Praise the Lord!
Psalm 80
It has a beautiful refrain that is repeated multiple times throughout these verses.
Restore us, O God; make your face shine on us, that we have be saved (3)
Restore us, O God; make your face shine on us, that we may be saved (7)
Restore us, O God; make your face shine on us, that we may be saved (19)
“Restore us.” In other words we were in good condition, but like a tarnished antique serving cup we lost our shine. We are like an old coffee table made of beautiful hand crafted hardwood we have been painted over, played on and placed in the attic that now is in need of being restored. We were good, but now we are thrown out. We were beautiful, but now we have lost our luster. Restore us.
“O God.” The shepherd of Israel (1). The One who sits enghroned between the cherubim (1). The LORD God Almighty (4). God Almighty (14). The One who answers and does not answer the prayers of his people (4). The One who’s anger has made his people the object of mockery (6). The One who worked in their history and blessed them in the past (8-11). The One who owns the vineyard (14, 15). The Psalmist recognizes that God has invested significantly in his people, the vineyard of his choosing. God rebuked his people, now it is time to let the grapevine sprout new growth, but that growth will only come about as the Lord revives and restores.
“Make your face shine on us.” His face was turned against. He could not look at the sinful, disobedient and rebellious behavior. God could no longer make eye contact with Israel and the life she lived. He turned his face away. The psalmist asks for the Lord to return His gaze. We are broken. We need your help. May your face shine on us. Don’t look at us with sadness, with regret, with anger or with coldness. May your face shine on us like long lost friends seeing one another after a long absence. May your face shine on us like lovers separated by time who reunite and whose faces beam love and connection toward one another. Lord, make your face shine toward us, look to us with love and joy.
“That we may be saved.” Unless you restore us we will be put out for a yard sale, or forgotten in the attic. Unless you shine your face upon us we will be forever lovers lost wondering what if… We are powerless in this moment. It is all up to you. We are once again seeking you. We know we need to be restored. We know we need to be forgiven. We know we are powerless to reconcile this relationship. It is up to you, O Lord.
“Save us.” We can’t do it on our own. We are utterly dependent on you to save us. Look at the mess we have caused. Look at our damaged condition. Look at our situation and help us.
Heavenly Father, as I turn to you today, as I look to you to restore me back to my original condition, I recognize that there are stuff marks in my life, there are gouges of sin that have deeply scarred me. Restore me. As the Master Craftsman, restore me so that I can be displayed in your presence as a trophy of grace. Save me to use me today.