Turn us again, O LORD God of hosts, cause thy face to shine; and we shall be saved.
The verse is a closing cry to the LORD God of hosts to turn His people back to Himself and restore them by letting His favor shine upon them, with the assured result that they shall be saved. Salvation comes when God turns His people and lifts His countenance upon them. When He restores them and shows them His favor, they will be saved.
The God addressed is He who dwells between the cherubim, the Shepherd of Israel who leads Joseph like a flock. The verse gathers up the psalm's appeals for Him to shine forth, stir up His strength, come and save, visit the vine brought out of Egypt, keep His hand upon the man of His right hand, quicken His people with life, keep them from going back, and lead them to call upon His name.
In history the cry became Hezekiah's plea when Sennacherib's taunting letter threatened Jerusalem, which he took into the temple and spread before the Lord in strong faith that God alone could bring deliverance. The plea was made in behalf of Judah and for the honor of their Supreme Ruler, staking the honor of Jehovah on the outcome. It asked God to save Judah from Assyria so that all the kingdoms of the earth might know that the God of the Hebrews still lives and reigns, that He alone is God of all the kingdoms of the earth and Maker of heaven and earth, while the gods of the nations are no gods but wood and stone.
Such pleading is in harmony with the mind of God. It matches Solomon's dedication prayer that the Lord would maintain the cause of Israel at all times and show favor when in war or oppression the chief men of Israel enter the house of prayer to plead for deliverance, so that all people of the earth may know that the Lord is God and there is none else. Its words remain a fitting prayer for hearts seeking to return to the Lord.
The verse is a closing cry to the LORD God of hosts to turn His people back to Himself and restore them by letting His favor shine upon them, with the assured result that they shall be saved. Salvation comes when God turns His people and lifts His countenance upon them. When He restores them and shows them His favor, they will be saved.
The God addressed is He who dwells between the cherubim, the Shepherd of Israel who leads Joseph like a flock. The verse gathers up the psalm's appeals for Him to shine forth, stir up His strength, come and save, visit the vine brought out of Egypt, keep His hand upon the man of His right hand, quicken His people with life, keep them from going back, and lead them to call upon His name.
In history the cry became Hezekiah's plea when Sennacherib's taunting letter threatened Jerusalem, which he took into the temple and spread before the Lord in strong faith that God alone could bring deliverance. The plea was made in behalf of Judah and for the honor of their Supreme Ruler, staking the honor of Jehovah on the outcome. It asked God to save Judah from Assyria so that all the kingdoms of the earth might know that the God of the Hebrews still lives and reigns, that He alone is God of all the kingdoms of the earth and Maker of heaven and earth, while the gods of the nations are no gods but wood and stone.
Such pleading is in harmony with the mind of God. It matches Solomon's dedication prayer that the Lord would maintain the cause of Israel at all times and show favor when in war or oppression the chief men of Israel enter the house of prayer to plead for deliverance, so that all people of the earth may know that the Lord is God and there is none else. Its words remain a fitting prayer for hearts seeking to return to the Lord.