotism for one’s National identity, and full allegiance/commitment to Christ Jesus are not an incompatible or contradictory position for true Christians to hold.  In all things, it becomes Jesus first, and obedience to God in Him, - and all other political and national allegiances come a long way after this primary commitment.  Praise God for patriotic, yet Christ-centred and totally committed Christians!

Dictionary Definition: Patriot – (noun) a person who truly, though sometimes unquestioningly, loves and serves his or her country. (adjective) devoted to one’s country. (adjective) patriotic, devoted to one’s country; like a patriot; motivated by love of one’s country; for the public good; (noun) patriotism (or pat) fellow-countryman, from patrios, (from pater, a father).  (The Chambers Dictionary, page 1194)

The genuine ‘public good’ and Spiritual welfare for the souls of one’s nation and country should be at the forefront of every Spiritually regenerated, Bible-believing Christian.  It most certainly was for the apostle Paul and the prophet Isaiah!

The Patriotism of the apostle Paul: “I tell the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Spirit, that I have great sorrow and continual grief in my heart.  For I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my countrymen according to the flesh, who are Israelites, to whom pertain the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the service of God, and the promises; of whom are the fathers and from whom, according to the flesh, Christ came, who is over all, the eternally blessed God. Amen.”  (Romans 9:1-5)

Paul the patriot had full patriotic concerns about the Spiritual welfare of his countrymen and countrywomen in the national territory of Israel. They needed faith to receive Christ as their true Messiah.  They needed to fully repent, not only from Crucifying the Christ, Nationally, but from the vileness of their own personally committed sins.  No repentance, no Salvation!

The Patriotism of the prophet Isaiah: is also noted here in Romans chapter 9: “Isaiah also crieth concerning Israel, Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, a remnant shall be saved. For He will finish the work and cut it short in righteousness: Because a short work will the Lord make upon the earth.” And as Isaiah said before, Except the Lord of Sabaoth had left us a seed, we had been as Sodom, and been made like unto Gomorrah.” (Romans 9:27-29)

Isaiah was fearlessly and patriotically flagging up God’s open displeasure and anger at the overall state of the Hebrew nation at the time, and pleading with them to put away the gross and abominable sin that was causing the entire nation to be cursed by God’s Divine wrath.

“Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.” (Proverbs 14:34)

When a nation is seeking to exalt Christ as Saviour and Lord; when a nation is living in reverence to the Living Lord God Jehovah – Father, Son, and Holy Ghost – that nation can call for days of National Repentance from sin; days of Personal Repentance from sin, and our Holy Lord God will rise up and defend that nation’s territorial, National, and Spiritual honour.  Oh, that our once ‘Christian’ nations might return to the Lord God in repentance, that we might know and be certain of His Divine direction, protection, and Holy Presence.

Verse 6. “Pour out Thy wrath upon the heathen that have not known Thee, and upon the kingdoms that have not known Thy Name. Neglect of prayer by unbelievers is threatened with punishment. The prophet’s imprecation (curse) is the same in effect with a threatening (see Jeremiah 10:25), and the same imprecation. The prophets would not have used such an imprecation (curse) against those that call not upon God, but that their neglect of calling on His Name makes them liable to His wrath and fury; and no neglect makes men more liable to the wrath of God but the neglect of duty.” (David Clarkson 1622-1686)

Verse 8. “O remember not against us former iniquities. This is a prayer of National Repentance, and Personal Repentance from former sins.  A most necessary prayer for British and American nations, and leaders of these once ‘Christian’ nations, to be making today in 2026.

Verse 8. “O remember not against us former iniquities. Sins accumulate against nations. Generations lay up stores of transgressions to be visited upon their successors; hence this urgent prayer.  In Josiah’s days, the most earnest repentance was not able to avert the doom which former long years of idolatry had sealed against Judah.” (C.H. Spurgeon, Treasury of David, page 344)

Verse 9. “…And deliver us, and purge away our sins, for Thy Name’s sake. God is free to choose what suits His own heart best and most conduceth to the exalting of His great Name: and He delights more in the mercy shown to one than in the blood of all the damned that are made a sacrifice to His justice. And, indeed, He had a higher end in their damnation than their suffering; and that was the enhancing of the glory of His mercy, in His saved ones.” (William Gurnall 1617-1679)

Thought: Verse 9. “Help us, O God of our Salvation!” There can be no Divine defence of a nation, where there is no genuine, National and Personal repentance from sin, nor Christ’s Salvation practiced within that nation.  A Holy Lord God cannot come to the defence of an unholy and sin-loving nation.  It is time to take heed of this Biblical fact!