Revive Us, And We Will Call

On Your Name

Hear us, Shepherd of Israel, you who lead Joseph like a flock. You who sit enthroned between the cherubim, shine forth before Ephraim, Benjamin and Manasseh. Awaken your might; come and save us.

Restore us, O God; make your face shine on us, that we may be saved.

How long, Lord God Almighty, will your anger smolder against the prayers of your people?

You have fed them with the bread of tears; you have made them drink tears by the bowlful.

You have made us an object of derision to our neighbors, and our enemies mock us.

Restore us, God Almighty; make your face shine on us, that we may be saved.

You transplanted a vine from Egypt; you drove out the nations and planted it.

You cleared the ground for it, and it took root and filled the land.

The mountains were covered with its shade, the mighty cedars with its branches.

Its branches reached as far as the Sea, its shoots as far as the River.

Why have you broken down its walls so that all who pass by pick its grapes?

Boars from the forest ravage it, and insects from the fields feed on it.

Return to us, God Almighty! Look down from heaven and see! Watch over this vine, the root your right hand has planted, the son you have raised up for yourself.

Your vine is cut down, it is burned with fire; at your rebuke your people perish.

Let your hand rest on the man at your right hand, the son of man you have raised up for yourself.

Then we will not turn away from you; revive us, and we will call on your name.

Restore us, Lord God Almighty; make your face shine on us, that we may be saved.

Psalm 80:1-19

Asaph gathered up his fears in a prayer, three times repeated. “Make your face shine on us, that we may be saved.” (In other words, let me see your smile.)

It’s goods to look away from our fears and search our heavenly Father’s face. The best way to see God’s face is to look, at the cross. The cross tells us everything about His feelings for us.

Know that: When your Father looks at you, He has a great big smile on His face. You’re very safe.

God’s love for us is as expansive as the open arms of Christ on the cross.

Our Daily Bread – August 10, 2017