God’s provision of tears is a stark reminder of our dependence on His mercy.
“You have fed them with the bread of tears, And You have made them to drink tears in large measure.” (v.5) This poignant cry in Psalm 80:5 reveals the depth of sorrow the people of Israel felt as they experienced God’s discipline. Psalm 80 is attributed to Asaph, who served as a Levite singer during King David’s reign around 1000 BC, and this verse reflects a collective lament rooted in the nation’s sense of abandonment and suffering. The phrase “bread of tears” illustrates that sorrow so permeated their existence that it was as if they were consuming it daily, and they lament that God Himself has doled out this portion. It indicates a season where the people’s well-being and sustenance revolved around tears rather than joy.
In describing how God had “made them to drink tears in large measure,” the psalmist underscores the scope of this anguish. It was not a light burden, but rather a profound grief affecting all levels of their communal and spiritual life. Such an image hearkens to other Scriptural expressions of sorrow, like Jeremiah’s laments over Judah’s exile (Jeremiah 9:1), and further emphasizes that Israel’s misfortune was, at times, a direct consequence of their rebellion, turning the blessings of God into painful lessons. Yet, the psalm also points toward the hope of restoration, a principle that resonates with the overall message of Scripture that God can transform tears into comfort Matthew 5:4).
Psalm 80:5, therefore, indicates both divine discipline and the invitation for God's people to return to Him. Even though they found themselves broken by adversity, the psalmist leads them to recognize that remorse and repentance can lead to God’s compassion. Christians later connect this theme to Jesus’ statement that He can bring rest to the weary and burdened (Matthew 11:28). The breadth and depth of the tears in Psalm 80:5 remind us that human sorrow can be overwhelming, yet there is always hope when that sorrow is brought to God for redemption.
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Psalms 80:5 meaning
“You have fed them with the bread of tears, And You have made them to drink tears in large measure.” (v.5) This poignant cry in Psalm 80:5 reveals the depth of sorrow the people of Israel felt as they experienced God’s discipline. Psalm 80 is attributed to Asaph, who served as a Levite singer during King David’s reign around 1000 BC, and this verse reflects a collective lament rooted in the nation’s sense of abandonment and suffering. The phrase “bread of tears” illustrates that sorrow so permeated their existence that it was as if they were consuming it daily, and they lament that God Himself has doled out this portion. It indicates a season where the people’s well-being and sustenance revolved around tears rather than joy.
In describing how God had “made them to drink tears in large measure,” the psalmist underscores the scope of this anguish. It was not a light burden, but rather a profound grief affecting all levels of their communal and spiritual life. Such an image hearkens to other Scriptural expressions of sorrow, like Jeremiah’s laments over Judah’s exile (Jeremiah 9:1), and further emphasizes that Israel’s misfortune was, at times, a direct consequence of their rebellion, turning the blessings of God into painful lessons. Yet, the psalm also points toward the hope of restoration, a principle that resonates with the overall message of Scripture that God can transform tears into comfort Matthew 5:4).
Psalm 80:5, therefore, indicates both divine discipline and the invitation for God's people to return to Him. Even though they found themselves broken by adversity, the psalmist leads them to recognize that remorse and repentance can lead to God’s compassion. Christians later connect this theme to Jesus’ statement that He can bring rest to the weary and burdened (Matthew 11:28). The breadth and depth of the tears in Psalm 80:5 remind us that human sorrow can be overwhelming, yet there is always hope when that sorrow is brought to God for redemption.