Turn Us Again

Psalm 80 gives a picture of the prayer that should arise to God from a person, a nation and a world that has rebelled and fallen into disfavor with God. There is a heart cry that should arise to Him for a restoration of a former belief and life lived through and for Him. As long as there is a breath of life in an individual or a nation there is hope. As a nation, like Israel, contrary to popular opinion, we were founded on a Godly heritage. The Pilgrims who landed on Plymouth Rock cried out to the Almighty for protection and grace.



The history of my family is similar. My Grandparents on my Mother's side were Godly people. They loved, worshipped and served God in both good and difficult times; recognizing without a shadow of a doubt that He was their Saviour, their protection and their provider. As a nation, long ago we also payed homage to the Creator. Many have fallen by the wayside and gone their own way.


What to do now? Is it too late? Psalm 80 is an appropriate cry for 2009; both for individuals who realize from where they came and as a nation ~


Psalm 80
" Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel,
Thou that leadest the flock;
Thou that dwellest between the cherubims, shine forth.
Before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh stir up Thy strength,
and come and save us."


" Turn us again, O God,
and cause Thy face to shine;
and we shall be saved.
O LORD God of hosts,
how long wilt Thou be angry against they prayer of Thy people?"


" Thou feedest them with the bread of tears;
and gvest them tears to drink in great measure.
Thou makest us a strife unto our neighbours:
and our enemies laugh among themselves."


" Turn us again, O God of hosts,
and cause Thy face to shine;
and we shall be saved."


* (our history is given, a rememberance both as individuals and as a nation)
" Thou hast brought a vine out of Egypt (the world)
Thou hast cast out the heathen, and planted it.
Thou preparedst room before it,
and didst cause it to take deep root,
and it filled the land."


" The hills were covered with the shadow of it,
and the boughs therof were like the goodly cedars.
She sent out her boughs unto the sea,
and her branches unto the river."


" Why hast Thou then broken down the hedges,
so that all they which pass by the way do pluck her?
The boar out of the wood doth waste it,
and the wild beast of the field doth devour it."


" Return, we beseech Thee,
O God of Hosts;
look down from heaven, and behold, and visit this vine.
And the vineyard which Thy right hand hath planted,
and the branch that Thou madest strong for Thyself."


" It is burned with fire,
it is cut down:
they perish at the rebuke of Thy countenance.
Let Thy hand be upon the man of Thy right hand,
upon the son of man whom Thou madest strong for Thyself."


" So will not we go back from Thee:
quicken us,
and we will call upon Thy name."


" Turn us again, O LORD God of Hosts,
cause Thy face to shine:
and we shall be saved."


If He does not turn us again, to whom shall we go?