The Psalmist prays for help on behalf of the oppressed church, particularly on behalf of Joseph and Benjamin, ver. 1 — 3, and describes, in mournful language, their oppression in ver. 4-7. In ver. 8 — 13, Israel appears under the image of a vine tree, which at first is carefully attended to, and had spread forth luxuriantly, but now 'had become altogether destroyed. In ver. 14 — 19, the Psalmist prays that God would again take this vine tree under his gracious protection. Ver. 1-7 are evidently to be considered as an Introduction; and the individual character of the Psalm is to be found in the figure of the vine tree.