“O, restore us”

[Psalms 60]

                When I think about the word “restoration”, I remember visiting a couple's family with my church deacon one or two years ago.  At that time, when I saw the sister in Christ who was sick, I prayed for restoration to God.  But after I prayed for her, I remember her saying that ‘How come pastors are praying for restoration?’  At that time, when I came back to church after visiting the couple, I thought, "Why couldn't I urge the couple to repent?"  I believe that we cannot enjoy the grace of true restoration when the problem of sin is not resolved in the Lord.  I still remember proclaiming the words of 5 R’s at the New Year Even worship two years ago: Repentance, Reconciliation, Restoration, Reformation, Revival.  For true restoration, we must first repent and be reconciled to God.

When we look at the second half of Psalms 60:1, the psalmist David said, “… O, restore us”.  Based on this verse, under the headlines “O, restore us”, I want to think about why David prayed for restoration, how he prayed for restoration, and how his attitude was after he prayed for restoration.  May God teach us the lessons so that we may be able to apply in our lives.

First, why did David pray for restoration?

The reason is because David was temporarily defeated in war due to God's discipline (vv. 1-3) (Park).  David describes the cause of the temporary defeat in war like this: “O God, You have rejected us You have broken us; You have been angry; …” (v. 1), “You have made the land quake, You have split it open; …” (v. 2), “You have made Your people experience hardship; You have given us wine to drink that makes us stagger” (v. 3).  Here, “wine” (v, 3) is a parable that refers to God's wrath (Park).  In other words, David suffered the temporary defeat due to the invasion of Edom.  David knew that the cause was God's wrath.  In the end, David (and the people of Judah) suffered from God's wrath (v. 3).  That was why David prayed “O, restore us” (v.1) and “Heal its breaches, for it totters” (v. 2).  Because the Lord made the land quake and split it open, of course there was breaches.  David asked God to heal its breaches.  This prayer is a prayer for restoration.

If God is angry and abandons us, we have no choice but to lose the spiritual battle.  If God doesn’t hold us, we will fall and fail.  No matter how strong our faith may seem, and our homes, our business, or our churches may seem solid, the Lord shakes the earth and splits it (v. 2).  How can we not be shaken if God is angry and shakes the foundation of the church, of our homes, and of our businesses?  When we are shaken because of many breaches in our lives due to God's wrath, we must remember that there are sins in us that might have offend God, repent our sins to God, and seek His mercy.  The reason is because there is no true restoration without genuine repentance.

Second, how did David pray for restoration?

David prayed to God for restoration with two convictions:

(1)     David prayed to God for restoration with assurance of salvation.

Look at Psalms 60:5 – “That Your beloved may be delivered, Save with Your right hand, and answer us!”  Here we see David praying to God, relying on His love.  David was convinced that God would not turn away from His people, whom God loves more than anyone else, and their cry out but would answer them and save them with His powerful right hand.  This reminds me the Korean gospel song “Vision”: (1) At the throne of our God we gather/ And join to praise His holy name/ Because of His great love/ God gave His only son/ Jesus Christ has redeemed us from our sins.  (2) On the cross, God poured out His love so freely/ A stream that flows forevermore/ to every tribe and tongue/ All nations join the song/ Endless praise to salvation’s one true Lord.  (3) To the Lord of all, who’s seated on the throne/ And to the Lamb of God/ This saving grace belongs/ To the Lord of all, who’s seated on the throne/ And to the Lamb of God / We cry aloud forevermore.

(2)   David prayed to God for restoration with assurance of victory. 

Look at Psalms 60:4 – “You have given a banner to those who fear You, That it may be displayed because of the truth. Selah.”  The Bible says that God gives “a banner” to those who fear God.  Why did God give “a banner” to David?  The reason is to let him know that God would be with David and give him victory.  In a word, the banner here is the flag of victory.  What was the cause of that victory?  It wasn’t because David’s army was strong, the number of soldiers was large, and the weapons were strong, but because God was with David.  Because God was with David, David was convinced that he would win the battles against Moab, Edom and Philistine (v. 8).  That was why he confessed “I will exult” (v. 6).  David, who was delighted to see victory in the war, how could he have assurance in this victory?  It was because “God has spoken in His holiness” (v. 6).  Since the holy God promised to be with David, David rejoiced with assurance of victory.  This is the hymn “There’s Royal Banner” verse 4 and chorus: “When the glory dawns 'tis drawing very near/ It is hast'ning day by day/ Then before our King the foe shall disappear/ And the cross the world shall sway!/ Marching on, marching on/ For Christ count everything but loss!/ And to crown Him King, Toil and sing/ 'Neath the banner of the cross!”

Third and last, how was David’s attitude after he prayed for restoration?

In a word, David trusted in God and acted courageously.  Look at Psalms 60:12 – “Through God we shall do valiantly, And it is He who will tread down our adversaries.”  Here, what does it mean to trust in God?

(1)   Trusting in God is the belief that only God leads and guide us. 

Look at Psalms 60:9 – “Who will bring me into the besieged city?  Who will lead me to Edom?”  Here, “the besieged city” refers to very difficult city to attack, which was the capital of Edom “Petra” (Park).  David believed that only God could destroy the city of Edom that was like strong as a rock and could lead him and the Israelites into that city.

(2)   Trusting in God is Immanuel faith.

That is, the belief that God is with us.  Look at verse 10: “Have not You Yourself, O God, rejected us? And will You not go forth with our armies, O God?”  David trusted in God that He would be with him and his army as he prayed and remembered that God in the past caused David and his army to be temporarily defeated in the midst of his wrath.  This was because David knew that no matter how many armies he had, it would be useless if God didn’t go to war with him and his army.  In other words, he prayed to God, knowing that the victory in war depends on whether God was with him or not.

(3)   Trusting in God is to admit that man’s salvation is in vain.

Look at Psalms 60:11 – “O give us help against the adversary, For deliverance by man is in vain.”  Trusting in God means not to trust in people.  David's faith was faith that didn’t depend on man, but only God.  Like David, we must trust in God completely and act bravely.  We don't have to fear our enemies.  We must boldly take the banner of the cross army and fight against sin, the world, and Satan and be victorious.

                David, who was temporarily defeated in the war against Edom because of God's wrath, prayed for restoration to God with the assurance of salvation and victory.  And he determined to trust in God and act courageously.  Like David, we too should ask God, “O, restore us”.  We must pray in faith for restoration with assurance of salvation and victory.  And we must act bravely while trusting in God.

“O, restore us”

James Kim

(With longing for the grace of restoration)