Psalm 80: 1-7, 17 -19 v 7 “Turn us again to yourself, O God of heavens armies. Make your face shine down upon us.
Please listen, O Shepherd who leads the flock. Show us your mighty power. Come to rescue us! Make your face shine down upon us. You have fed us with sorrow and made us drink tears by the bucketful. Our enemies treat us as a joke. Turn us again to yourself, O God of heavens armies. Make your face shine down upon us. Strengthen the man you love, the son of your choice. Revive us so we can call on your name once more. Make your face shine down upon us.
Throughout the Christmas story there are lots of different things shining. The Angels that appeared to Mary and the shepherds. The star that the kings followed and the gifts that they brought. These words are meant to be sung by a choir and a tune is recommended. But just as there is hardship in the story of the nativity, a long journey whilst pregnant, no room at an inn in this psalm the people have been fed sorrow and tears by the bucketful. My Mom died the day before Christmas Eve in 2019 and I remember through the joys of the season crying bucketsful of tears. Ever since I have been more sensitive to sorrow at this time of the year. To acknowledge that sad things happen even around the “most wonderful time of the year!” So quietly reach out to those who might be hurting this week. Don’t wish them a merry Christmas just let them know that you are there.
Little drummer boy: https://youtu.be/P2L0FmqwpFM
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