“Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, You who lead Joseph like a flock; You who dwell between the cherubim, . . . Stir up Your strength, and come and save us! Shine forth! . . . Restore us, O God; cause Your face to shine, and we shall be saved!” (Psalm 80:1, 2b, 3).
Dear Praying Friends:
Asaph penned this psalm at a time of national calamity, when God was angry with his people because they had forsaken him and worshiped idols. As a consequence, he had “fed them with the bread of tears, and given them tears to drink in great measure” (80:5).
Though we are now freed from the condemning wrath of God (Romans 8:1), as true children of a loving Father (Hebrews 12:5-11; Revelation 3:19), we still suffer discipline for our disobedience and turning away from him (Psalm 80:18). God sometimes sends us tears of sorrow, remorse, and repentance. Or perhaps he merely appears to withhold his loving gaze from us, seeming not to hear our prayers. We do not sense his gracious presence as we once did. Or perhaps we are “merely” sluggish in our faith and devotion to him, and need renewal, even revival of our first love (Revelation 2:4; 3:1-3).
In times past, and even recently (at Asbury Seminary, for instance), God has given his people a powerful visitation of the Holy Spirit, stirring them up to fresh adoration, praise, and zeal.
“Restore us, O LORD God of hosts; cause Your face to shine, and we shall be saved” from our dullness and even deadness of spirit (Psalm 80:19).
In his renewing grace,
Wright