Today, I would like to share with you some precious lessons that I have learned from Psalm 80. I pray that, dear reader, you will also be blessed.

Turn us again! (Psalm 80:1-7) Three times we read a prayer being repeated in this Psalm - “Turn us again, O God, and cause thy face to shine; and we shall be saved” (v. 3). It was prayed while God’s people were going through enormous difficulties. God’s hand of chastisement was on them. The psalmist lamented, “Thou feedest them with the bread of tears; and givest them tears to drink in great measure. Thou makest us a strife unto our neighbours: and our enemies laugh among themselves” (vv. 5, 6).

Take note that the psalmist did not ask the Lord to change the dire circumstances. Rather, he said, “Lord, restore us. We have wandered away. We are not what we ought to be. Turn us right again.”

Nonetheless, the psalmist observed that God was angry with the prayers of the people (v. 4). Why would He be angry? They were praying selfishly for their own comfort and deliverance. They were not thinking about the glory of God. He afflicted and chastened them because His glory was at stake.

The psalmist understood the problem; so his prayer was different from the prayers of the people. He prayed for everyone’s repentance and salvation.

We too ought to pray like the psalmist, especially when troubles come as a result of our sins and unwise actions. We need God’s restoration; but firstly, we must turn away from our sins to God and His righteousness. He wants us to glorify Him.

Have you failed God? Have you resorted to living your life or doing things according to your own passion and ideas? Pray with a sincere heart, “Turn us again, O God”.

Bloom where the Lord planted you (Psalm 80:8-13)
The psalmist then recounted the Lord’s providential placement of Israel in the promise land. “Thou hast brought a vine out of Egypt: thou hast cast out the heathen, and planted it. Thou preparedst room before it, and didst cause it to take deep root, and it filled the land” (vv. 8, 9). He planted the people of Israel in the land that they might, by their life and testimony, bear spiritual fruit, letting the Gentile nations know about the true and living God. He gave them an opportunity to show other nations what He could do for those who would trust and obey Him. But the Israelites wasted the opportunity by sinning against God. Instead of being a genuine vine, Israel lived like wild plants. So God disciplined His people.

One of the greatest tragedies in life is wasted opportunity - not making the most of what God has called us to do. We came into this world with certain abilities which God gave us; and when God saved us, He also gave us gifts and spiritual grace to exercise those gifts. We are bestowed with these gifts in order that we may help others, to build our own lives and to glorify His name.

Remember, God has planted you where you are that you might be a blessing. He wants you to take deep root. He wants you to bear much fruit. And if you will draw upon His spiritual power, He will enable you to be a blessing. Bloom where you are planted and bear fruit to the glory of God and for the blessing of others.

Even when God chastises us, He does it like a farmer who prunes the vine that it might produce more fruit. If we would pray and turn to Him, all our troubles would make us a greater blessing to others than ever before.

Are you a blessing to brethren around you in Gethsemane? Or are you preoccupied with self-pleasure and self-comfort that you ignore others around you?

Revive us again (Psalm 80:14-19)
There are two important words in Psalm 80. The first one is “return”, which the psalmist used in his prayer - “Return, we beseech thee, O God of hosts: look down from heaven, and behold, and visit this vine” (v. 14). The other word is “quicken” or “revive”, which is also part of his prayer - “So will not we go back from thee: quicken us, and we will call upon thy name. Turn us again, O LORD God of hosts, cause thy face to shine; and we shall be saved” (vv. 18, 19).

When Israel began to imitate heathen nations, visit their altars and participate in their sacrifices, God said to them, in effect, “If that’s the way you want it, you can have it.” God left His people to their folly. This truth is found in the Hebrew word, Ichabod, which means “the glory has departed” (I Samuel 4:21).

God would never go back on His word that says, “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee” (Hebrews 13:5). We are the ones who turn away from Him. So if we return to Him, we will find His nurturing grace and blessing once again. Like the psalmist, let us say, “So will not we go back from thee: quicken us, and we will call upon thy name” (v. 18).

God will never leave you, but there are times when He may need to withhold His power and blessing because of sin in your life. Are you in need of God’s restoration and revival? He will hear your prayer for His blessings and renewal.