Tags
Almighty, Asaph, God's favor, grace, Grey Nuns Park, happy face, Orleans, psalmist, restore, saved, Shepherd of Israel, smile, the LORD
Reading: Psalm 80
For the director of music. To the tune of “The Lilies of the Covenant.”
Of Asaph. A psalm.
(Verses 1-7)
Hear us, Shepherd of Israel,
you who lead Joseph like a flock.
You who sit enthroned between the cherubim,
shine forth before Ephraim, Benjamin and Manasseh.
Awaken your might; come and save us.
Restore us, O God;
make your face shine on us,
that we may be saved.
How long, LORD God Almighty,
will your anger smolder
against the prayers of your people?
You have fed them with the bread of tears;
you have made them drink tears by the bowlful.
You have made us an object of derision to our neighbors,
and our enemies mock us.
Restore us, God Almighty;
make your face shine on us,
that we may be saved (NIV).
Reflection
Have you been greeted by a happy face today? I’m talking about the ubiquitous, yellow, happy face stickers that pop up everywhere, especially in any form of online communication. 
! We all recognize that these happy faces are intended to brighten our day—make us feel happy like the smiley face shows. I’m not sure they always succeed in their objective.
![IMG_20180128_094152_hdr[2317]](https://davidkitz.files.wordpress.com/2018/01/img_20180128_094152_hdr2317.jpg?w=529)
Winter morning glory, Grey Nuns Park, Orleans, ON — photo by David Kitz
Here in Psalm 80, the psalmist, Asaph, pleads for face time with the LORD. In fact, in the entire psalm, Asaph repeats this request three times. Restore us, O God; make your face shine on us, that we may be saved. Clearly, the psalmist is longing to see the smiley face of God—the shining face of God.
In Hebrew literature the shining face of God represents God’s favor—His grace. In reality the psalmist is pleading for God’s favor to rest on him and his people. The truth is we get nowhere without the favor of God. Unless the LORD is gracious to us, we are doomed to fail in this life and perish in eternity. It’s just that simple. We desperately need that happy face sticker from God. This should be our daily prayer: Restore us, God Almighty; make your face shine on us, that we may be saved
Response: Father God, today I need face time with you. Show me your kindness. Help me to sense you smiling down on me like a loving parent smiles down on their child. Thanks for your grace. Amen.
Your Turn: Have you recently sensed God smiling down on you? How did that make you feel?
Reblogged this on Talmidimblogging.
Wow. Skewered. I don’t think I ever imagine God smiling on me. I imagine his criticism. This calls for some Biblical contemplation…
I think too often we see or imagine an angry God, and at times I am sure He is angry or disappointed, but I think more often like a good Father, He is smiling down at His children.
Beautiful Outlaw is a must read if you feel this way
I love that book. Just a hard time believing it.
Hard time believing God is smiling down on you or certain aspects of the book?
Both. But I work on it.
Well your writing is very insightful and thought provoking for someone who doesn’t believe that God is smiling down on them.
You could say I’m preaching to myself. 🙂 And slowly, I am coming to believe it more.
Well keep at and i will be praying for you along the way!
Pingback: God…Smiling Down On Me? | Brandon J. Adams
I am also more and more realizing that when I look for God’s favor by asking Him to open my eyes to the favor He gives but I fail to see, all sorts of things begin to happen. I find a beautiful snow scene, or the opportunity for a belly laugh as the favor of God. All good gifts come from my heavenly Daddy says the scriptures, yet how often I fail to see it as God’s favor because I’m too wrapped up in life, or because I have a distorted perspective. This has become a huge change in life for me. A beautiful change.
A thankful heart is essential for experiencing the blessing of God. You are so right. We need to have our eyes opened to see the favor of God. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
Thank you for responding. I’m learning! Thank you also for your writings. God bless.
I absolutely LOVE this meditation, David! Looking for God’s favor today! God bless you big time! … and an online 🙂 for you!
Here is a 🙂 right back at you Lynn!
Thank You, Jesus for your smile. It is so good.
His loving kindness is life everlasting.
I am reminded of what Eric Liddell said in the movie Chariots of Fire, “When I run, I feel His pleasure.” If I do nothing else in life, I want to find that. That knowledge that my God smiles upon me.
Alicia, that should be our desire. May we see the smile of God and hear the words, “Well done, faithful servant!”