Psalm 80

When I was young my brother and I took turns mowing the yard. Over the years Dad bought many riding lawn mowers, and he expected us to mow the yards around our house, my grand parent's house, a lot my grandpa owned, and the grass at the lumber yard where Dad worked.  In one of thos yards Dad planted an apple tree. He hoped that it would produce some apples that he could enjoy. His hopes where dashed when in my inattention I mowed over the tree, chopping it to smitheriens. I can only think that Dad must have felt a little like God as this psalmist reflects. For God had planted a choice vine with the hope of sharing in its fruit. But malicious neighbors destroyed the vine. How else would we expect the God who cares for us to act? We would expect him to respond in any way to rescue the vine and rebuke those who destroyed it. I was rebuked when I mowed down the tree, but Dad displayed his grace by continuing to feeding and sheltering me.
It took me less than 3 minutes to read this psalm.
Stuart