MAY THE LORD GOD LET HIS FACE SHINE UPON YOU

Proclamation:

“Restore us, O God, make Your face shine on us, that we may be saved.”  Psalm 80:3 (NIV)

Explanation:

The words of this psalm were written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God by Asaph, the director of music appointed by King David, who was also a seer who was said to prophesy. (2 Chronicles 29:30)  This psalm is a song and a prayer.  This verse is stated three times, maybe to add emphasis to it. (Psalm 80:3, 7 and 19)  The psalmist wanted The Lord God to return them, the back-sliding sinners though they may be, to Himself by repentance.  He recognized that they could not save themselves, and that only by the grace of God shining upon them could they be saved.  In verses seven and nineteen he addresses The Lord God as The God of Hosts, or The Lord God Almighty, as he repeats the verse.  In verse fourteen he again asks The Lord God Almighty to restore them but he uses different words.  He asks God to look down from heaven and watch over them.

Application:

When we pray and ask The Lord God to restore us, we want Him to forgive our sins, cleanse us from all unrighteousness, create within us a clean heart, and put us back in good fellowship with Him. (Psalm 51:1-12)  We want Him to remove our sins and look upon us only after He has cleaned us up so that we may bask in the sunshine of His love.  Asking The Lord to let His face shine on someone is a good way to ask for a blessing for them.  The Lord God spoke to Moses and told him to tell Aaron to bless the people of Israel by saying unto them, “The Lord bless thee, and keep thee; The Lord let His face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee; The Lord lift up His countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.” (Numbers 6:22-26)  So, I say may The Lord God let His face shine upon you.  May He give you spiritual guidance, bless you with His presence, look upon you with His love, and grant you His grace, favor and peace.