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
For the Advent season we are looking back and reflecting on the previous week's readings.
Psalm 80 pleads that God come among us. This advent of God in our midst brings restoration. But as we have seen over these past few weeks, this restoration is not only a future hope, it is marvelously made manifest today: those who are blind can now see; those who are imprisoned are freed; those who could not walk now run. The psalm gives words to our deepest longing to see these acts of God, to know them in our lives, in the lives of our family and our community. Only God can bring restoration, only God can bring us back, only God can give life where death reigns. The psalm gives expression to our desire to be enveloped in the radiance of God’s face: let your face shine on us.
Prayer
O key of David, you open and no one can shut; you shut and no one can open: come and lead the prisoners out, free those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death. Amen.