In Psalms, chapter eighty, verses one through nineteen, in this psalm of intercession, the psalmist pleads for the revival and restoration of God’s people to their place full of blessing and favor with God. This psalm depicts a people whose divine protection has collapsed, laying them open to assaults from the outside, as in verses twelve through thirteen. They have eaten the bread of tears and are objects of derision, as in verses five through six. In great humility, the psalmist repeatedly intercedes for God to show His favor again and to cause His face to shine upon the remnant who call on His name, as in verses one, three, seven, fourteen to fifteen, and verse nineteen, respectively.
The sentiments of the psalm are characteristic of the plight and prayer of God’s people immediately preceding a time of great revival. This psalm speaks to all believers, individually and corporately, who are not experiencing life, power, and righteousness as promised in His Word. We must pray that God will revive and renew us with His power and mercy.
The theme chapter is from A Call to God for Help section, as the opening of the first verse, “Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, thou that leadest Joseph like a flock; thou that dwellest between the cherubims, shine forth.” Joseph was Rachel’s firstborn child, the sister of Leah, who had several children, and the son of Jacob. It was after he was born that the son of Isaac wanted to leave Laban in Genesis thirty, verse twenty-five. “And it came to pass, when Rachel had born Joseph, that Jacob said unto Laban, Send me away, that I may go unto mine own place, and to my country.” God speaks to Jacob in Genesis thirty-one, verse three, “And the LORD said unto Jacob, Return unto the land of thy fathers, and to thy kindred; and I will be with thee.”
The example verse of Joseph shows how God desires to lead believers in the way he has for them. Things changed for Jacob and his family when Joseph was born because God was about to work through him, as in the first part of Genesis thirty-seven, verse two, “These are the generations of Jacob. Joseph, being seventeen years old, was feeding the flock with his brethren.” Later in life, Joseph was leading his family by God to make better for them although he went through various hardships to reach there. God desires to shine forth through any believer whose heart is towards Him because He knows the heart of everyone.