Psalm 80

The people of God have a Shepherd.

The Old Testament people of God, Israel, called out to their Shepherd, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. This Shepherd made promises to them, disciplined them, and led them.

The New Testament people of God, the church, is comprised of Jews and Gentiles throughout the earth who call on this same Shepherd through Jesus, our Redeemer. We who recognize Jesus as the Son of God and the King of the Jews have now taken up the psalms of Israel as they worship the God of the Jews. The God of Moses is our God. He is the God and Father of our Lord, Jesus Christ. He hears us, and He leads us.

But what about those Jews who rejected Jesus? We look to see many coming to faith in Him even now, just as Saul of Tarsus did so long ago. As he wrote, “the gifts and calling of God are irrevocable.”

We cry out to the God of Israel to save us, just as Jews have for so many centuries. Why should they be left out of the assembly of the Lord when it is their own Scriptures that Jesus has fulfilled?

They need to be restored again to His assembly, worshiping together with new brothers from among the Gentiles. The Lord is able to restore them. See Romans 11.

The Jews have suffered so much over the centuries. Their new brothers and sisters from among the Gentiles who are feeding on the Law and the prophets and singing the psalms of David should be praying for the Lord's salvation for the Jews. We should cry out to God for them, that He might shine His face upon them in accord with His ancient promises.

We have the record in the divinely inspired books of history that show us the care of the Lord for the Jews. We have heard of the exodus and the conquest under Joshua. We know of the Lord's provision of the great king David and his son Solomon. We know about what happened to Jeremiah at the time of the exile. We have heard the stories of Ruth and Esther. God is the God of the Jews. Should their suffering continue forever?

Look at the facts of what has taken place to the Jews over these centuries since the closing of the canonical books. Look at the movement of so many of the descendants of Jacob back to the land of Canaan. But even now ancient enemies are still bent on the destruction of God's people, both in the church and among the Jews.

Sometimes in our relationships within families we need to extend unilateral forgiveness because the other party is not asking to be forgiven. The time has come for us to care about the people from whom the Apostle Paul and even Jesus came, even if they choose to persecute those who love their Messiah. We want them back in the family worshiping beside us. The dividing wall of hostility between Jew and Gentile has come down. The war is over.

We are all together, and we all are in need of the salvation of God.

Let us sing together, Jew and Gentile, as one body in Christ. Let us say with one voice, “Restore us, O Lord God of hosts! Let your face shine, that we may be saved!”

Lead your people home, O Shepherd of Israel!