Psalms 80:15

“And the vineyard which thy right hand hath planted,”

The reference to Israel as a vine continues. They are like a vineyard, planted by the right hand of the Lord. The right hand is often used throughout the Old Testament as a reference to power. So in simplified form: “And the vineyard which through your power you have planted.”

The constant links back to complete dependence on God abound in this verse, starting here, where it is made clear that the vineyard exists because God planted them, but not only planted, but with His right hand – with His power.

Time and again in Scripture we find God being credited with the founding of Israel. He brought them out with the strength of a unicorn (Num 23:22). Israel’s existence is not because they are so great, but because He is great.

It was something they lost sight of time and again and is a lesson we must needs remember: the only reason we can possibly be ‘great’ is because God in His mercy and power blessed us.

Implicit in the idea that Israel is planted by God’s right hand is the idea that God will act on behalf of Israel not for Israel’s sake, but for His own reputation/name’s sake. Consider 1 Samuel 12:22 and Psalms 106:8. Consider also Moses’ intercessory prayer where he asks God, what then will the heathen say if your people perish?

” and the branch that thou madest strong for thyself.”

The word for ‘branch’ here is better translated as ‘children’ or ‘sons’. It is a repetition of the previous phrase in many ways, for the vineyard is a duplication of the original vine brought out of Egypt, so to now are there children, a duplication of a couple. As the verse before would make clear that it was through the Lord’s strength that they were founded, so too here, the children were made strong, not for themselves, but for God.

Thus, omni ad dei gloriam, that is to say, all things for the glory of God.

The word used for ‘branch’ will be used again in a couple of verses, this time in reference to the Messiah. Indeed, some commentaries think this may be a reference to the Messiah itself, but I think not, as the following verse refers to the fact that the vineyard/children has been burnt and destroyed. It makes sense then that the better used word is that of children as in ‘children of Israel’.

Let’s close our examination of this verse with a repetition of what is repeated twice here: It is but by the grace of God that we stand. No matter the greatness we may achieve, it is nothing without Him, and if in our greatness we do not give the glory to Him as is deserved, then we will find ourselves in a similar place: desolate and perishing.

Whatsoever we do in word or deeds, may we do all to the glory of God.