Craving a Father's Smile

READ PSALM 80

Psalm 80:3,7,19 (ESV)

³ Restore us, O God; let your face shine, that we may be saved! ⁷ Restore us, O God of hosts; let your face shine, that we may be saved!

¹⁹ Restore us, O Lord God of hosts! Let your face shine, that we may be saved!

When I was a young boy I used to watch the way my father reacted to everything. If we were watching a funny show I wanted to see if he was laughing or smiling before I laughed or smiled. If something was sad I wanted to see if it made my father sad before I showed any emotion. Whenever something was confusing or unsettling I looked to my father for reassurance. There was rarely a word spoken in these moments, but the look on his face was all that I needed for guidance.

This encapsulates the poetic imagery of Psalm 80, a Psalm likely written by a Levite musician named Asaph. The repeated cry of the text is a request for God to shine His face upon the people of Israel. Gentile nations had overtaken God's chosen people due to their unfaithfulness to God, and when the people were "given over" and defeated by these nations it became clear that God had lost His smile.

I would like to draw your attention to verses 3, 7, and 19. In English we see the phrase repeated, "Restore us, O God." But the original Hebrew in which it was written actually intensifies and adds complexity to the desire for God's face to shine upon His people.

V. 3 "Restore us, Elohim (One True God)

V. 7 "Restore us, Elohim Sabaoth (Lord of Hosts)

V. 19 "Restore us, Yahweh Elohim Sabaoth (The Lord is Supreme)

What we see here is a craving for the smile of the Father. His people are crying out to Him and are desperate for His face to shine upon them again.

Do you have that craving in your soul? Does your heart desire the Father's face to shine upon you?

The worship song Run to the Father by Cody Carnes comes to mind. If you have some time watch and listen. Let this song of worship usher you into the presence of the Father and let His face shine upon you...and give you peace.

Josh Huisman is the senior pastor of Crosswalk Church in Brentwood, TN. If you would like to support this website and make it possible for this page to stay active and these devotions to reach a wider audience, CLICK HERE

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