“Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, thou that leadest Joseph like a flock; thou that dwellest between the cherubims, shine forth.”
Psalm 80 opens with an invocation of the divine shepherd: "Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, you who lead Joseph like a flock!" The address to God as Shepherd and the image of Joseph (Israel) as a flock establish the covenant relationship in pastoral terms. The mention of Joseph specifically invokes the Northern Kingdom, suggesting this psalm may address the loss of the ten northern tribes or may use Joseph/Ephraim language to refer to all Israel.
Church Fathers on Psalms 80:1
1. ...If perchance things obscure demand the office of an interpreter, those things which are evident ought to require of me the office of a reader. The song here is of the Advent of the Lord and of our Saviour Jesus Christ, and of His vineyard. But the singer of the song is that Asaph, as far as does appear, enlightened and converted, by whose name ye know the synagogue to be signified. Lastly, the title of the Psalm is: “For the end in behalf of them that shall be changed;”…
Nicene & Post-Nicene / Ante-Nicene Fathers translations · public domain
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