GOD’S SHINING FACE
Opening Prayer
Lord, make Your face shine upon me and be gracious to me; turn Your face toward me and give me peace (Numbers 6:25-26).
Read Psalm 80
Psalm 80[a]
For the director of music. To the tune of “The Lilies of the Covenant.” Of Asaph. A psalm.
1 Hear us, Shepherd of Israel,
you who lead Joseph like a flock.
You who sit enthroned between the cherubim,
shine forth 2 before Ephraim, Benjamin and Manasseh.
Awaken your might;
come and save us.
3 Restore us, O God;
make your face shine on us,
that we may be saved.
4 How long, Lord God Almighty,
will your anger smolder
against the prayers of your people?
5 You have fed them with the bread of tears;
you have made them drink tears by the bowlful.
6 You have made us an object of derision[b] to our neighbors,
and our enemies mock us.
7 Restore us, God Almighty;
make your face shine on us,
that we may be saved.
8 You transplanted a vine from Egypt;
you drove out the nations and planted it.
9 You cleared the ground for it,
and it took root and filled the land.
10 The mountains were covered with its shade,
the mighty cedars with its branches.
11 Its branches reached as far as the Sea,[c]
its shoots as far as the River.[d]
12 Why have you broken down its walls
so that all who pass by pick its grapes?
13 Boars from the forest ravage it,
and insects from the fields feed on it.
14 Return to us, God Almighty!
Look down from heaven and see!
Watch over this vine,
15 the root your right hand has planted,
the son[e] you have raised up for yourself.
16 Your vine is cut down, it is burned with fire;
at your rebuke your people perish.
17 Let your hand rest on the man at your right hand,
the son of man you have raised up for yourself.
18 Then we will not turn away from you;
revive us, and we will call on your name.
19 Restore us, Lord God Almighty;
make your face shine on us,
that we may be saved.
Footnotes:
a Psalm 80:1 In Hebrew texts 80:1-19 is numbered 80:2-20.
b Psalm 80:6 Probable reading of the original Hebrew text; Masoretic Text contention
c Psalm 80:11 Probably the Mediterranean
d Psalm 80:11 That is, the Euphrates
e Psalm 80:15 Or branch
New International Version (NIV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
Do you have a friend whose face “lights up” when they smile? Think of God’s shining, smiling face.This psalm is a prayer for spiritual revival and blessing from God. The people pictured here have lost God and therefore their security and hope. They feel torn apart, grief-stricken, and vulnerable to attack from their enemies. It’s an urgent cry for God’s mercy and renewal.
In 1979 archaeologists excavating a tomb near Jerusalem discovered the priestly blessing (Numbers 6:25) written on two small silver scrolls dating from the seventh century BC – the oldest written Scriptures ever found. It’s a blessing still used today. Three times in this psalm (3, 7, 19) it is echoed as they call on God to shine his face on them.
Many people see God as harsh and unyielding, rather than smiling (4–6, 16). However, there is a wider perspective in the Psalms, “For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime” (Psalm 30:5). While it’s true that God is displeased by our sin, he also made us, loves us and delights in us. William Cowper’s hymn reminds us that, “behind a frowning providence He hides a smiling face” (“God moves in a mysterious way,” 1774).
Apply
How could you remind yourself of God’s “shining, smiling face” wanting to bless you every day? Why not write out Numbers 6:25 and pin it up somewhere prominent?
Closing prayer
“Restore us, God Almighty; make Your face shine on us, that we may be saved” (7).
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