Our Advent wait is nearly over, our annual visit to Bethlehem's manger is less than a week away. In our psalm for today, the psalmist is also waiting on God. He is waiting on God to save His people, as He has done before and as He has promised to do in the future.
PSALM 80:1-7
1 Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, You who lead Joseph like a flock.
You who are enthroned upon the cherubim, shine forth.
2 Before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh,
stir up Your might and come to save us!
3 Restore us, O God;
let Your face shine, that we may be saved!
4 O Lord God of hosts,
how long will You be angry with Your people’s prayers?
5 You have fed them with the bread of tears
and given them tears to drink in full measure.
6 You make us an object of contention for our neighbors,
and our enemies laugh among themselves.
7 Restore us, O God of hosts;
let Your face shine, that we may be saved!
We join the psalmist in praying "Restore us, O God..." In this short verse we find the entire Gospel of salvation proclaimed to us.
This is why Christmas matters at all, because God kept His promise to restore His people. He did so by sending Jesus His Son to the Bethlehem manger. There, God Himself became also & at the same time, fully human. God's face was shining on His people, beaming with love. For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him will NOT die, but have everlasting life! [John 3:16] Jesus took your punishment upon Himself as He died on Calvary's cross. Because of Jesus, you are saved from the punishment you deserve! Because Jesus took your guilt away, your relationship with God has been restored!
We wait these last few Advent days, with joy & peace, knowing the God of hosts HAS restored you, He makes His face SHINE on you, and you are SAVED!
Pilgrim Lutheran Church, LCMS Burton, Michigan
office: 810.744.1188 mobile: 248.881.7627
We are Pilgrims with a Purpose:
Sharing God’s Love & Mercy with Each Other & the World.
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"Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the LORD!" Psalm 31:24
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