Sunday, December 19, 2021

today's meditation (Ps.80) Calling Upon the God of Armies

(Dear Lord Jesus, guide me and give me insight as I read and study Your word, and let it be the meditation of my heart...)

(Psalm 80:1-19)  Listen, Shepherd of Israel,
     Who leads Joseph like a flock;
     You who are enthroned above the cherubim, shine forth!
2   Before Ephraim, Benjamin, and Manasseh, awaken Your power,
     And come to save us!
3   God, restore us 
     And make Your face shine upon us, and we will be saved.

4   Lord God of armies,
     How long will You be angry with the prayer of Your people?
5   You have fed them with the bread of tears,
     And You have made them drink tears in large measure.
6   You make us an object of contention to our neighbors,
     And our enemies laugh among themselves.
7   God of armies, restore us 
     And make Your face shine upon us, and we will be saved.

8   You removed a vine from Egypt;
     You drove out the nations and planted it.
9   You cleared the ground before it,
     And it took deep root and filled the land.
10 The mountains were covered with its shadow,
     And the cedars of God with its branches.
11 It was sending out its branches to the sea 
     And its shoots to the Euphrates River.
12 Why have You broken down its hedges,
     So that all who pass that way pick its fruit?
13 A boar from the forest eats it away,
     And whatever moves in the field feeds on it.

14 God of armies, do turn back;
     Look down from heaven and see, and take care of this vine,
15 The shoot which Your right hand has planted,
     And of the son whom You have strengthened for Yourself.
16 It is burned with fire, it is cut down;
     They perish from the rebuke of Your face.
17 Let Your hand be upon the man of Your right hand,
     Upon the son of man whom You made strong for Yourself.
18 Then we will not turn back from You;
     Revive us, and we will call upon Your name.
19 Lord God of armies, restore us;
     Make Your face shine upon us, and we will be saved.

TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:
We need to realize that it is God who saves us and works things out for us.  All we have to do is see and believe and call upon Him.  Several times in this psalm, David uses the name "God of armies".  God created everything and is over everything, including the angels.  As this is the case, we should know that God is able to carry out His promises and His plans, and we can be confident that it is as good as done!

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