SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR
4/30/2012 9:41:04 AM
My Worship Time Focus: Psalm 80 PT-1 “Restore Us!”
Bible Reading & Meditation Reference: Psalm 80:1-
Message of the verses: We will begin to look at Psalm 80 in today’s SD by looking at several introductions to the psalm by different Bible Commentators.
“TITLE: To the Chief Musician upon Shoshannim Eduth. For the fourth time we have a song upon Shoshannim, or the lilies; the former ones being Psalms 45, 60, and 69. Why this title is given it would be difficult to say in every case, but the delightfully poetical form of the present Psalm may well justify the charming title. Eduth signifies testimony. The Psalm is a testimony of the church as a "lily among thorns." Some interpreters understand the present title to refer to an instrument of six strings, and Schleusner translates the two words, "the hexachord of testimony." It may be that further research will open up to us these "dark sayings upon a harp." We shall be content to accept them as evidence that sacred song was not lightly esteemed in the days of old. A Psalm of Asaph. A latter Asaph we should suppose, who had the unhappiness to live, like the "last minstrel," in evil times. If by the Asaph of David’s day, this Psalm was written in the spirit of prophecy, for it sings of times unknown to David.
“DIVISION: The Psalm divides itself naturally at the refrain which occurs three times: "Turn us again, O God," etc. #Ps 80:1-3 is an opening address to the Lord God of Israel; from #Ps 80:4-7 is a lamentation over the national woe, and from #Ps 80:8-19 the same complaint is repeated, the nation being represented in a beautiful allegory as a vine. It is a mournful Psalm, and its lilies are lilies of the valley.” (Charles H. Spurgeon)
“This is Asaph’s prayer to God on behalf of the Northern Kingdom (‘Israel, Samaria’) after it was taken captive by Assyria in 722-21 B. C. while ‘Joseph’ can refer to the whole nation (77:15; 8-:4-5), the mention in verse 2 of Ephraim and Manasseh (Joseph’s sons) and Benjamin (Joseph’s brother) suggests that the Northern Kingdom is meant. These are the children and grandchildren of Rachel, Jacob’s favorite wife. Samaria, the capital of the Northern Kingdom, was located in Ephraim. The temple was still standing in Jerusalem (v. 1), and the fall of Samaria should have been a warning to Judah not to disobey the Lord. That Asaph would pray for Samaria and ask God for restoration and reunion for the whole nation indicates that some of the old rivalries were ending and that some of the people of Judah were concerned over ‘the ruin of Joseph’ (Amos 6:6). It’s unfortunate that it sometimes takes dissension, division, and destruction to bring brothers closer together. Joseph and his brothers are a case in point. The refrain ‘Restore us’ (vv. 3, 7, 19) marks out the three requests Asaph made to the Lord for both kingdoms.” (Warren Wiersbe)
“Save Your Flock” (vv. 1-3): “1 ¶ «For the choir director; set to El Shoshannim; Eduth. A Psalm of Asaph.» Oh, give ear, Shepherd of Israel, You who lead Joseph like a flock; You who are enthroned above the cherubim, shine forth! 2 Before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh, stir up Your power And come to save us! 3 O God, restore us And cause Your face to shine upon us, and we will be saved.”
Asaph begins this psalm in verse one by asking God to Shepherd Israel, thus we see a very common metaphor from the Scriptures and that is that God’s children are called His flock and of course He is our Shepherd. We see this many times in both the OT and NT, but I want to just mention one occasion from the OT that is very familiar to us all and that is Psalm 23. This psalm begins with the very familiar words “The Lord is my Shepherd,” and the whole psalm speaks of how the Lord cares for His sheep (His children). In John chapter ten we see the Lord Jesus speak of Himself being “The Good Shepherd” and goes on to speak of how He will die for His sheep. In 1Peter 5 we see the terms Chief Shepherd, who is Jesus Christ, and also the shepherd, which is speaking of the pastors or the leaders of the local churches. God is called “Shepherd of Israel” in verse one of Psalm 80.
As Dr. Wiersbe wrote in his introduction we see from verse two that Asaph is praying on behalf of the Northern Kingdom of Israel asking the Lord to save them. We know that the Northern Kingdom was made up of ten tribes who split off from the whole nation of Israel after Solomon died, and although from a human point of view this seemed wrong, or at least not good, we read that it was the plan of God for this to be done. We read this in 2Kings.
Just a note here: My computer is not working right. I had this devotion done and somehow a portion of it got deleted. This was very upsetting to me, but I know who is in charge of all things, but I also know that the enemy of all of us does not want me to do these SD’s each day and could be the one who causes these kinds of problems.
I want to write about the refrain that is seen in three different verses in Psalm 80 beginning in verse three, and that refrain is “restore us.” Asaph is asking the Lord to restore the children of Israel to their God is how I see this verse and that reminds me of revival. I think that there are some people in the Church today who do not understand what revival is all about. We have to have something given to us and then not take advantage of it in order for us to get it back. Asaph is saying restore us and that means to me to get something that perhaps we have lost. I am in no way saying that a true born again believer in Jesus Christ can lose his or her salvation, but they can grow cold in their walk with the Lord and loose fellowship with Him They can give up on praying, going to church, reading and studying their Bibles and spending time with fellow believers to mention a few things, but not lose their salvation. Dr. Wiersbe quotes and old Scottish Pastor in many of his commentaries who said “The secret to the Christian life is a series of new beginnings.” I love the meaning of this statement, and it has meant a lot to me in hearing them and thinking about them because even though I am a born again believer in Jesus Christ I fall into sin on occasions and just as Jesus washed the feet of His disciples telling them that walking around in the world will cause one’s feet to get dirty, so when we walk around in the world we sin and are in need of getting clean. 1John 1:9 says, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Psalm 139:23-24 says “23 Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: 24 And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” These verses teach us the need for “a series of new beginnings.”
How does revival begin? I have heard that major revivals began with one person praying for a revival, and then others joining him and then the flames of revivals start to burn and as the song says “It only takes a spark to get a fire going,” revival begins and spreads and eventually God’s children are seeking the Lord in ways they had not done for a while, and they are going out and telling others about the saving power of Jesus Christ and out of the revival of God’s children comes new people being born again. It seems to me that Asaph is asking God to revive the children of Israel.
Spiritual meaning for my life today: I desire the Lord to restore me and begin a revival in my heart and pray that it will spread all around the world.
My Steps of Faith for Today: God begin a revival in my heart and fill me with Yourself so that I will desire the things that You desire.
4/30/2012 11:52:37 AM
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