Psalm 80 is a Psalm of Lament. Lament is a complaint, a passionate expression of grief, of pain, despair, confusion, and suffering. Psalm 80 describes Israel's communal lament.
In Psalm 80, the news out of Israel was bad. Israel, God's chosen people, the "vine out of Egypt" (verse 8) was suffering, grievously divided, persecuted, and mocked by enemies. Israel, the vine, is metaphorically described as "broken down, picked, ravaged, cut down, burned, and perishing" (verses 12-16). Israel not only laments their terrible circumstances, but laments that God smolders with anger against their prayers (verse 4). But were their prayers offered in a posture of repentance? Or in a posture of bitterness and entitlement? For how long has Israel turned away from God in sinful self worship and idolatry?
However, in the psalm's beautiful refrain, repeated three times in the midst of the lament, we hear a tone of repentance and longing for restoration: "Restore us, O Lord God of hosts, let your face shine, that we may be saved" (verses 3, 7, and 19). The words "Restore us" may also be understood or translated as "turn us again". We also hear Israel's plea, in verses 14, 17 and 18, for God to "return, rest on, and revive" His people. It is encouraging to hear Israel's cry of conviction to turn again to God in the midst of their grievous suffering and lament.
There is much to lament in our world today. I personally grieve and lament that death has come for my loved ones. I complain and lament that my physical body is frail and weakened by disease. Mostly I despair and lament at the daily news of our broken and fallen world, at the evil and idolatry on full display in every conceivable manner, flatly described in Mark's Gospel: "Out of the heart of man come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, wickedness, deceit, envy, sensuality, slander, pride, and foolishness."
In the midst of worldly darkness and despair, in individual or communal lament, our right response as believers is to "turn again" to God, again and again and again, and to pray in a posture of continual repentance and restoration. Our circumstances may not change according to our desire. But we are to live in the truth that our eternal circumstance is perfect, as our worldly experience is not. We are to live in the blessing of Numbers 6:24-26, echoed in the refrain of the psalm:
"The Lord bless you and keep you, the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you, the Lord lift up his countenance to you and give you peace."
- Allison W.