His Shining Face

“The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, ‘Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, Thus you shall bless the people of Israel: you shall say to them,

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.

‘So shall they put my name upon the people of Israel, and I will bless them.'” Numbers 6:22-27

“Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel,
    you who lead Joseph like a flock.
You who are enthroned upon the cherubim, shine forth…

Restore us, O God;
    let your face shine, that we may be saved!

O Lord God of hosts,
    how long will you be angry with your people’s prayers?
You have fed them with the bread of tears
    and given them tears to drink in full measure.
You make us an object of contention for our neighbors,
    and our enemies laugh among themselves.

Restore us, O God of hosts;
    let your face shine, that we may be saved!..

Turn again, O God of hosts!
    Look down from heaven, and see;
have regard for this vine,
    the stock that your right hand planted,
    and for the son whom you made strong for yourself.
They have burned it with fire; they have cut it down;
    may they perish at the rebuke of your face!
But let your hand be on the man of your right hand,
    the son of man whom you have made strong for yourself!
Then we shall not turn back from you;
    give us life, and we will call upon your name!

Restore us, O Lord God of hosts!
    Let your face shine, that we may be saved!” Psalm 80:1,3-7,14-19

The blessing of the Lord came from His shining face. From the instituting of the priesthood its encompassing benediction signified His favor, graciousness, and peace. When Asaph sang to the Shepherd of Israel, he asked God to shine forth in power, regard, and relief, to shine His face to restore and save His people. He beseeched His light of life to come from high heaven to His damaged, withering, needy people, and revive their strength and vitality.

We, too, can seek the Lord’s face and find fresh life. He welcomes us to implore Him to shine on us, to revive limp faith with hope, to light to our paths and despairing souls. While God constantly watches us to and fro, His eyes searching and knowing the heart and ways of man, there is something particularly remarkable and beautiful about the shining countenance of His whole face. When we get caught up in looking down at lesser horizontal things, we miss His gaze of tender compassion, His benevolent concern, His warm smile. (2 Chronicles 16:9; Psalm 33:13-15; Proverbs 15:3)

Knowing that if we are saved we live under the light of His face, how will we go about our days differently under that benediction? What dark habits, or dry love, can we bring into His warm shine? What broken relationships need His breakthrough to be restored, and heal? Where is it we need revival of discernment, confidence, purpose? The Lord knows our tears, struggles, flagging zeal, and every dry crevice of heart and mind. He is ever gracious to lift His countenance upon us for good. Will we look to Him? (Psalms 34:5)

Father, help me reflect Your shining face to a dark and needy world, to your glory.