Psalm 80:19: “Restore us, O LORD God of hosts; / Cause Your face to shine, / And we shall be saved!”

March 26th, 2024 by Pastor Ed in devotional

In Psalm 80, the psalmist cried out to the Lord on behalf of the people, asking that God would deliver them. Throughout the song, he acknowledged that the only hope they had was for God’s face to shine on, or look with pleasure on, their difficult situation; without that, they would be lost. He also reminded himself that he had seen God do good things in the past, turning impossible circumstances around, and he longed and prayed for God to do it again. The promise in Malachi 3:6: “For I am the Lord, I do not change;” and again in Hebrews 13:8: “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever,” affirms to us that this was a good prayer and one we should pray even today.

In verse 19, we find “restore us” or “turn us back,” repeated for the third time in this psalm. Pastor Leonard Ravenhill once wrote, “Evangelism affects the other guy but revival affects me.” We must let revival begin with us. Frederick the Great, the Prussian king from 1740–1781, was once touring a Berlin prison. The prisoners fell on their knees before him, proclaiming their innocence—except for one man, who remained silent. Frederick called to him, “Why are you here?” “Armed robbery, your majesty,” came the reply. “And are you guilty?” “Yes indeed, your majesty; I deserve my punishment.” Frederick then summoned the jailer and ordered him, “Release this guilty wretch at once. I will not have him kept in this prison where he will corrupt all these fine innocent people who occupy it.” We must never stop praying for spiritual awakening, and we must never forget to begin with ourselves.

“LORD, I am guilty. Please forgive me. I turn from my sins. Please forgive my nation and turn us from our sins. Please send revival we ask, in Jesus’ name.”