by Jeffrey Bush
“Turn us again, O God, and cause thy face to shine; and we shall be saved.” — Psalms 80:3
The face of God shining upon us is a term referred to three times in this specific Psalm, and multiple times throughout the Scriptures (Numbers 6:25; Psalm 31:16; Psalm 80:3, 7, 19; Psalm 67:1; Psalm 119:135; Daniel 9:17). God’s face shining represents God’s favor, presence, and blessing. We all need God’s favor, the question is do we desire it enough to recognize it? The result of God’s favor shining down is His salvation. Only He can give eternal salvation and only He can give temporal salvation from the troubles, afflictions, and pains of this world. All is vain unless God works. Man can help but only God can heal. Men trust in horses and chariots, but God is the true and constant deliverer.
But allow me to draw your attention to the first part, “Turn us again” (vs. 3). Once again, they were asking for God’s help. Once again, they were in need of God. But this is not only an issue that Israel was guilty of, this is something each one of us need. We know we need God’s help, deliverance, favor, and blessing. We have seen God’s goodness but walk away in our stubbornness and obliviousness. We need His help again. We need His favor again. Our emotions, feelings, and feeble attempts have left us abandoned, and we once again need God. Recognize and realize that He is gracious to be called upon again. And again He will deliver.