Scripture Reading(s)
Psalm 80:1-2, 8-19
80:1 Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, you who lead Joseph like a flock! You who are enthroned upon the cherubim, shine forth
80:2 before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh. Stir up your might, and come to save us!
80:8 You brought a vine out of Egypt; you drove out the nations and planted it.
80:9 You cleared the ground for it; it took deep root and filled the land.
80:10 The mountains were covered with its shade, the mighty cedars with its branches;
80:11 it sent out its branches to the sea, and its shoots to the River.
80:12 Why then have you broken down its walls, so that all who pass along the way pluck its fruit?
80:13 The boar from the forest ravages it, and all that move in the field feed on it.
80:14 Turn again, O God of hosts; look down from heaven, and see; have regard for this vine,
80:15 the stock that your right hand planted.
80:16 They have burned it with fire, they have cut it down; may they perish at the rebuke of your countenance.
80:17 But let your hand be upon the one at your right hand, the one whom you made strong for yourself.
80:18 Then we will never turn back from you; give us life, and we will call on your name.
80:19 Restore us, O LORD God of hosts; let your face shine, that we may be saved.
Reflections
At the end of this Psalm comes one genuine call for forgiveness and restoration. The Psalmist is not only acknowledging that there is sin but is also recognizing how awesome and great God is. God can choose to save and destroy. Yet, when we come to Him with a heart that is ready to walk away from sin, He withholds His wrath because He is slow to anger and abounding in love.
When one begins to understand the seriousness of sin and what it does to your relationship with God, it should bring you to a point of conviction in recognizing your sin, who God is, and seeking His forgiveness and love. We are not worthy to be given God’s Grace, yet because of His love He extends it to us each and every moment we seek it.
The last verse of this Psalm, the words being spoken are so simple, yet so powerful “Restore us, O LORD God of hosts; let your face shine, that we may be saved”. God restores all those who humbly seek Him.
Many of the Pslams were written in times of great distress. I yesterday’s passage we saw that the Lord made His relationship with Israel like a great vineyard. The psalmist who wrote psalm 80 is in turmoil because that vineyard has been destroyed due to disobedience. ‘They have burned it with fire, they have cut it down.” But the psalmist knows that only the Lord can restore them. Only God has the power to deliver them.
We are not without problems today. Are we quick or slow to ask the Lord for restoration? Are we depending on our own strength or the strength of God? We must always remember that God is the creator of all things. Nothing is too great for Him to handle. Bring your fears to the Lord and place them at His feet. He will take care of you. He will restore you and give you strength.
but those who hope in the Lord
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.
Isaiah 40:31
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