Advent Week 1 Psalm Reading

The Revised Common Lectionary lists the beginning and end of Psalm 80 as the Week 1 reading of Advent.  As I read it, cleaning it up to post here, I was struck by the helplessness and pain of the author.  And his confidence that the coming of God would return him to peace.

Psalm 80: 1-7, 17-19

1 Hear us, Shepherd of Israel,
you who lead Joseph like a flock.
You who sit enthroned between the cherubim,
shine forth

2 before Ephraim, Benjamin and Manasseh.
Awaken your might;
come and save us.

3 Restore us, O God;
make your face shine on us,
that we may be saved.

4 How long, LORD God Almighty,
will your anger smolder
against the prayers of your people?

5 You have fed them with the bread of tears;
you have made them drink tears by the bowlful.

6 You have made us an object of derision to our neighbors,
and our enemies mock us.

7 Restore us, God Almighty;
make your face shine on us,
that we may be saved.
….
17 Let your hand rest on the man at your right hand,
the son of man you have raised up for yourself.

18 Then we will not turn away from you;
revive us, and we will call on your name.

19 Restore us, LORD God Almighty;
make your face shine on us,
that we may be saved.

I was struck by the imagery of light, and the cleansing strength and glory of God’s face.
And during this Advent season, the “resting of your hand on the man at your right hand” takes on new meaning.  The psalmist has no idea that this son of man that God has raised up will be pleated out of the kingdom dimension and be wholly present in our aching world.

And this shining of God, in response to our pain, is done with such power and gracious sacrifice.  God is with us.  At Christmas and always.