Sat, 27 May, 2006: Today’s Bible readings.

Psalm 80:14-19

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!

In this Psalm, Asaph recognizes the plight of Israel, and pleads with God to restore them in His grace.

What do we learn from this?

There are times when we will face great difficulties. Even as God’s people, the road isn’t always smooth. We must expect that at some point we will feel like we have been abandoned by God, whether it is because of our own sin, or His own purpose. In those times, it is appropriate for us to cry out to God for His grace and to be restored to our sense of His presence and love.

The reality is that if we are His children, He will never abandon us. At times we might feel that He has left us, but He will never forsake the people He has chosen as His very own. Yet during the dark times, we can sing this Psalm and find comfort with Asaph.

Where is Christ in this passage?

Asaph calls for God’s hand to be on the man of your right hand, the son of man whom you have made strong for yourself. This is a call for God to be with the king, the son of David who is reigning on the throne. But ultimately, this is about the greater son of David. This is about the Messiah: Jesus the Christ.