It doesn’t take much to see brokenness in this world; however, it is much harder to imagine full restoration of that brokenness. In today’s passage, we reflect on the psalmist’s plea for a Messiah to restore Israel.

Living after Christ, we know that He is the one who restored our brokenness with God through the brokenness of his body on the cross. But we still live in a broken world, so also we long for God to bring full restoration, as he promises in Revelation 21. Praise God that He is willing to restore us!

Psalm 80:1-7

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!

3 Restore us, O God;
let your face shine, that we may be saved!

4 O Lord God of hosts,
how long will you be angry with your people's prayers?

5 You have fed them with the bread of tears
and given them tears to drink in full measure.

6 You make us an object of contention for our neighbors,
and our enemies laugh among themselves.

7 Restore us, O God of hosts;
let your face shine, that we may be saved!

[ WHAT ] is this passage saying and what is a key truth or thought that we learn?

+ Why is God called the Shepherd of Israel [v.1]?

+ Shine is repeated in this passage. What is shining? What do you think this is a metaphor for? [v.1, 3, 7]

+ Why do they ask God to restore them [v. 4-6]?

+ What does this passage say about Jesus, his work, his ministry?

[ HOW ] is the Lord calling me to action/obedience?

+ Is there sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?

+ Do I trust that God will restore all the brokenness in my life and in the world?

+ Do I need to offer restoration to others?

+ Read Rev. 21:1-8. What does John say the new heaven and earth will be like? What kind of restoration is promised in the end?

+ Consider the following verses where the psalmists plead for restoration. What do they have in common?

Psalm 60:1 “O God, you have rejected us, broken our defenses; you have been angry; oh, restore us.”

Psalm 85:4 “Restore us again, O God of our salvation, and put away your indignation toward us!”

[ WHO ] am I walking with and praying for to discover Jesus?

+ What is my next step?