As I write the wall calendar onto our monthly marker board, the schedule doesn’t ‘look’ busy but I know the preparation that must take place for many of the activities and so the calendar is quickly a bit daunting. Amidst the fun Christmas parties and special events, I find myself hoping for some pockets of time for some R&R (rest and relaxation) to restore my energy. The author of Psalm 80 is crying out for something similar, but amidst a lot more suffering than a busy month – three times he pleads to the Shepherd of Israel for restoration.

Take a moment to slowly read through Psalm 80 and note what sticks out to you. Was it the names? Was it the various titles for God? Or maybe it was the suffering and anguish the psalmist is recounting?

Israel has fallen to foreign powers as Assyria just conquered the northern 10 tribes. They’ve lost their identity as a nation protected by God. However, we don’t hear the psalmist crying out in misery of the suffering. Instead, he states their current condition, looks forward, and calls on God for action and restoration moving forward. He acknowledges the suffering the people have rightly endured and pleads with God to now bring them out of it. Yet he opens the prayer by calling God the shepherd who leads Joseph like a flock. He uses the personal name Joseph, which makes sense as Joseph was the savior of Israel when all 85 of their growing clan moved to Egypt for safety during the drought. It also makes sense as he was the son who received the greatest inheritance from Jacob, because his two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, each became a large tribe of Israel. He then uses the personal names of the tribes to refer to Israel: Ephraim, the tribe known for its leadership, Benjamin, the smallest of the tribes, and Manasseh, the largest of the tribes. 

By calling God the “God of hosts”, the psalmist is acknowledging the power of the hosts/armies that God leads on behalf of caring for His people. During Advent this often isn’t the attribute of God we focus on, but it is such a comfort! Amidst the distractions and stress of this month our God of hosts is loving and caring for us, sending His hosts to guard us, and desiring to be in communication with us as we focus on Him and stay in communication with Him throughout each day!

Now re-read Psalm 80:17-19.

Who is the “son of man” who God has made strong at His right hand? It’s our Savior Jesus! Because of the life and death of Jesus, our sins have been fully paid for so we can have eternal life and call upon God without any fear! The psalmist prayed for a restoration he hoped for, which did eventually come to Israel. But we know the certain restoration that is ours because of the hope, joy, peace and love we have in God! So we too can pray “Restore me to a focus on You this season, O God of the heavenly armies! Let Your face shine, as Your blessings cover me and as I reflect Your light to others, because I have been saved by your Son! Amen.”