“Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, you who lead Joseph like a flock. You who are enthroned upon the cherubim, shine forth. Before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh, stir up your might and come to save us! Restore us, O God; let your face shine, that we may be saved! You brought a vine out of Egypt; you drove out the nations and planted it. You cleared the ground for it; it took deep root and filled the land. The mountains were covered with its shade, the mighty cedars with its branches. It sent out its branches to the sea and its shoots to the River. Why then have you broken down its walls, so that all who pass along the way pluck its fruit? But let your hand be on the man of your right hand, the son of man whom you have made strong for yourself! Then we shall not turn back from you; give us life, and we will call upon your name! Restore us, O Lord God of hosts! Let your face shine, that we may be saved!” (v1-3,8-12,17-19)
This Psalm is a plea for restoration – the mighty vine of Israel which was brought out of Egypt and became strong when planted in Canaan, has now become ravaged by its neighbors and the wild animals.
At first glance it sounds like the psalmist is blaming God for the destruction Israel is experiencing: “O Lord God of hosts, how long will you be angry with your people’s prayers? You have fed them with the bread of tears and given them tears to drink in full measure. You make us an object of contention for our neighbors, and our enemies laugh among themselves.” (v4-6) Though we know God has a history of doing nothing but good for the people and showing them abundant love in all that He does, so blaming God doesn’t really make sense.
Subtly, the psalmist then hints at the fact the destruction of the nation is the fault of the people, not God. Despite the majority of the psalm making it sound like this situation is God’s fault, the key is right here: “But let your hand be on the man of your right hand, the son of man whom you have made strong for yourself! Then we shall not turn back from you; give us life, and we will call upon your name!” (v17-18) This could prophetically be talking about Jesus as the “right-hand man” and “son of man”, or maybe it’s talking about Israel, but either way the author is clear that God needs to provide the the strength so that the people “shall not turn back from Him” and “will call upon His name”. It seems the truth of the matter is (which is recorded in other books such as Kings and Chronicles) Israel turned their back on God, and stopped calling on His name, which is why God allowed them to be partially destroyed and enslaved again. Put simply, they disobeyed.
Father God, please restore us. Let your face shine, that we may be saved. Over and over again we sin against You, so we beg Your forgiveness and request that in Your grace and mercy You would heal us. Create in us a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within us. Cast us not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to us the joy of Your salvation, and uphold us with a willing spirit. (Psa 51:10-12)
~Conqueror in Training