May 18 – Reading 138

MAY 18 – Reading 138

by Rev James M. Armpriester, Jr | May 18

“RESTORE US”
(Psalm 78:1-72; 80:1-19)

“Restore us, O God; let Your face shine, that we may be saved!” — Psalm 80:3 (also repeated in vv. 7 and 19)

The years 1992 and 1993 were the most pivotal years of my life.  They were years of reconciliation, rededication, refilling, and restoration.  For nearly a decade prior, I had pursued a life that did not include a relationship with God.  By my own decisions, I was estranged from the God who loves me.  I no longer felt the joy of His presence nor the peace and satisfaction that comes through obedience.  In truth, I was unhappy and full of all kinds of emotional baggage.  

I was successful but unfulfilled.  I was surrounded by people but felt alone.  On the outside, I looked to have it all together, yet on the inside, I was anxious and broken.  I needed restoration, and that is what God did for me.  Through the sudden passing of Brenda’s grandfather, Walter, God revealed just how far away I had strayed from the life He had planned for me.   Walter was a Godly man, and his love for God and his family stood in stark contrast to my life.  That week, in a small country church in Indiana, I wept uncontrollably as I confessed my foolish rebellion and great desire for reconciliation.  God so graciously forgave me, and I felt His Presence for the first time in nearly a decade.  His Presence was so palpable I knew He had accepted me and was with me.

I knew I was saved and accepted, but restoration was just beginning.  So much needed to be addressed in my life.  In 1993, God sent an evangelist to our home church who ministered almost nightly for 8-weeks.  Brenda and I attended nearly every service (50+ services).  I was hungry for God and looked forward to worshipping, learning about Him, and spending time with Him in prolonged prayer following the service.  I was desperate for Him, and He changed my heart and mind as I cried out to Him daily.  During this intense seeking, I heard His call to ministry.  God not only restored me to His family, but He also reiterated His call on my life to proclaim His Word.  The more I sought after him, the more He restored.

In Psalm 80, Asaph cries out for his nation.  Asaph’s desires were not just for help but for restoration. He doesn’t ask for a quick fix or shallow comfort—he pleads for God’s presence and power to return and revive His people. If you’ve ever longed for renewal—in your life, your family, your church, or your nation—this psalm is your cry, too: “Restore us, O God, let Your face shine, that we may be saved!”

Asaph, a leader of worship and a prophet in his own right, writes this psalm from a place of national distress and spiritual desperation. Israel was suffering—likely from enemy invasion or divine discipline—and Asaph knew the only true solution was God Himself.

He calls on:

• The Shepherd of Israel (v. 1) – reminding God (and himself) that the One who once led Joseph like a flock can lead them again.

   

• The God of Hosts (v. 4, 7, 14) – a mighty, heavenly warrior who fights for His people.

   

• The God who once planted and tended His vine (vv. 8–16) – a metaphor for Israel’s growth and flourishing, now burned and cut down.

Asaph doesn’t just ask for deliverance—he asks for restoration, for revival, for God to turn His face toward them again. The refrain in verses 3, 7, and 19 is the heartbeat of this psalm:

“Restore us, O God; let Your face shine, that we may be saved!”

He knows that only God’s presence brings salvation. Not better politics. Not military strength. Not comfort. Only the shining face of God—His favor and nearness—can heal and restore.

New Testament Connection:

• 2 Corinthians 4:6 — “For God… has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” (God’s face shines on us through Christ.)

   

• John 15:1- 5 — Jesus says, “I am the true vine,” completing the metaphor Asaph began. Restoration comes through abiding in Him.

   

• Acts 3:19 — “Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord.” (Restoration is found in repentance and renewed intimacy with God.)

Asaph’s Example — A Cry for Revival and Renewal:

1. Call on God’s Character—Asaph appealed to God as a Shepherd, Warrior, and Gardener. Remember to focus on who God is when you pray, not just on what you need (v. 1).

    

2. Pray for Restoration, Not Just Relief – Asaph didn’t just want the pain to stop—he wanted God’s presence to return (v. 3, 7, 19).

    

3. Acknowledge the Brokenness Honestly – He didn’t sugarcoat Israel’s situation (v. 5–6, 12–13). Healing starts with honesty before God.

    

4. Remember God’s Past Faithfulness – Asaph recalled how God once rescued, planted, and blessed His people (v. 8–11). What God did before, He can do again.

    

5. Ask Boldly for God’s Face to Shine Again – This is more than poetic language—it’s a cry for revival, for the light of God’s presence to return.

Simple Truth:
Revival doesn’t begin with circumstances changing—it starts with God’s face shining on His people again. Restoration flows from His presence. 

Reflection & Application:

• Are you asking God for relief or genuinely seeking His restoration in your life?

   

• Do you believe that God’s presence is the answer to your deepest needs?

   

• What areas of your life, family, or community need His renewing touch right now?

Closing Prayer:
Restore us, O God. Let Your face shine so that we may be saved. We’ve wandered, grown weary, and looked for solutions in all the wrong places. But You alone are our hope and healer. Shine Your light on us again. Revive our hearts, restore our joy, and draw us near to Your presence. In Jesus’ name, Amen.