Psalm 80:1-2 - August 17, 2009

Ps 80:1-2 For the director of music. To [the tune of] "The Lilies of the Covenant." Of Asaph. A psalm.

"Hear us, O Shepherd of Israel, you who lead Joseph like a flock; you who sit enthroned between the cherubim, shine forth 2 before Ephraim, Benjamin and Manasseh. Awaken your might; come and save us." NIV

Where is God enthroned today? This psalm is a cry for the glory of God to shine forth from the midst of His throne. But where is that throne and from where does that shining spring forth to the glory of God? There is a place where the cherubim worship, there in the midst of the mercy seat, where the ark of God is sheltered from the gaze of the unredeemed. This passage is for God to shine forth from His glorious habitation but where is that habitation today? Where is the temple that contains this glorious presence? Two passages in the New Testament clearly answer that question and establish an entirely new understanding of this psalm. 1 Cor 3:16 says “Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you?”And 1 Cor 6:18-20 enlarges on this theme even further by raising the question “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.”

We are the habitation of God. He is enthroned within His temple and that temple is you. With this understanding as our foundation the first few verses of psalm 80 take on an entire new meaning. The psalmist is crying out for God to arise from that place where he is enthroned; to shine forth and awaken His might. This leads us to the question “from where will He arise? From where will His glory shine forth to deliver and set free:” From within His temple of course, from that place where He is enthroned! God wants to shine forth from you! Jesus taught His church, saying in Matt 5:16 “… let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” The psalmist’s prayer for the Lord to arise and shine is now fulfilled when the presence of God shines forth from you! God is working to be revealed from within you! Your heart is His holy place and the earth is waiting for His power and glory to shine forth into the darkness, but this shining is to take place from within you! Jesus said that the “kingdom of God” is within us. His might is expressed through an empowered people who have entered into a place of communion with the Lord that releases Him to “rise and shine” through them to the nations of the earth! Let your light shine today and bring Him glory!