God is
identified as the Shepherd of Israel, the one who leads Joseph like a flock,
and the one who is enthroned upon the cherubim. Because of who God is, Asaph
could call on God to listen to his prayer, and to shine forth in an expression
of his presence rising to bless his people once again.
Throughout the
body of the prayer, Asaph presents this prayer request three times: “Restore us… let your face shine, that we
may be saved!”[2]
He wanted restoration to the kind of blessing Israel had experienced at its
best of times. He knew that this restoration to blessing would come if God’s
face would shine upon his people. After all, this was the very blessing God
revealed in his own words:
“Thus you shall bless the people of Israel:
you shall say to them, ‘The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face
to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD lift up his countenance upon
you and give you peace.’ So shall they put my name upon the people of Israel,
and I will bless them.”[3]
With such a
wonderful blessing in mind, Asaph prays that God would restore his people to
this blessing by shining his face upon them in love, and saving them from their
present predicament. However, the first time he prayed this prayer for
restoration, he prayed, “O God”.[4]
The second time he expanded his focus to “O
God of hosts”.[5]
The third time, he expanded his expression even further, “O LORD God of hosts!”[6]
This discovery
felt like the sound of a grand crescendo. Each stanza of the Psalm rose higher in
its longing for God’s help, and so called out more earnestly to the one who was
listening to this prayer. It reminded me of the impudent man who kept knocking
at his friend’s door until his friend would finally get out of bed and share his
provisions.[7]Asaph
sounded like each chorus of his song was aimed at greater earnestness in
appealing to his God to hear and answer the prayer.
Although Psalm
80 is a wonderful example of prayer, and a lyrical expression of worship to
God, the way Asaph addressed God in an increasingly expanded way added those
extra notes of emphasis that grabbed my attention. God will surely answer his
people’s prayers. The God who is over all the hosts of heaven and earth will
surely have no difficulty answering the prayers of his children. The LORD God, the
distinctive God of the Bible known as Yahweh, the God who revealed himself to
Moses as the Great I AM, and delivered Israel out of their Egyptian slavery,
that God will have no problems answering my prayers.
This one true
God, making himself known through his Son, Jesus Christ, and sending his Holy Spirit
throughout the earth to awaken people’s hearts to faith in Jesus, he also will
have no problem bringing all things to their grand conclusion, just as he
describes in the Bible. Knowing who he is makes me want to be one of these
people who know that he hears and answers all our prayers, and will fulfill
every one of his promises, for our good.
From my heart,
Monte
© 2013 Monte Vigh ~ Box 517,
Merritt, BC, V1K 1B8 ~ in2freedom@gmail.com
Unless otherwise noted,
Scriptures are from the English Standard Version (The Holy Bible, English
Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good
News Publishers.)
[1]
Psalm 80:1
[2]
Vss 3, 7, 19
[3]
Numbers 6:23-27
[4]
“Restore us, O God; let your face shine, that we may be
saved!” Vs 3
[5]
“Restore us, O God of hosts; let your face shine, that we may be saved!” Vs 7
[6]
“Restore us, O Lord God of
hosts! Let your face shine, that we may be saved!” Vs 19
[7]
Luke 11:5-13
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