Advent 4
Worship
Aids To The Psalms
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.
Sit up your might, and come to save us! Restore us, O God;
let your race 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.
Alternate Image
The Singer sits in a barren land with a few close friends. They commiserate together. Their land is occupied by a foreign nation. They sit down to express their feelings in song. One word screams across their minds, "Why!" Rushing right behind that word is "How long?" Then a flood of thoughts, "Why has God allowed these things to happen to us, how long must we suffer? God, you have been like a Shepherd to us, like David. Why don't you care for us now as a shepherd cares for his sheep; are we no longer the sheep of your pasture? Why can't you gather us together from all the places we have been scattered? Give us your blessing as you blessed our ancestors. It breaks our hearts to think that our prayers should make you angry. Our enemies laugh at us and our misfortune, that is to be expected, but how have we offended you? You, O God, control all. We ask you to just look at us, and in your gaze we will be saved."
Reflection
Do we not all feel from time to time like we are exiles? That our enemies have conspired to scatter our lives all over the landscape. We feel that even God has turned from us? And we ask why. Why me, what have I done to merit such a condition? And then do we worry that even our prayers may sound so whiney that we might offend God? At those times it is especially important that we turn our attention to God. We should focus upon God and God's purposes in the world and God's purposes for us. When we turn to God, our lives become centered on our greatest reality, our greatest relationship, the One who gives purpose and meaning to our lives. And, when we turn to God, God's face can shine on us and bless us. That doesn't mean that life will always be rosy, but we know that God is with us in all times and places, in all circumstances, and we know God loves us and we are saved by his love through his son.
you who lead Joseph like a flock!
You who are enthroned upon the cherubim, shine forth
before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh.
Sit up your might, and come to save us! Restore us, O God;
let your race 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.
Alternate Image
The Singer sits in a barren land with a few close friends. They commiserate together. Their land is occupied by a foreign nation. They sit down to express their feelings in song. One word screams across their minds, "Why!" Rushing right behind that word is "How long?" Then a flood of thoughts, "Why has God allowed these things to happen to us, how long must we suffer? God, you have been like a Shepherd to us, like David. Why don't you care for us now as a shepherd cares for his sheep; are we no longer the sheep of your pasture? Why can't you gather us together from all the places we have been scattered? Give us your blessing as you blessed our ancestors. It breaks our hearts to think that our prayers should make you angry. Our enemies laugh at us and our misfortune, that is to be expected, but how have we offended you? You, O God, control all. We ask you to just look at us, and in your gaze we will be saved."
Reflection
Do we not all feel from time to time like we are exiles? That our enemies have conspired to scatter our lives all over the landscape. We feel that even God has turned from us? And we ask why. Why me, what have I done to merit such a condition? And then do we worry that even our prayers may sound so whiney that we might offend God? At those times it is especially important that we turn our attention to God. We should focus upon God and God's purposes in the world and God's purposes for us. When we turn to God, our lives become centered on our greatest reality, our greatest relationship, the One who gives purpose and meaning to our lives. And, when we turn to God, God's face can shine on us and bless us. That doesn't mean that life will always be rosy, but we know that God is with us in all times and places, in all circumstances, and we know God loves us and we are saved by his love through his son.
