 Key Verse
…give us life, and we will call upon your name! 19 Restore us, O Lord God of hosts! Let your face shine, that we may be saved! Meditation True worship petitions God for restoration knowing God alone can both “restore our souls” and restore His world. God is a shepherd who leads His people intimately and rules over creation infinitely (v. 1). “Restore us!” is the cry of faith framing today’s Psalm (vv. 3, 7, 19). The petition provided language for the exiled Israelites who had seen God’s vineyard trampled by God’s enemies. “Restore us!” is language for believers today to prayer from weariness, brokenness, shame, or feeling lost. Restoration is centered on personal relationship with the Lord. “Restore us!... Let your face shine that we may be saved!” The “shining of God’s face” is the glow of kindness and friendship we receive through the blessing of God’s covenant faithfulness (Numbers 6:25). God restores His people by giving Himself. “Give us life” is the climax of the cry for restoration (v. 18). In God is the plentitude of life because God is life, the author of life, and source of life. The petition for life leads us to Jesus Christ. Jesus is the “true vine” (John 15:1) and the Good Shepherd that came to “give abundant life” through laying down His own life (John 10:1-10). When the exiles petitioned God for restoration they longed for a restored land, rebuilt temple, and removal of enemies. In Christ, the church is the new land and temple of God! The work of Christ has removed the enemy of sin and death so the people of Christ can find restoration and life through relationship with Him! Today’s Reading Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, you who lead Joseph like a flock. You who are enthroned upon the cherubim, shine forth. 2 Before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh, stir up your might and come to save us! 3 Restore us, O God; let your face shine, that we may be saved! 4 O Lord God of hosts, how long will you be angry with your people's prayers? 5 You have fed them with the bread of tears and given them tears to drink in full measure. 6 You make us an object of contention for our neighbors, and our enemies laugh among themselves. 7 Restore us, O God of hosts; let your face shine, that we may be saved! 8 You brought a vine out of Egypt; you drove out the nations and planted it. 9 You cleared the ground for it; it took deep root and filled the land. 10 The mountains were covered with its shade, the mighty cedars with its branches. 11 It sent out its branches to the sea and its shoots to the River. 12 Why then have you broken down its walls, so that all who pass along the way pluck its fruit? 13 The boar from the forest ravages it, and all that move in the field feed on it. 14 Turn again, O God of hosts! Look down from heaven, and see; have regard for this vine, 15 the stock that your right hand planted, and for the son whom you made strong for yourself. 16 They have burned it with fire; they have cut it down; may they perish at the rebuke of your face! 17 But let your hand be on the man of your right hand, the son of man whom you have made strong for yourself! 18 Then we shall not turn back from you; give us life, and we will call upon your name! 19 Restore us, O Lord God of hosts! Let your face shine, that we may be saved! Richly Dwelling -What stands out to you from today’s reading, especially the cry for restoration in worship? -Where do you identify with the original audience, needing restoration personally, intimately? Where do you long to see restoration globally, infinitely? - Where have you been looking for restoration and other than personal relationship with Jesus Christ? How is that working for you? -How does new life in Christ propel you to cry out and call on the name of the Lord for restoration? Name specific areas for application. Key Verse …give us life, and we will call upon your name! 19 Restore us, O Lord God of hosts! Let your face shine, that we may be saved!
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