Psalms 80:12

12 Why have you broken down the walls around your vine? Now all who pass by it can pick its grapes.

Psalms 80:12 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 80:12

Why hast thou then broken down her hedges
After having done all this for her; which signifies the Lord's removing his presence, power, and protection, from Israel; which were the hedge he set about them, and by which they were secured and defended from their enemies; but these being gone, they became an easy prey to them; see ( Job 1:10 ) ( Isaiah 5:2 Isaiah 5:5 ) , the hedge about the church and people of God are the angels that encamp about them; salvation, which is as walls and bulwarks to them; and the Lord himself, who is a wall of fire around them; which may be said to be broken down when he withdraws his presence, and does not exert his power in the protection of them; but suffers them to be exposed to the persecutions of men:

so that all they which pass by the way do pluck her?
the hedge being broken down, all passengers and travellers plucked the fruit of the vine as they passed along, there being noticing to keep them off from it: this may denote the plunder of the Israelites by their enemies, when left of God, they fell into their hands; and the havoc persecutors make of the church of Christ, and their spoiling them of their goods and substance, when they are permitted to do it.

Psalms 80:12 In-Context

10 The mountains were covered with its shade. The shade of its branches covered the mighty cedar trees.

11 Your vine sent its branches out all the way to the Mediterranean Sea. They reached as far as the Euphrates River.

12 Why have you broken down the walls around your vine? Now all who pass by it can pick its grapes.

13 Wild pigs from the forest destroy it. The creatures of the field feed on it.

14 God who rules over all, return to us! Look down from heaven and see us! Watch over your vine.