Sunday, December 18: Scripture – Psalm 80:1-3
1 Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel,
you who lead Joseph like a flock!
You who are enthroned upon the cherubim, shine forth
2 before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh.
Stir up your might,
and come to save us!
3 Restore us, O God;
let your face shine, that we may be saved.
Have you ever felt that God has left you? The psalmist, probably writing after the northern kingdom of Israel was defeated and its people deported to Assyria, felt God had gone away. The psalmist begs God to come back, to restore God’s people, to be present, so fully present that they can see God’s face shining. The presence of God’s glory shining around us, reassures us that God is near, that God will restore us to new life, that we might be saved. How might you look for signs of God’s face shining upon you this Advent and Christmas? What physical reminders do you have that God is near, that God has actually never left you? How can the birth of a baby born to refugees and placed in a feeding trough remind you that God is present with you now, working to restore you?
Prayer/Blessing: “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 upon you, and give you peace,” Amen. Numbers 6:24-26
Kathryn McGregor