2nd Week of Advent (B) : Saturday 16th December 2023

Psalm 80 speaks about a time in Israel’s history when it was invaded by foreigners (presumably Assyrians). Having to move elsewhere because of the invasion, they now pray earnestly to God as a community. They realise they had left God and promise to “never forsake You again” (v 18).

In Psalm 80, Israel called God the “shepherd of Israel” (v 1), thus addressing God as the king of Israel. For Israel, God was also the “God of hosts” (v 14), i.e. the supreme commander of the heavenly army.

Through invoking these titles of God, Israel confirms their belief that only God is kingly and powerful enough to rescue them in their present and precarious predicament of life and death.

Therefore, they plead with God to “let Your face shine on us” (v 7), to “hear us” (v 1), to “come to our help” (v 2), and to “see… visit … protect” Israel in all its current vulnerability (vv 14-15).

They beg God to “bring us back” (v 7) and to “give us life” – they are now away from their home and constantly facing death.

They realise that without God’s covering them, they have opened themselves to the terrors of foreigners and are completely helpless and would be wholly vanquished unless God stepped in and turned the tide.

Psalm 80 is a prayer we can pray together as a community of faith, nationally and globally.

Lord, please hear and answer our prayers for Your beloved in the world.