Scripture Reading(s)
Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19
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!
80:3 Restore us, O God; let your face shine, that we may be saved.
80:4 O LORD God of hosts, how long will you be angry with your people’s prayers?
80:5 You have fed them with the bread of tears, and given them tears to drink in full measure.
80:6 You make us the scorn of our neighbors; our enemies laugh among themselves.
80:7 Restore us, O God of hosts; let your face shine, that we may be saved.
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
Restoration is an integral part of what it means to truly be repentant of one’s sin. Each day we are constantly faced with the temptations of this world and we have to stop and ask if dabbling in this temporary pleasure is worth growing apart from God. Choosing to sin blinds us from seeing God’s desire to see us grow daily. The Christian life is not to ever come at a stand still, we are to constantly be pursuing holiness and righteous living.
In this passage we see that Israel is at a breaking point of their sin. They are crying out a prayer that is genuinely asking for God to forgive and restore. They become aware that their sin has brought them nothing but emptiness, bitterness and pain. Furthermore, their sin has brought upon God’s judgement. Their way of living has cost them to miss out on God’s loving and protective hand in their lives. Their neighboring nations have also recognized their sin and are not only mocking them but have become threats to their land and lives.
Our sin as Christians becomes a tarnish to our testimony. We must recognize the severity of our sin and repent. Just as the Israelites realized that their sin had lead them down a dangerous road, we too must also be aware of the dangers that sin brings us. Repentance is the key component to entering into a restorative relationship with God. The beauty of God’s Grace is that when we do come to Him with a heart of repentance, He offers forgiveness and shows us that His Grace trumps all sin.