Old Testament: Psa 80.8–11

To read the Bible in a year, read Psalms 79–80 on August 7, In the year of our Lord Christ 2024

By Don Ruhl 

Various nations lived in the Land of Canaan, but the Lord did a great work and took an enslaved nation out of Egypt, and brought that enslaved nation to the Land of Canaan, covering it with people: “You have brought a vine out of Egypt; You have cast out the nations, and planted it. You prepared room for it, and caused it to take deep root, and it filled the land. The hills were covered with its shadow, and the mighty cedars with its boughs. She sent out her boughs to the Sea, and her branches to the River” (Psalm 80.8–11). 

Truly, the children of Israel covered the Land of Canaan, so that the land eventually became known as Israel. The Lord made them grow and spread out. 

Here is how I have adapted Psalm 80 for the church in the United States of America: 

To the prayer leader.
Set to a crying heart.
A Testimony for the church.
A Psalm.
Give ear, O Shepherd of the church,
You who lead the church like a flock;
You who dwell in heaven, shine forth!
Before Christians, preachers, and elders,
Stir up Your strength,
And come and save us!
Restore us, O God;
Cause Your face to shine,
And we shall be saved!
O LORD God of hosts,
How long will You be angry
Against the prayer of Your people?
You have fed them with the bread of tears,
And given them tears to drink in great measure.
You have made us a strife to our neighbors,
And our enemies laugh among themselves.
Restore us, O God of hosts;
Cause Your face to shine,
And we shall be saved!
You have brought the vine Jesus;
You have planted Him and His church in every nation.
You prepared room for it in America,
And caused it to take deep root,
And it filled the land.
The hills were covered with its shadow,
And the mighty cities with its boughs.
She sent out her boughs to the East Coast,
And her branches to the West Coast.
Why have You broken down her hedges,
So that all the secularists who pass by the way pluck her fruit, our children?
The atheist out of the woods uproots it,
And the wild beast of evolution devours it.
Return, I beseech You, O God of hosts;
Look down from heaven and see,
And visit the body of Christ,
And the church which Your right hand has planted,
And the Christians whom You made strong for Yourself.
We are burned with fire, as worldliness pulls away our young people;
Congregations perish at the rebuke of Your countenance.
Let Your hand be upon the spiritual body of Christ,
Upon the sons and daughters whom You made strong for Yourself.
Then we will not turn back from You;
Revive us, and we will call upon Your name.
Restore us, O LORD God of hosts;
Cause Your face to shine on the church,
And we shall be saved from perishing in America!

Questions: 

• Do you pray for the church nation wide? 
• For what do you pray for the church nationally? 

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Don preaches with the Savage Street Church of Christ in Grants Pass, Oregon. 

Listen to his sermons here: GrantsPassChurchOfChrist.com