Sep-16-0513-O Lord, restore us again
513_O Lord, restore us again Psalm 80 Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, you who lead Joseph like a flock. You who are enthroned upon the cherubim, shine forth. 2 Before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh, stir up your might and come to save us! 3 Restore us, O God; let your face shine, that we may be saved! 4 O Lord God of hosts, how long will you be angry with your people's prayers? 5 You have fed them with the bread of tears and given them tears to drink in full measure. 6 You make us an object of contention for our neighbors, and our enemies laugh among themselves. 7 Restore us, O God of hosts; let your face shine, that we may be saved! 14-19 Turn again, O God of hosts! Look down from heaven, and see; have regard for this vine, 15 the stock that your right hand planted, and for the son whom you made strong for yourself. 16 They have burned it with fire; they have cut it down; may they perish at the rebuke of your face! 17 But let your hand be on the man of your right hand, the son of man whom you have made strong for yourself! 18 Then we shall not turn back from you; give us life, and we will call upon your name! 19 Restore us, O Lord God of hosts! Let your face shine, that we may be saved! A few years ago, a massive wildfire tore through parts of California. Families who lived in their own hillside homes were suddenly left with nothing but ashes. One image stood out: a single vineyard, still green and vibrant, while everything else around it was charred. The owner of that vineyard had spent years caring for those vines. While others soon stopped maintaining firebreaks and watering systems, he remained vigilant, and his vineyard was spared. Our lives and our faith can be just as fragile as the vineyard - and yet survive as miraculously. When we are carefully tended by the hand of God, our Shepherd and our Keeper, we prosper. When we turn away from Him and neglect His Word, walking in disobedience, the brokenness of the world can sweep in, leaving devastation behind. In such a situation, we pray with the author of Psalm 80: “Restore us, O Lord God of hosts; let your face shine, that we may be saved!” Psalm 80 is a prayer of desperation. The people of Israel had suffered defeat at the hands of their enemies, likely during one of the many invasions by pagan nations. Their land was devastated, their dignity was trampled, and their prayers seemed to meet only with silence from heaven. Asaph, the psalmist, lifts up his voice on behalf of the nation and calls upon God, addressing Him as the “Shepherd of Israel.” This is not just a poetic title. A shepherd is responsible for the provision, protection, and preservation of his sheep. Rather than simply watch while his flock is scattered or destroyed, he runs to their defense. Here, when it feels as if