Do You Need Divine Restoration?

December 21, 2022

By Brooke Holt

“Restore us, O Lord God of hosts! Let your face shine, that we may be saved!” (Psalm 80:19). 

Have you ever been desperate for restoration? Maybe you needed restoration for a broken marriage, a lost job, or a wayward child. Since the fall of Adam and Eve, God’s people have longed for full restoration. Our Psalmist for today is no exception.

In Psalm 80, the psalmist cries out to the Lord to remember what he has done for the nation of Israel. Israel, as God’s promised nation, was being ravaged by the Gentiles. In this last section of the Psalm, the cry was for God to help his people to be faithful. There was the acknowledgement that the nation had turned away from God. They needed his help. They needed him to shine his face upon them to lead them back to himself. Ultimately, they were desperate for God’s restoration.

Aren’t we so much like them? We fall away, we face the consequences of our sin, and we in turn must cry out to the Lord beseeching him to bring us back to himself. Throughout the Advent season, the Scriptures have called us to repent and return to the Lord. This turning back is the means to make ourselves ready to celebrate his first coming and to prepare for his second coming.

The return of Jesus Christ is our hope for full restoration; thus, these words of Psalm 80:19 can be your prayer today: “Restore me, O Lord of hosts! Let your face shine, that I may be saved.” The Lord is always more ready to restore you than you are to ask for it as he is the God of steadfast love and mercy. Thus, you can pray without fear, guilt, or shame. Your God longs to shine his face upon you!

Reflection:

This last week of Advent, will you humble yourself before the Lord asking him to examine your life that you may enjoy his salvation with his face shining upon you?  We would love to hear your thoughts in the comments.

Related Resource:

Follow the ancient way of the Psalms and find the life God has for you. A model for vibrant worship, the Psalms provide practical wisdom to traverse the circuitous path of life with trust and hope. Pilgrim’s Path: A Study of the Psalms traces our spiritual walk with God—from discovery and delight, through doubt and disappointment, into joyful confidence. Whether used for individual or group study, Pilgrim’s Path is for everyone who seeks to know and love God more and find life in him.