Daily Bread_September 18, 2013

Title: A Prescription for Times Like These

Text:

Psalm 80:1-2 (ESV)
¹ Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, you who lead Joseph like a flock. You who are enthroned upon the cherubim, shine forth.
² Before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh, stir up your might and come to save us!

Psalm 80:18-19 (ESV)
¹⁸ Then we shall not turn back from you; give us life, and we will call upon your name!
¹⁹ Restore us, O LORD God of hosts! Let your face shine, that we may be saved!

Observation:

This Psalm is a prayer by the Psalmist to God for the restoration and illumination of His people. He asked that God would restore them, and that He would allow His face to shine upon them again.

The people of God are pictured as sheep who had lost their way, and they were under attack by their foes; the Gentiles.

As sheep God's people should have been enjoying green pastures that the Good Shepherd provides for His sheep.

Psalm 23:2 (ESV)
² He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters.

But, because of their unfaithfulness the people of God were facing the ridicule, and oppression from their enemy.

Psalm 80:5 (ESV)
⁵ You have fed them with the bread of tears and given them tears to drink in full measure.

What applied to the people of God then in their time of trouble provides an example and encouragement of what the people of God should do today. Surely we are in a season of trouble. In times like these we need people who will pray for revival. Will you pray like the Psalmist?

Psalm 80:3 (ESV)
³ Restore us, O God; let your face shine, that we may be saved!

Prayer:

Father God, Sovereign Lord, Almighty God, we cry out to You in union with those of common faith that You would revive Your people. Father God, we need help that only You can provide. Father, shine on us with Your mercy, and heal our land. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

Revive Thy work, O Lord!
Now to Thy saints appear!
Oh, speak with power to every soul,
And let Thy people hear!

Source: http://www.hymnal.net/en/hymn.php/h/797#ixzz2fF20fQax

--

Acts 6:4 (KJV)
⁴ But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.

 

My blog: Sharing the Word of God Daily:

 http://herbcotton.blogspot.com/