Daily Devotion, September 2, 2020

 

Devotion: Read Psalm 80:1-4.

Psalm 80 is a “Psalm of Lament.”  “Lament” is not a word in our everyday vocabulary, but it has deep and rich traditions in our faith journey. A brief definition of lament as a noun is a “passionate expression of grief or sorrow” and as a verb it means “to mourn”. There are more psalms of “lament” than any other types of psalms. These psalms remind us that we, too, can be completely honest and pour out our hearts to God.

Psalm 80 is a “Psalm of Lament of the Community” (instead of an individual). Some of the commentaries for this psalm say it was composed in Judah (the Southern Kingdom) after the fall of Israel (the Northern Kingdom). Dr. James L Mays writes, “Whatever the original historical setting, the psalm in its continued use belongs to the repertoire of the afflicted people of God on their way through the troubles of history.”

This psalm is an honest prayer of the community. It relays the paradoxical messages that they believe God is not listening or responding and yet, it also relays the deep trust that God can and will save them.

I like the New Living Bible’s language for verse 3. “Turn us again to yourself, O God. Make your face shine down upon us. Only then will we be saved.” Beautiful poetry and imagery are in these three sentences which are repeated three times in this brief psalm! 

The opposite of these sentences could be, “we have turned away from you, O God, and we are going the wrong way. And walking in the darkness, we have lost our way.”  Imagine God gently turning you around to receive the light of God’s face. Now see the beautiful imagery of God’s gentle turning around of an entire community as prayed in the Psalmist’s words, “Turn us again to yourself, O God.”  Personal Worship Option: In this season of a global pandemic and woes of economic disparity, we are a global people of lament. The Psalmist’s words help us to find our words too. We can pray honest prayers of lament which include affirmation and trust in God. God is faithful working even during times of great trouble and deep sorrow. Let us also be open to praying for God to turn us around, for God’s light to shine upon all, for only then shall we be saved. Amen.