Psalms 80:4

"Turn us again, God. Cause your face to shine, and we will be saved."

Key Reflection

The verse "Turn us again, God. Cause your face to shine, and we will be saved" (Psalms 80:4) comes from a context where the people of Israel are pleading for divine intervention in their time of distress. The phrase "turn us again" reflects a call for restoration, both morally and spiritually. In ancient Near Eastern culture, the king's face symbolized his favor; when a monarch's face shone upon someone, it indicated blessing or approval. By asking God to "cause your face to shine," the psalmist is requesting divine favor and protection, hinting at a broader plea for deliverance from their current state of trouble. This request for God’s renewed presence and favor encapsulates a deep longing for restoration and salvation.

From the Scholars: Barnes' Notes

O Lord God of hosts -Yahweh, God of armies. That is either (a) the God who rules among the hosts of heaven - the inhabitants of that holy world; or (b) God of the hosts of the sky - the worlds above - the stars, that seem marshalled as hosts or armies, and that are led forth each night with such order and grandeur; or (c) God of the hosts on earth - the armies that are mustered for war. The phrase is one which is often applied to God. See the notes atPsalms 24:10; and atIsaiah 1:24. How long wilt thou be angry -Margin, as in Hebrew, wilt thou smoke. The allusion is derived from the comparison of anger with fire. See the notes atPsalms 74:1.

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