Psalm 80

“Turn us again to yourself, O God. Make your face shine down upon us. Only then will we be saved.” (Psalm 80:3, NLT)

Asaph was writing during a time of national trouble. The people had become the scorn of the surrounding nations, their walls were broken down, and they were filled with sorrow. Asaph realized that there was only one solution: God needed to turn them to Himself and make His face shine upon them. Only then would they be saved. He repeats the refrain of verse 3 two more times (vv. 7, 19).

Israel had a history of experiencing God’s goodness and faithfulness and then turning away from God to do their own thing. Each time it brought disaster to the nation. God would raise up prophets, and occasionally the people would listen, but soon they would return to their rebellious, self-serving ways. In the last two verses of the Old Testament, God spoke through the prophet Malachi.

“Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD. And he will turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the earth with a curse.” (Malachi 4:5–6, NKJV)

This prophecy was partially fulfilled when John the Baptist came in the spirit and power of Elijah (Luke 1:17). But there is also a future fulfillment when Elijah returns to “restore all things” (Matthew 17:11).

In the meantime, God wants to close the generation gap where older people care for the youth, and young people seek connection with their elders. We saw this occur in the early days of Calvary Chapel, and it contributed greatly to the Jesus Movement. We would love to see these things happen again, but we know it begins when people turn to God and cry out for His deliverance. When we are in love with Jesus, then we flourish in love for one another and even for those who oppose us.

We need people to “stand in the gap” and intercede for our church, community and nation. Only then can people be saved from the corruption gripping our nation. Only then can we reach our fullest potential for eternity.

Would you join me in praying for spiritual revival? Let it begin with us!

“Revive us, and we will call upon Your name.” (Psalm 80:18, NKJV)