“Oh, give ear, Shepherd of Israel, You who lead Joseph like a flock; You who are enthroned above the cherubim, shine forth”
(Psalm 80:1).
Psalm 80
Face to Face with Jesus
T here’s a little child inside of you; with dreams naïve, his hope is new.
His belief unmarred, his heart unstained; says “Abba Daddy,” his love proclaimed.
He reaches upward, his eyes are sure; his dad’s embrace, his faith is pure.
His father’s love now face to face; enthralling trust, his dad’s embrace.
His emotions trusting, they know no pain; sweet affirmation his highest aim.
The sun sets nightly, the moon’s arising; the days, now years, bring trials realizing.
Through disappointments and people’s sin; his conscience marred and hurt within.
Staunch confrontation, the world’s embrace; the child part of a fallen race.
Yet looking back he soon realizes; his deepest hope, his faith arises.
He finds in Jesus and the crucifixion; the grace of God and His benediction.
His heart transformed, the Spirit’s power; his longing grows with every hour.
Oh childlike faith, his invitation; now Abba Jesus, fresh realization.
Tho’ sin exists, God’s grace abounding; consuming love, His heart confounding.
God’s intimate love, so deeply yearning; his childlike faith, hence now returning.
Now face to face, his spirit willing; the Spirit’s power, his heart fulfilling.
Hence, face to face with Jesus, His night in the upper room; going back in time, His love sublime, our debt He would assume.
Face to face with Jesus, as He washes your soiled feet; down on His knees, the Father pleased, your cleansing to complete.
Face to face with Jesus, the garden of Gethsemane; The Father’s Son, “thy will be done,” they nailed Him to the tree.
Oh face to face with Jesus, the trials throughout the night; God’s plan in place, your love slaps to His face, in worship we recite.
Face to face with Jesus, the scourging of the whip; oh glory be, our purity, our forgiveness to equip.
Face to face with Jesus, in pain He carries the Cross; longsuffering quakes, each step He takes, our gain becomes His loss.
Oh face to face with Jesus, the crowning of His head; for you and me, humility, His blood in flowing red.
Face to face with Jesus, the nails of crucifixion; His wrists and feet, our ransom complete, display of sins conviction.
Now face to face with Jesus, it’s ours in His resurrection; in moments of gold, His face behold, He is our daily reflection.
Oh look into His eyes, and see the Father’s love; we’re not condemned, He is our friend, God’s gift from up above.
Oh look into His Word, in deepest meditation; you’ll see His face, a fond embrace, His highest invitation.
He looks into your heart today, the window to your soul; no longer blamed, we’re not ashamed, His embrace our greatest goal.
- Psalm 80:3 – “O God, restore us and cause Your face to shine upon us, and we will be saved.”How big is God? If N.A.S.A. estimates that the known cosmos is a startling 27.4 billion light years in diameter, then God is at the very least, bigger than that! Yet, when we go face to face with Him, we see His face shine in warmth, lovingkindness, and affection. What is David asking for in this passage?
- Numbers 6:25-26 - “May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make His face to shine upon you and be gracious to you. May the Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace.”In the phrase from this familiar doxology, “May the Lord make His face to shine upon you,” what is the importance of that to you?
Why do you desire that God “makes His face shine upon you?”
- Exodus 33:11 – “Thus the Lord used to speak to Moses face to face, just as a man speaks to his friend. When Moses returned to the camp, his servant Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man, would not depart from the tent.”
How does this verse speak to your heart about God’s “face to face” friendship?How could it change your communication pattern with God?
- 2 Corinthians 4:6 – “For God, who said, “Light shall shine out of darkness,” is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.”
If God’s face “shined on Moses as a friend” and shined on David, Noah, Peter, Paul, the thief on the cross, and countless other broken, undeserving individuals, what does it mean to you that He put that “shine” of glory in your heart?What do you need to do with that very realization?
John 13:15 – “For I gave you an example that you also should do as I did to you.”
From today’s scripture, how does THE Shepherd inspire you to shepherd your flock?
“Thus the Lord used to speak to Moses face to face, just as a man speaks to his friend” (Exodus 33:11).
Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication
