John Calvin Commentary Psalms 80:16

"It is burned with fire, it is cut down: They perish at the rebuke of thy countenance." — Psalms 80:16 (ASV)

It is burnt with fire. The calamities of the people are now more clearly expressed. It had been said that the Lord’s vine was abandoned to the wild beasts to lay it waste. But it was a greater calamity for it to be consumed with fire, rooted up, and utterly destroyed.

The Israelites had treacherously apostatized from the true religion; but, as has been previously observed, they were still a part of the Church. We are accordingly warned by this melancholy example about the severity of the punishment due to our ingratitude, especially when it is joined with obstinacy. This obstinacy prevents God’s threats and rebukes, however sharp and severe they may be, from benefiting us.

Let us also learn from the same example, when the Divine anger is blazing all around, and even when we are in the midst of its burning flames, to cast all our sorrows into the bosom of God, who, in a wonderful manner, raises up His Church from the gulf of destruction.

He would certainly be ready not only to continuously show His favor to us but also to enrich us with His blessings more and more, if our wickedness did not hinder Him.

Since He cannot help but be angry at the many offenses we have committed, it is a sign of His unparalleled mercy that He extinguishes the fire we ourselves kindled, which has spread far and wide, and saves some portion or remnant of the Church—or, more accurately, raises up even from the very ashes a people to call upon His name.

It is again repeated that the Church perished not by the strength and arms of her enemies, but at the rebuke of God’s countenance. Never can we expect any alleviation of our punishment unless we are fully persuaded that we are justly chastised by the hand of God. It was a good sign of the repentance of these Israelites that, as is observed in Isaiah 9:12, they looked to the hand of Him who smote them.