Psalm 80 Reveals a Flawed Faith in Israel, the Church…and Us, by Dr. Jeff Mirus 

By Dr. Jeff Mirus, Catholic Culture, July 17, 2024

Jeffrey Mirus holds a Ph.D. in intellectual history from Princeton University. A co-founder of Christendom College, he also pioneered Catholic Internet services. He is the founder of Trinity Communications and CatholicCulture.org.

Psalm 80 made its lugubrious appearance in the Liturgy of the Hours about a week ago. Originally a lament over the condition of the Jews when they seem to have fallen out of favor with the Lord, it can just as easily be read as a reflection on the condition of the Church—or on the condition of each of us—materially, socially and, above all, spiritually.

First let us review the text. The first six verses are a plea to God, whom the Psalmist perceives has turned His Face away from Israel, and whom we may feel has turned His Face away from the Church or from ourselves:

[1] Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel,
thou who leadest Joseph like a flock!
Thou who art enthroned upon the cherubim, shine forth
[2] before E’phraim and Benjamin and Manas’seh!
Stir up thy might,
and come to save us!
[3] Restore us, O God;
let thy face shine, that we may be saved!
[4] O LORD God of hosts,
how long wilt thou be angry with thy people’s prayers?
[5] Thou hast fed them with the bread of tears,
and given them tears to drink in full measure.
[6] Thou dost make us the scorn of our neighbors;
and our enemies laugh among themselves. ….

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