Single lesson
Psalm 80: Hear Us, O Shepherd of Israel
Psalms 80:1–19
Psalm 80 is a prayer-poem spoken to God by a group. In this lesson, children will identify who is speaking, notice the psalm’s strong pictures, and follow how the prayer moves through need, grief and renewed appeal.
Before you teach
The psalm addresses God with titles such as “Shepherd of Israel” and “God of Armies”. The speakers use “us”, “we” and “your people”, asking God to turn them again and save them. The poem also describes a vine that God planted, then pleads for him to look down and visit it again.
Students will identify that Psalm 80 is a group prayer to God, explain the shepherd and vine images, and trace its movement from plea, to grief, to renewed hope.
Welcome: who is speaking in this prayer?
4 minTell the group that Psalm 80 is spoken to God by a group, not by God to people. Read the opening and ask children to listen for words like “us”, “we” and “your people”. These words show that the speakers are praying together and asking God to act for them.
Psalms 80:3, Psalms 80:4, Psalms 80:7, Psalms 80:18, Psalms 80:19
Read and explain: Shepherd of Israel, hear us
7 minRead verses 1 to 7 aloud. Explain that the prayer begins by addressing God as “Shepherd of Israel” and “God of Armies”. These are reverent titles used to speak to God. The speakers ask him to shine out, save them, and turn them again because they are in deep trouble and sorrow.
Psalms 80:1, Psalms 80:2, Psalms 80:3, Psalms 80:4, Psalms 80:5, Psalms 80:6, Psalms 80:7
Discuss: the vine God planted
7 minRead verses 8 to 16. Show how the picture changes from shepherd and flock to vine and branches. The psalm says God brought a vine out of Egypt, planted it, and it spread widely. Then its walls were broken down and animals damaged it. The speakers beg God to look down and visit this vine again.
Psalms 80:8, Psalms 80:9, Psalms 80:10, Psalms 80:11, Psalms 80:12, Psalms 80:13, Psalms 80:14, Psalms 80:15, Psalms 80:16
Make and respond: illustrated prayer card
8 minChildren make a folded card with one or two pictures from the psalm, such as a shepherd, flock, vine or branch. Inside, they copy short lines that show reverent address to God, need, grief or hope. Suitable lines include “Shepherd of Israel”, “God of Armies”, “Turn us again”, or “Revive us”.
Psalms 80:1, Psalms 80:3, Psalms 80:7, Psalms 80:14, Psalms 80:18, Psalms 80:19
Closing: the prayer ends by asking again
4 minRead verses 17 to 19 together. Point out that the psalm ends with another request for God’s hand, revival, and the promise that “we will call on your name”. The final line repeats the main prayer, so the ending keeps the focus on God’s saving help.
Psalms 80:17, Psalms 80:18, Psalms 80:19
Questions to explore
Who is speaking in Psalm 80, and how can you tell?
Look for the group words “us” and “we”, and the phrase “your people”, which show that a group is praying to God.
Psalms 80:3, Psalms 80:4, Psalms 80:7, Psalms 80:18, Psalms 80:19
What do the shepherd picture and the vine picture show in this psalm?
Use verses 1 to 2 for the shepherd image and verses 8 to 15 for the vine image, noticing leading, planting and care.
Psalms 80:1, Psalms 80:2, Psalms 80:8, Psalms 80:14, Psalms 80:15
How does the prayer move from grief to hope by the end?
Notice the tears and the enemies’ laughter earlier, then compare them with the requests for God’s hand, revival and calling on his name near the end.
Psalms 80:5, Psalms 80:6, Psalms 80:17, Psalms 80:18, Psalms 80:19
Make, think or respond
Illustrated Prayer or Image Card
What you’ll need
- paper or card
- pencils or crayons
- markers
Try it together
- Fold a sheet of paper to make a simple card.
- On the front, draw one image from the psalm, such as a shepherd, flock, vine or branch.
- Inside, write two or three short lines from the psalm that show reverent address to God, need, grief or hope.
- Share the card with a partner and explain why you chose those words and pictures.
This activity helps children notice that Psalm 80 is a group prayer to God using strong images and repeated requests for help.
Adapt for your group
- For younger children, offer three short lines to copy, such as from verses 1, 3 and 19, and let them focus on drawing one picture.
- For older or more confident children, ask them to sort lines from the psalm into headings such as address to God, trouble, request and hope before making the card.
An optional closing prayer
“God, help us understand this prayer. Teach us to speak to you honestly in times of trouble and to remember your help.”
Read the Bible passage World English Bible Classic
Psalms 80
1 Hear us, Shepherd of Israel, you who lead Joseph like a flock, you who sit above the cherubim, shine out.
2 Before Ephraim, Benjamin, and Manasseh, stir up your might! Come to save us!
3 Turn us again, God. Cause your face to shine, and we will be saved.
4 Yahweh God of Armies, how long will you be angry against the prayer of your people?
5 You have fed them with the bread of tears, and given them tears to drink in large measure.
6 You make us a source of contention to our neighbors. Our enemies laugh among themselves.
7 Turn us again, God of Armies. Cause your face to shine, and we will be saved.
8 You brought a vine out of Egypt. You drove out the nations, and planted it.
9 You cleared the ground for it. It took deep root, and filled the land.
10 The mountains were covered with its shadow. Its boughs were like God’s cedars.
11 It sent out its branches to the sea, its shoots to the River.
12 Why have you broken down its walls, so that all those who pass by the way pluck it?
13 The boar out of the wood ravages it. The wild animals of the field feed on it.
14 Turn again, we beg you, God of Armies. Look down from heaven, and see, and visit this vine,
15 the stock which your right hand planted, the branch that you made strong for yourself.
16 It’s burned with fire. It’s cut down. They perish at your rebuke.
17 Let your hand be on the man of your right hand, on the son of man whom you made strong for yourself.
18 So we will not turn away from you. Revive us, and we will call on your name.
19 Turn us again, Yahweh God of Armies. Cause your face to shine, and we will be saved.
World English Bible Classic. Public domain.