19 July Psalm 80

Turn us again, O God

Psalm 80:3(KJV) Turn us again, O God, and cause thy face to shine; and we shall be saved.

Psalm 80:7(KJV) Turn us again, O God of hosts, and cause thy face to shine; and we shall be saved.

Psalm 80:19(KJV) Turn us again, O LORD God of hosts, cause thy face to shine; and we shall be saved.

The Psalm recalls the great work of God in the past in establishing His people as a fruitful vine. The Psalmist led the people to long once again for the fruitful days when the hand of God was upon His people, and they followed His leading in all things.

Turn us again, O God, and cause thy face to shine – so pleads the Psalmist, to act in defence of Israel at a time of deep distress. The Psalmist asks God to revive them. They needed the breath of God's Spirit. And he asks God to turn them. They needed God's power to have the strength to turn from everything that was wrong in their life.

In this Psalm, the writer prays for God to act. However, this is not just a single prayer; rather, the writer pleads with God to restore Israel to her former glory. Turn us again is the persistent plea, along with calls to give ear, stir up your might, come to save us, and give us life.

The request for God to let God’s face shine, reflects the ancient priestly blessing recorded in Numbers 6:24-26(NKJV) “The LORD bless you and keep you; The LORD make His face shine upon you, And be gracious to you; The LORD lift up His countenance upon you, And give you peace.”

In conclusion, the repeated plea, Turn us again, O God throughout this Psalm not only echoes the heartfelt longing of the Psalmist but also resonates with our own spiritual journey today. It is a call for renewal, a prayer for divine intervention in times of distress, and a deep yearning for the restoration of God's favour and presence. As we reflect on these verses, we are reminded of the enduring need for God's guiding hand in our lives. Just as the Psalmist sought revival and guidance, we too seek the illuminating grace of God's face to shine upon us, guiding our path and restoring our spirit.