Psalm 80
Daily Devotional From Psalm 80–
Verse 19
“Restore us, Lord God Almighty; make your face shine on us, that we may be saved.”
The Psalmist repeats this phrase three times (vs. 3, 7, 19), personifying God’s people, Israel. Yet in some ways it’s kind of ironic. The people who were once too afraid to face God (Exodus 20:18-19) now realize their need for a face-to-face encounter with God. The Psalmist knows that restoration and rescue can only come from God and therefore, His face must shine on His people.
It’s no secret that God’s “face shining upon us” can just be a phrase to describe God’s blessings and favor. I would go one step further, however, and posit that we literally need to be shown the face of God. Without the incarnation, we would not know God’s favor. But because of Christ, as the Psalmist writes, “then we will not turn away from you, revive us, and we will call on your name” (v. 18). We need a face-to-face relationship with God. Otherwise, we are prone to the opposite of what the psalmist describes. We need to be made alive, which comes from God’s radiant favor, and allows us to call on His name.
Ray Mandish
Verse 19
“Restore us, Lord God Almighty; make your face shine on us, that we may be saved.”
The Psalmist repeats this phrase three times (vs. 3, 7, 19), personifying God’s people, Israel. Yet in some ways it’s kind of ironic. The people who were once too afraid to face God (Exodus 20:18-19) now realize their need for a face-to-face encounter with God. The Psalmist knows that restoration and rescue can only come from God and therefore, His face must shine on His people.
It’s no secret that God’s “face shining upon us” can just be a phrase to describe God’s blessings and favor. I would go one step further, however, and posit that we literally need to be shown the face of God. Without the incarnation, we would not know God’s favor. But because of Christ, as the Psalmist writes, “then we will not turn away from you, revive us, and we will call on your name” (v. 18). We need a face-to-face relationship with God. Otherwise, we are prone to the opposite of what the psalmist describes. We need to be made alive, which comes from God’s radiant favor, and allows us to call on His name.
Ray Mandish
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