Psalm | Psalm 80:1-7 (with Nick Locke)

Opening Song:
Psalm 80 by Poor Bishop Hooper

Lyrics:
O God, restore
Shine Your face
Once more on us

Hear us, Shepherd of Israel
You who shepherd Your people well
Who sits among the light

O God, restore
Shine Your face
Once more on us

Come again, Almighty One
The vine You've chosen needs the Son
Who sits at Your right hand
The One whom You've raised up

O God, restore
Shine Your face
Once more on us

Passage:
1 Listen, Shepherd of Israel,
who leads Joseph like a flock;
you who sit enthroned between the cherubim,
shine
2 on Ephraim,
Benjamin, and Manasseh.
Rally your power and come to save us.
3 Restore us, God;
make your face shine on us,
so that we may be saved.

4 LORD God of Armies,
how long will you be angry
with your people’s prayers?
5 You fed them the bread of tears
and gave them a full measure
of tears to drink.
6 You put us at odds with our neighbors;
our enemies mock us.
7 Restore us, God of Armies;
make your face shine on us, so that we may be saved.
(Psalm 80:1-7 CSB)

Musical Reflection:
Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence (PICARDY)

Reflection Notes:
Adapted from a medieval French folk tune, PICARDY was later arranged by esteemed English composer Ralph Vaughan Williams as a congregational hymn. The minor tonalities and scalar phrasing are very reminiscent of chant and serve to create a hushed environment in which to reflect on the rich text.

Prayer:
Almighty God, who sees that we have no power of ourselves to help ourselves, keep us both outwardly in our bodies and inwardly in our souls, that we may be defended from all adversities that may happen to the body and from all evil thoughts that may assault and hurt the soul; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
-The Gregorian Sacramentary