Hobart Herd Devotional – Psalms 80
The picture of this Psalm is one of calling on God to turn Israel again, cause them to repent and follow after God. In verses 3, 7, and 19, we find the refrain or chorus of this Psalm, “Turn us again, O God, and cause thy face to shine; and we shall be saved.”
It is interesting that the cry is not for God to return to them, but to cause Israel to turn in such a way that they are again looking to God and the glory of His countenance so that they would be saved. So many of my prayers involve asking God to show up for me, when the real need is for me to turn, repent and look unto Jesus the Author and Perfecter of my faith.(Heb. 12:2) Asaph knew that the reason that Israel was suffering in their sin was because they had turned from their God to the gods of the nations surrounding them, and that they were no longer looking to God in faith for forgiveness and the Light of His presence.
In verses 1-3 we find the plea to the Shepherd of Israel, to specifically come to Ephraim, Benjamin, and Manasseh, representing Joseph and Benjamin, the sons of Rachel and her grandsons Ephraim and Manasseh. These tribes also represented the northern and southern kingdom and their need to turn to God and have His presence return to them and save them. God had rejected their prayers because they would not turn to Him from their sin.(vs. 4-6) Sometimes we wonder why God doesn’t seem to hear and answer our prayers, maybe it is because we are not really looking to Him for His will in our lives, but are wanting God to bless and answer our prayer while we continue in our own sinful direction. There is a difference in being sad because of the consequences and pain of sin and turning from it to God in obedience to Him.
The picture of the vine is used in verse 14 to represent God bringing them into the Promised Land, and planting them there as His vineyard. The appeal is for God to come and care for His Vine, the son that He loves. When we cry out to God we need to remember that we are His chosen people, the children of God by faith. Even though God may have to discipline us because of our sin, He will never leave us or forsake us as His Chosen. 1 Peter 2:9-10, 9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for {God’s} own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 10 for you once were not a people, but now you are the people of God; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.(NAS) Psalms 80:17-18, 17 Let Thy hand be upon the man of Thy right hand, upon the son of man whom Thou didst make strong for thyself. 18 Then we shall not turn back from Thee; revive us, and we will call upon Thy name.(NAS)
Father, turn me so that I look on Your face and follow after You. Forgive me for wanting You to bless me while I walk in sin away from Your will. I want to know You and Your way, that I may follow and obey Your word. Thank You for choosing me and making me Your son that You love. In Jesus Name, Amen! Pastor Rob