This psalm is a prayer for deliverance and restoration. There is one repeated phrase: "Restore us, LORD God Almighty; make your face shine on us, that we may be saved" (3,7,19). What did they need to be saved from? They needed salvation from: derision and mocking from enemies (6), broken walls (12), boars and insects that ravaged the land (13), burned towns and perishing people (16). The people ate and drank tears (5). The psalmist understood all this disaster as God's smoldering anger against his people (4).

The psalmist remembers who God is: God is the Shepherd of Israel; the one shining enthroned between the cherubim on the ark of the covenant (1); the one who brought them out of Egypt and planted them as a huge, spreading vine to fill the land (8-11). He prays God may return and watch over the vine he planted, the son he raised (15).

We too need salvation as individuals and as a nation: from sin, evil, the devil, enemies, and disasters. We too must remember God's mighty deeds of salvation and grace, and call on his name.


Application: Lord, you have saved us and chastened us. Restore and revive us, Lord. Look on us and save us, that we may call on your name and be saved.
One Word: Restore and save us, O God