Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19

    With heartfelt lyrics, the psalmist pleads for restoration, deliverance, and salvation.  It is a cry echoed en masse by the entire community as they lament together their current state of separation from God. Not once, not twice, but three times they beseech God to relieve them from their distress: "Restore us, O God of hosts; let your face shine, that we may be saved." (v.7).

    While not overtly repentant or remorseful, this lamentation still conveys the nation's deep longing to be favored once again: To reestablish the former, preforesaken relationship that existed between them and God.  And so, they ache openly for the Almighty to intervene, knowing that God-involvement is necessary to grant them the new life they desire.  Then, having voiced the final refrain of this sacred song, they wait in expectation for God's response.

    And now, centuries later, with a hindsight that sees this prayer ultimately answered by God's in-breaking into humanity--an event the psalmist probably never even imagined--and with a foretaste of the Kingdom upon our bread-and-wine-kissed lips, we find ourselves in a season of expectant waiting, too.  Advent is upon us.  We wait; we await; we anticipate.  We are counting the days until a swaddled babe appears in the unlikely locale of a Bethlehem manger and dwells with us here on earth.  Our Savior is coming!  And still, in this in-between time, we wait; we await; we anticipate something more--a consummation of creation that, like the psalmist, we probably can't even imagine to the full extent of its glory.  Come, Lord Jesus!

God-With-Us, we stand in awe of your never-ending love for us. Bless us with a faith that transforms our yearning to anticipation, that we may share your grace-filled love, and the hope it represents, with all whom we meet.  In Christ's name we pray.  Amen

Britta Dukes (MDiv'05)

Austin Seminary Ambassador; Associate Pastor,

Shepherd of the Hills Presbyterian Church , Austin, Texas.