Let Your Face Shine, O God

“Restore us, O God; let your face shine, that we may be saved” (Psalm 80:3)

“Let your face shine, that we may be saved.” 

That’s an intriguing idea. What does God’s face shining have anything to do with salvation?

The Hebrew word “face” often was used to signify one’s presence. To ask for God’s face to shine is asking for God’s presence; that God’s face would shine refers to God’s favor.

“Let your face shine,” is asking for God’s presence and that God would show forth his favor upon us.

Our salvation is dependent on God’s presence and God’s favor. These two – God’s presence and God’s favor – go together because without God’s favor, God’s grace, God’s mercy we have no hope. God’s presence isn’t dependent upon our performance. God’s presence is dependent on God’s love and grace. And that is good news to repeat sinners like you and me.

Our response to such amazing grace is to live lives that are worthy in order to glorify him. Everything we do is in response to a loving and gracious God.

My prayer for you on this day is the famous blessing from Numbers 6:24-26:

The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you; the LORD lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace.