Psalm 80: 1-19 BibleGateway.com
With heartfelt lyrics, the psalmist pleads for restoration, deliverance and salvation. It is a cry echoed en masse by the entire community as they lament together their current state of separation from God. Not once, not twice, but three times they beseech God to relieve them from their distress: "Restore us, O God of hosts; let your face shine that we may be saved (v. 7).
While not overtly repentant or remorseful, their lamentation still convey's the nation's deep longing to be favored once again; to reestablish the former, preforsaken relationship that existed between them and God. And so, they ache openly for the Almighty to intervene, knowing that God-involvement is necessary to grant them the new life they desire. Then, having voiced the final refrain of this sacred song, they wait in expectation for God's response.
And now, centuries later, with a hindsight that saw this prayer ultimately answered by God's in-breaking into humanity - an event that psalmist probably never even imagined - and with a foretaste of the kingdom upon our bread-and-wine-kissed lips, we find ourselves in a season of expectant waiting, too. Advent is upon us. We wait, we await, we anticipate. We are counting the days until a swaddled babe appears in the unlikely locale of a Bethlehem manger and dwells with us here on earth. Our Savior is coming! And still, in this in-between time, we wait, we await, we anticipate something more - a consumation of creation that. like the [salmist, we probably cant even imagine to the full extent if its glory. Come, Lord Jesus!
God-With-Us, we stand in awe of your never-ending love for us. Bless us with a faith that transforms our yearning to anticipation, that we might share your grace-filled love, and the hope it represents, with all whom we meet. In Christ's name we pray. Amen.
Amen
With heartfelt lyrics, the psalmist pleads for restoration, deliverance and salvation. It is a cry echoed en masse by the entire community as they lament together their current state of separation from God. Not once, not twice, but three times they beseech God to relieve them from their distress: "Restore us, O God of hosts; let your face shine that we may be saved (v. 7).
While not overtly repentant or remorseful, their lamentation still convey's the nation's deep longing to be favored once again; to reestablish the former, preforsaken relationship that existed between them and God. And so, they ache openly for the Almighty to intervene, knowing that God-involvement is necessary to grant them the new life they desire. Then, having voiced the final refrain of this sacred song, they wait in expectation for God's response.
And now, centuries later, with a hindsight that saw this prayer ultimately answered by God's in-breaking into humanity - an event that psalmist probably never even imagined - and with a foretaste of the kingdom upon our bread-and-wine-kissed lips, we find ourselves in a season of expectant waiting, too. Advent is upon us. We wait, we await, we anticipate. We are counting the days until a swaddled babe appears in the unlikely locale of a Bethlehem manger and dwells with us here on earth. Our Savior is coming! And still, in this in-between time, we wait, we await, we anticipate something more - a consumation of creation that. like the [salmist, we probably cant even imagine to the full extent if its glory. Come, Lord Jesus!
God-With-Us, we stand in awe of your never-ending love for us. Bless us with a faith that transforms our yearning to anticipation, that we might share your grace-filled love, and the hope it represents, with all whom we meet. In Christ's name we pray. Amen.
Amen
Britta Dukes, Associate Pastor, Shepherd of the Hills Presbyterian Church
Seminary Ambassador
Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary
For the glory of God and to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ, Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary is a seminary in the Presbyterian-Reformed tradition whose mission is to educate and equip individuals for the ordained Christian ministry and other forms of Christian service and leadership; to employ its resources in the service of the church; to promote and engage in critical theological thought and research; and to be a winsome and exemplary community of God's people.CLICK HERE to learn how you can support the mission of Austin Seminary
No comments:
Post a Comment