1Give ear, Shepherd of Israel, you who lead Joseph like a flock. You, who sit enthroned between the cherubim, shine forth. 2Before Ephraim, Benjamin and Manasseh, awaken your might; come and save us. 3Restore us, O God; make your face shine on us, that we may be saved. 4How long, Lord God Almighty, will your anger smolder against the prayers of your people? 5You have fed them with the bread of tears; you have made them drink tears by the bowlful. 6You have made us an object of derision to our neighbors, and our enemies mock us.7Restore us, God Almighty; make your face shine on us, that we may be saved.
In this passage, the Psalmist is asking for God to be present with the people of Israel. He references God’s leadership of Joseph and asks on behalf of Joseph’s children to return and save the Israelites. He acknowledges that the Israelites have turned from God and suffered for their sinful behavior. The Psalmist ends with a call for God to intercede and “turn us again, O God of hosts, and cause thy face to shine; and we shall be saved.”
As we journey through the Advent season, we eagerly prepare for celebrating the incarnation of Jesus Christ, God’s son. As Christians, we are blessed with knowing that Christ’s humanity and presence on Earth was God’s act of salvation for the world. God heard the lamentation of his people and answered them by sending his son as the bridge between Himself and the fallen world. Christ was the Messiah so highly anticipated by the Jewish people. As Christians, we understand that Christ came to save us from the greatest enemy of all: our own sinful selves. Christ was ‘God’s shining face’ turned on His chosen people as requested by the Psalmist and the path for all humankind to follow.
The Advent season is a time of preparation, reflection, and evaluation. We prepare for Christ’s entrance into the world and our lives. We reflect on how we need to turn away from self-centeredness and focus on God. Lastly, we evaluate ourselves by posing the question, “Am I living my life as instructed and demonstrated by my savior Jesus Christ?” God so loved the world that He sent His Son into the world for our salvation, answering the prayer of the Psalmist.
Contributed by Derrik Olsen