egypt

A Sheep’s Journey Through Psalms -80

/ taethne

A Gentle Journey Through Psalm 80: God’s Faithful Restoration

Dear friend, as we gather our hearts around the words of Psalm 80, let’s imagine ourselves sitting in a cozy room, perhaps with a warm cup of tea in hand, allowing the ancient cries of God’s people to resonate with our own souls. This beautiful psalm, likely penned during a time of national distress—maybe during the Assyrian invasions or another period of hardship—is a heartfelt prayer from Asaph, calling out to the Lord as the Shepherd of Israel. It’s a song of lament, yet woven through it is a thread of hope, reminding us that even in our lowest moments, God’s love pursues us relentlessly. Let’s walk through it together, verse by verse, and see how it speaks to our lives today.

The psalm opens with a tender invocation: “Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, you who lead Joseph like a flock! You who are enthroned upon the cherubim, shine forth!” (verses 1-2). Oh, how comforting it is to picture God not as a distant ruler, but as a caring Shepherd, guiding His people with gentleness and strength. Here, the psalmist appeals to God’s covenant love, referencing Joseph and the tribes of Ephraim, Benjamin, and Manasseh—symbols of the northern kingdom. In our own lives, when trials loom large, we too can cry out to Jesus, the Good Shepherd (John 10:11), who leads us beside still waters and restores our souls. Isn’t it reassuring to know that He hears our pleas and longs to “shine forth” His presence, illuminating our darkness with His light?

As we move forward, the refrain echoes like a soothing chorus: “Restore us, O God; let your face shine, that we may be saved!” (verse 3, repeated in verses 7 and 19). This plea draws from the priestly blessing in Numbers 6:24-26, where God’s shining face brings peace and salvation. The psalmist acknowledges the people’s suffering—tears as their bread, mockery from enemies (verses 4-6)—yet turns to God in vulnerability. My friend, perhaps you’ve felt the sting of sorrow, where every day seems flavored with grief. In those times, this psalm invites us to pour out our hearts, trusting that God’s face, turned toward us in Christ, brings healing and renewal. He doesn’t scold us for our weakness; instead, He draws near with compassion.

Then comes the vivid metaphor of the vine in verses 8-13: “You brought a vine out of Egypt; you drove out the nations and planted it.” God is portrayed as a master gardener, tenderly transplanting Israel from bondage in Egypt, allowing it to flourish across the land. But now, the vine is broken down, ravaged by beasts and passersby. What a poignant image of how sin, enemies, or our own wanderings can leave us feeling uprooted and exposed! Yet, even here, the warmth of God’s original care shines through—He planted us with purpose, to bear fruit for His glory. As Christians, we see this fulfilled in Jesus, the true Vine (John 15:1-5), who invites us to abide in Him. When life feels like a vineyard trampled underfoot, remember: the Gardener hasn’t abandoned His work. He’s pruning and protecting, shaping us for greater growth.

The psalm intensifies in verses 14-17 with a desperate call: “Turn again, O God of hosts! Look down from heaven, and see; have regard for this vine… Let your hand be on the man of your right hand.” There’s a messianic whisper here, pointing to the “son” whom God has strengthened—ultimately, Christ, the Son at God’s right hand. The people promise faithfulness if God revives them, vowing not to turn away. How often do we make similar promises in our prayers? And yet, God’s grace meets us not because of our vows, but because of His unchanging love. He revives us through the Holy Spirit, breathing new life into weary hearts.

Finally, the psalm closes with that familiar refrain, now elevated: “Restore us, O Lord God of hosts! Let your face shine, that we may be saved!” (verse 19). It’s a crescendo of trust, affirming God’s power and our dependence on Him.

Beloved, Psalm 80 isn’t just a historical lament; it’s a mirror for our souls, reflecting God’s shepherding heart amid our struggles. Whether you’re facing personal trials, community brokenness, or spiritual dryness, let this psalm wrap around you like a warm embrace. God, who brought Israel through the wilderness, is the same One who shepherds us today. He shines His face upon us in Jesus, restoring what was lost and drawing us into His abundant life.

Let’s pause and pray: Heavenly Father, our gentle Shepherd, thank You for hearing our cries as You did for Your people long ago. Shine Your face upon us, restore our hearts, and help us abide in Your vine. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Exaggerating for Effect

/ taethne

In an effort to drive home a point or advance an agenda, many people exaggerate a real event or occurrence. While some parts of the story may be true, or even technically correct, the whole narrative is skewed so as to become propaganda to further a cause. As Christians, we should strive to “tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth” so as to not bring harm or slight upon the perfect person of Jesus Christ.

One such popular slogan tossed around today is that Jesus, Mary and Joseph were “refugees” because they fled to Egypt to avoid Herod’s persecution. That is an example of what I am talking about. People are trying to take a modern connotation of what a refugee is and superimpose it onto a historical event. Jesus did go from Israel to Egypt for a short period of time. However, both Israel and Egypt were Roman Empire territories. They did not flee to another country such as modern-day refugees fleeing war torn Syria for Sweden.

Jesus’ flight into Egypt would be more like someone fleeing Newsom’s California for DeSantis’ Florida. Still remaining in the United States but going to another jurisdiction to avoid political persecution. We would not call them a refugee. Also, the trip was self-funded. Mary and Joseph had received the gifts from the Magi – gold, frankincense and myrrh – which would have provided plenty of money for the young family to travel, find a home and set up shop in the large Jewish community already residing in Egypt. After a couple years, as soon as Herod dies, they return back to Israel and settle in Nazareth.

Now, under a very broad definition of refugee, a person fleeing from political violence, for a very short period of time, one might consider Jesus to have been a refugee. From a practical standpoint, no, He wasn’t. And He wouldn’t identify as one since He was under 5 when all this took place anyway. He would have little to no memory of it as His childhood was stable, growing up in Nazareth. Those who bandy this about are trying to drive an agenda that doesn’t need support from stretching the truth like this. We already have commands of Scripture to take care of others, to support the poor and indigent, to treat all people with dignity and respect, both countrymen and the alien among us.

Using an event like the Bethlehem slaughter of infants to try and score political points today does an injustice to Scripture. The flight to Egypt would have happened anyway because it was a prophetic event. This was done to fulfill the Scripture “Out of Egypt I have called My Son”. A temporary (estimated 3 1/2 years) of hiding and then a return to one’s homeland is not the same as permanent refugee status today inside another country. Temporarily fleeing political persecution would be a more accurate way to describe what occurred, although it wouldn’t fit the current political narrative being pushed. And this is too bad, because Jesus doesn’t need us to “spin” events for Him. He simply needs us to present the truth simply, cleanly, and clearly.