Musings and Contemplations

Messiah Comes to Change Hearts

Isaiah 40:3 ESV
In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.

Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19 NRSV
Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, you who lead Joseph like a flock! You who are enthroned upon the cherubim, shine forth before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh. Stir up your might and come to save us!
Restore us, O God; let your face shine, that we may be saved.
O Lord God of hosts, how long will you be angry with your people’s prayers? You have fed them with the bread of tears, and given them tears to drink in full measure. You make us the scorn of our neighbors; our enemies laugh among themselves.
Restore us, O God of hosts; let your face shine, that we may be saved.
But let your hand be upon the one at your right hand, the one whom you made strong for yourself. Then we will never turn back from you; give us life, and we will call on your name.
Restore us, O Lord God of hosts; let your face shine, that we may be saved.

Matthew Henry
[There is] no salvation but from God’s favor: “Cause thy face to shine, let us have thy love and the light of thy countenance, and then we shall be saved.”
[There is] no obtaining favor with God unless we be converted to him. We must turn again to God from the world and the flesh, and then he will cause his face to shine upon us.
[There is] no conversion to God but by his own grace; we must frame our doings to turn to him and then pray earnestly for his grace, Turn thou me, and I shall be turned, pleading that gracious promise (Proverbs 1:23), Burn you at my reproof; behold, I will pour out my Spirit unto you.
The prayer here is for a national conversion; in this method we must pray for national mercies, that what is amiss may be amended, and then our grievances would be soon redressed. National holiness would secure national happiness.^[1]

Psalm 80
T. M. Moore
O God of grace, restore us, and shine on us Your face! O save us, Lord, work for us; renew us by Your grace! Give ear, O gracious Savior, Who leads us as Your flock; stir up Your power and favor, our King and Lord and Rock!

How long will You ignore all Your people’s fervent prayers? Shall bitter tears fall ever? O Lord, renew Your care! Our neighbors mock and scorn us, they laugh at our distress; renew, O Lord, and turn us, look down on us and bless!

Though we be burned and perish because of Your command, revive us, Lord, and cherish this son of Your right hand. Then let us not return to our sinful, selfish ways, but call on You and learn to surround You with our praise.[2]

Almighty God our Savior,you desire that none should perish, and you have taught us through your Son that there is great joy in heaven over every sinner who repents: Grant that our hearts may ache for a lost and broken world. May your Holy Spirit work through our words, deeds, and prayers, that the lost may be found and the dead made alive, and that al your redeemed may rejoice around your throne; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.[3]

Savior of the Nations, Come

^[1] Matthew Henry, Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible: Complete and Unabridged in One Volume (Peabody: Hendrickson, 1994), 860.
[2] Psalm 80, The Ailbe Psalter.
[3] Prayer for a Spirit of Evangelism, Anglican Book of Common Prayer 2019, p. 652.