John Calvin Commentary Psalms 80:12

"Why hast thou broken down its walls, So that all they that pass by the way do pluck it?" — Psalms 80:12 (ASV)

Why then hast thou broken down its hedges? This is the application of the analogy, for nothing seems more inconsistent than that God should abandon the vine which he had planted with his own hand, to be rooted up by wild beasts. It is true that he often threatened and forewarned the people by his prophets that he would do this; but what constrained him to inflict upon them so strange and dreadful a kind of punishment was that he might make their ingratitude the more detestable.

At the same time, it is not without reason that true believers are instructed to take encouragement from such remarkable generosity from God, so that, even in the midst of this rooting up, they might at least hope that He, who never forsakes the work of his own hands, would graciously extend his care towards them (Psalms 138:8). The people were brought to desolation because of their own incurable obstinacy, but God did not fail to save a small number of shoots, through which he afterwards restored his vine.

This form of seeking pardon was, indeed, presented for the use of the whole people, in order to prevent a horrible destruction. But as very few sought to appease the wrath of God by truly humbling themselves before him, it was enough that these few were delivered from destruction, so that from them a new vine might afterwards spring up and flourish.

The indignity done to the Church is heightened by the contrast found in the words: on one hand, God is portrayed to us as a vine-keeper, while on the other, the destroyers of this vine are represented as not only all who pass by, but also the wild boars and other savage beasts.

The word כרסם, kiresem, which I have translated to waste, is interpreted by some as to fill the belly. This meaning would agree very well with this passage, but it is not supported by the ordinary meaning of the word.