Psalm 80:1–7, 17–19 (NRSV)
Read Psalm 80:1–7, 17–19 on biblegateway.com
Verse 1Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, you who lead Joseph like a flock! You who are enthroned upon the cherubim, shine forth
Verse 2before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh. Stir up your might, and come to save us!
Verse 3Restore us, O God; let your face shine, that we may be saved.
Verse 4O Lord God of hosts, how long will you be angry with your people's prayers?
Verse 5You have fed them with the bread of tears, and given them tears to drink in full measure.
Verse 6You make us the scorn of our neighbors; our enemies laugh among themselves.
Verse 7Restore us, O God of hosts; let your face shine, that we may be saved.
Verse 17But let your hand be upon the one at your right hand, the one whom you made strong for yourself.
Verse 18Then we will never turn back from you; give us life, and we will call on your name.
Verse 19Restore us, O Lord God of hosts; let your face shine, that we may be saved.
Devotion
This is the prayer of a people who believe God is angry. “You have fed them with the bread of tears and given them tears to drink in full measure.” Restore us, O God of hosts!
We often have difficulty with psalms that express dark moods—anger, lament, frustration, being at the end of one’s rope. And even more so when those psalms direct these expressions toward God. There’s something raw and real about these prayers that strikes us as too insightful about those whose prayers may be similarly shaped today.
There’s no repentance for wrongdoing in this psalm. Just frustration and confusion over God’s turning away when the people are in greatest need. This is not suffering as punishment for any sin, just suffering that has no answer. Suffering in need of salvation.
Prayer
The prayer of the psalmist, and the prayer uttered at Advent when we, too, may feel at the end of our rope, becomes simply: “Restore us, O God; let your face shine, that we may be saved.” Amen.
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