#DailyDevotion LORD Jesus Make Your Face Shine Upon Us
Psalm 80 0 Shepherd of Israel, listen. You who led Joseph like a flock, O One enthroned between the cherubim, shine! 2As You lead Ephraim, Benjamin, and Manasseh, stir up Your power and come to save us. 3O God, restore us and let Your face shine to save us.
The psalmist invokes God as Shepherd of Israel. Being that Israel and his children were shepherds before going down to Egypt that makes sense. Starting in verse 8 we will see how the LORD shepherded His people. This should also invoke in our minds that Jesus is our Good Shepherd.
Then the psalmist brings to mind the children of Jacob, of Israel, who were the children and grandchildren of Israel through his favorite wife, Joseph, Ephraim, Benjamin and Manasseh. Their order is somewhat interesting. First Joseph, the beloved son of Israel. Secondly, Joseph’s younger son Ephraim, who received the blessing and adoption of Israel. Thirdly, Benjamin, Israel’s youngest son, who did not receive the blessing as Isaac and Israel did. Finally, Manasseh, whom Israel blessed with Ephraim, received a lesser blessing, and became Israel’s youngest son by adoption. Israel did bless all his children in Genesis 49. Perhaps by invoking these names of the blessed ones the psalmist is trying to get God’s attention to bless the children of Israel who are under attack at the time of composition.
He invokes the One enthroned between the cherubim to shine. This is calling down God from His throne in heaven to His throne on earth, the ark of the covenant where He placed His name and glory. He calls upon the Great Shepherd of Israel to stir up His power to save His people. To shine is to look favorably upon them and this is petitioned again at the end of verse three. When the LORD shines on them, then His good favor and grace is upon them. The end result would be their salvation and restoration.
This shining upon them is the middle blessing in the Aaronic benediction, which we often hear at the end of our services. Having had our sins forgiven us, having grazed upon the Word, and having partaken Christ’s holy body and blood for the sealing of our faith, the blessing of the LORD shining His face upon us has been down and it carries us throughout the rest of our week.
Our Good Shepherd has laid down His life for the sheep. He has shepherded us with His Word and Sacraments. He has stirred up His power to save us by dying on the cross, rising from the dead and ascending to the right hand of the Father. He continues to have His face shine upon us. As we pray this psalm to the LORD, we are now asking for Jesus to come in His second advent. We desire for Him to save us from this fallen world and usher us into His eternal kingdom.
Heavenly Father, grant that we are shepherded by the Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ. May His power be stirred up in us by the Holy Spirit so we make see the light of His Word, believe it, trust it and have our hope in its promises. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.