Let your face shine on us (Psalm 80)

The lament Psalms are a cry from deep within the heart of God's people - a cry for God to keep his promises, to hear the distress of his people, to be gracious. Many of us when we read these Psalms recoil in shock. They are so raw and honest - we piously think, 'You can't say that to God!'  But God does have shoulders big enough to cry on, ears big enough to hear even our sorrow and pain. Psalm 80 expresses a longing for God's restoration - 'Restore us, O Lord God Almighty. Make your face shine on us, that we may be saved.' Its longing and yearning for restoration take us into the suffering of the world, and in the midst of Psalm 80 we meet Jesus himself. This sermon takes us into the depths of Psalm 80. It was preached on Sunday 27th November 2011 (Advent 1) at St John's Southgate Lutheran Church. Enjoy!