RESTORE US, O God, Let thy FACE shine

In the appointed Psalms for Sept 16 in the classic editions of the BCP (1549-1662 -1928) is Psalm 80. Scholars tell us that it was probably composed in the last days of the northern kingdom, just before 721 BC. Today the Church prays this psalm with, in and through the Lord Jesus Christ and thus it becomes a prayer for restoration, renewal and revival of Christ’s cause.

Notice the repeated petition, “RESTORE US, O GOD; LET THY FACE SHINE, THAT WE MAY BE SAVED” (verses 4, 8, 15, 20).

Notice also that the intensity of the petition increases as the Name of God is developed and strengthened – “O God” (v.4); “O God of hosts” (vv.8 & 15) and “LORD God of hosts” (v.20).

We move from the general name of the God of Israel, to the heightened Name (The God of all the heavenly armies) to the unique, revealed Name ( LORD -- YHWH, HE WHO IS, HE WHO WAS & HE WHO SHALL BE).

And with the heightening and intensifying of the NAME of God so the petition becomes the more explicit and real. “Let thy face shine” is prayer for not only the divine light and divine favor to be known and felt amongst the Jews but also for there to be a vital sense of God’s presence with his covenant people. It is fervent request for YHWH (the LORD) to be unto them now and always their covenant God.

For the Church YHWH is the Blessed Holy and Undivided Trinity (“in the NAME of the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost”) and only HE is able to revive his people and only HE can of his choosing cause his Spirit to fall upon them and his blessings to be as showers to cleanse and refresh them.

At the stage of composing this Psalm the northern kingdom knew that political alliances and human effort could not save it. Only intervention by the LORD could restore and save, only restorative rain could cause this vine to grow and bear fruit (vv.14-15).

Similarly, for American Episcopalians, who see the Judgment of God upon their province and who realize that political machination and ecclesiastical alliances do not have the power to save them from moral & spiritual disaster, this is a Prayer to address fervently and humbly to the Almighty Father, through the Incarnate Son and with the Holy Ghost: RESTORE US, O LORD GOD OF HOSTS, BLESSED TRINITY! LET THY FACE SHINE UPON US THAT WE MAY BE SAVED.


The Rev'd Dr. Peter Toon M.A., D.Phil. (Oxon.)