Photo by Nithin Najeeb
Like the Israelites at that time, we may sometimes find our lives disrupted or even shattered by unexpected developments. A medical crisis or family loss can be so traumatic as to rob us of peace and rest. For some of us a prolonged season of spiritual dryness or enduring painful episodes in our lives can feel like God has abandoned us. Like Asaph, we may plead with God: “How long…why have you allowed this…” (vv.4, 12).
In this psalm, we learn to cry out to God when we face life’s distressing moments:
Restore us, O Lord (vv.3, 7, 19). Three times Asaph repeats this desperate plea to God. It is the cry of a people who know that only God can mend what has been broken (v.12). Restoration means more than relief from trouble; it means being brought back into the light of God’s favour and presence. When God restores His people, hope returns, strength is renewed, and the path forward becomes clear again. Our deepest need is not simply for circumstances to change, but for God Himself to turn His face toward us and make us whole.
Return to us, O Lord (v.14). This cry reveals a haunting sense of being separated from God. When we feel that God is distant, every burden seems heavier and every shadow darker. Asaph is not asking God to do something entirely new; he is pleading for the Lord to return—to draw near and close the gap that suffering has created. When we feel abandoned, our deepest need may not be a dramatic miracle but the quiet assurance of God’s presence—that He is near, that He sees our struggles, and that we have not been forgotten or forsaken.
Revive us, O Lord (v.18). This is the cry of those who are not merely tired but deeply depleted and weakened. In times of crisis, we can become physically exhausted and emotionally drained. When we reach that point, we realise we cannot restore ourselves. We cannot manufacture strength or breathe life into weariness and hopelessness. What we need is renewal that comes from God’s life-giving power. Only the Lord can restore strength and vitality to tired hearts.
In his opening verse, Asaph directed his prayers to the “Shepherd of Israel who lead…who sit enthroned between the cherubim” (v.1). By addressing God this way, he reminds himself—and us—who God truly is. The Lord is our Shepherd who guides and cares for His people, leading them even through seasons of distress. At the same time, He is the One enthroned above the cherubim, sovereign and reigning over all our circumstances.
Psalm 80 does not end with easy answers or immediate relief. But it teaches us to be honest with God. God can handle our raw emotions, our desperate questions, and our feelings of abandonment. The very act of crying out to God is an act of faith—faith that God can restore, that He hears, and that He cares enough to intervene.
Grace and Peace,
Lam Kok Hiang
Leadership Mentor
诗篇第80篇记录了以色列历史上一段极度痛苦的时刻。公元前722年，亚述军队攻占了北国，以色列人被掳。亚萨的诗哀叹那曾经繁茂又蒙眷顾的葡萄树(指以色列，8节)如今遭敌人砍下践踏(12-13节)。
就像当年的以色列人一样，我们的人生有时也因突发事情被打乱，甚至变得支离破碎。一场健康危机或痛失亲人往往会带来创伤，以致人失去平静安宁。对我们当中某些人来说，漫长的属灵干枯或人生苦难会让人觉得仿佛被 神遗弃了。我们或许像亚萨那样向神呼求：“耶和华万军之 神啊！祢因祢子民的祷告发怒，要到几时呢？……祢为什么拆毁它的篱笆，任由所有过路的人采摘呢？”(诗篇80:4,12，新译本)。
透过这诗篇，我们学习在苦难中向神呼求：
神啊，求祢使我们复兴(3, 7, 19节)。亚萨曾三度如此迫切地求告 神。这是那些深知唯有 神能修复毁坏的人所发出的呼喊(12节)。“复兴”不仅意味着脱离困境，更是重新获得 神的恩眷同在。当 神复兴祂的子民时，希望便会重燃，力量得以更新，前方的路也再次变得清晰。患难中人心最渴望的，不单是处境改善，而是 神转脸垂顾并医治我们复原。
求祢回心转意(14节)。这是一种发现自己与 神隔绝、令人心悸的呐喊。我们以为 神遥不可及时，每一担子显得格外沉重，每道阴影仿佛愈发漆黑。亚萨没有求 神做新事；他恳求上帝回心转意、恳求祂靠近弥补伤痛的缺口。当我们感到被离弃时，内心最需要的，或许并非某样神迹，而是重新感知 神的同在——祂就在不远处，祂看见我们的挣扎，祂没有遗弃我们。
求祢救活我们(18节)。这是精疲力竭、软弱无助之人的呼喊。人在危难中可能力穷心累。彼时彼刻，我们可能领会到单凭意志无法恢复心力；在疲惫与绝望前，人面对无力感、生机黯淡。我们需要 神来更新，在祂里面有生命，这生命就是人的光(参阅约翰福音1:4)。唯有上帝能叫疲惫的人重新得力、重萌生机。
亚萨开篇就认定所呼求的是谁：“以色列的牧者啊！带领约瑟好象带领羊群的啊！求祢留心听；坐在基路伯上面的啊！求祢显出荣光”(诗篇80:1，新译本)。诗人如此称呼 神，提醒自己和后来者 神是谁。上帝是我们的牧者，引领看顾自己的子民渡过艰难岁月；祂的宝座在基路伯之上，掌管万有直到如今。
诗篇80篇末了既没有简易答案，也没能解救以色列脱离仇敌；只有诗人坦然向神的呼求。 神能够承受人的真情流露、人在绝望中的质问、人感觉被离弃时的泣声。向 神呼求这一举动就是信心的体现——相信 神能修复、相信祂在倾听、相信祂眷顾我们并会为此采取行动。
愿您经历属 神的恩典平安，
蓝国贤
会务导师
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