YEAR 2, WEEK 28, Day 7, Sunday, 13 July 25

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Observations from today’s readings and today’s S-WOD, Sunday, 13 July 2025:

Psalm 80:1–19 — Restore us, O God; let your face shine, that we may be saved!

Psalm 80 is a desperate cry for national revival. The psalmist pleads three times for God to “restore us” and “let your face shine, that we may be saved” (vv. 3, 7, 19). The psalm draws heavily on Israel’s identity as God’s vine, once flourishing but now broken and burned (vv. 8–16). The refrain is a plea for God’s presence, mercy, and renewal. Verse 17 stands out as a messianic prayer: “But let your hand be on the man of your right hand, the son of man whom you have made strong for yourself!” This anticipates Jesus, the true Son of Man and Right Hand of God, through whom restoration and salvation come. This psalm reminds us to cry out for God’s restorative presence in every place of decline—whether personal, national, or spiritual.

• John 15:1 — I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser.
• Luke 1:78–79 — The sunrise shall visit us from on high… to guide our feet into the way of peace.
• 2 Corinthians 4:6 — For God… has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

Psalm 80:1–3 — Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel….

The psalm begins as a desperate plea to God as Shepherd, the One who had once led His people like a flock through the wilderness. The image of God as Shepherd is among the most tender and powerful metaphors in Scripture. It speaks of care, leadership, protection, provision, and personal relationship. In Psalm 80, the people cry out to their Shepherd—not just any shepherd, but the One who leads Joseph like a flock and is enthroned in majesty “upon the cherubim.” This is the sovereign Shepherd, both exalted in glory and yet intimately involved with His people’s daily need and direction. When we appreciate that our Shepherd is not only wholly Good and Loving, but also Sovereign, we can have joy and peace in through any and all circumstances.

• Psalm 100:3 — Know that the Lord, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
• Psalm 23:1 — The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

To be called sheep is no compliment in terms of independence or strength. Sheep are known for being vulnerable, easily scattered, prone to wander, and completely dependent on the shepherd for survival. Without a shepherd, they are easy prey for predators, lost without direction, and exposed to the dangers of cliffs, thorns, and starvation.

• Isaiah 53:6 (ESV) — All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

The Shepherd is not merely a leader—He is a lifeline. He leads, feeds, guards, disciplines, and even carries His sheep. When the sheep go astray, He does not abandon them.

• Ezekiel 34:11–12 — For thus says the Lord God: Behold, I, I myself will search for my sheep and will seek them out. As a shepherd seeks out his flock… so will I seek out my sheep, and I will rescue them.

This metaphor of the Shepherd is not always used positively. God often used it to expose the failure of Israel’s leaders—the priests, kings, and prophets—who had exploited, neglected, or scattered the flock entrusted to them: “Ah, shepherds of Israel who have been feeding yourselves! Should not shepherds feed the sheep? You eat the fat, you clothe yourselves… the weak you have not strengthened, the sick you have not healed… the strayed you have not brought back, the lost you have not sought, and with force and harshness you have ruled them.” (Ezekiel 34:2–4) This sharp rebuke reveals a central truth: not all shepherds are good. Many who claim leadership—whether in religion, politics, or culture—do not have God’s heart. They use the sheep rather than serve them. When leaders care more for their status than the sheep, the flock suffers. Scripture warns against putting our trust in ungodly leaders or corrupt institutions:

• Jeremiah 17:5 (ESV) — Thus says the Lord: “Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart turns away from the Lord.”
• Psalm 146:3 (ESV) — Put not your trust in princes, in a son of man, in whom there is no salvation.

Real leaders “know the way and show the way.” Jesus said, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life….” No leader who isn’t following Christ (not just one who believes in Him but one who is actually following His lead and example) is safe to follow. Contrasting Himself to all others, Jesus said, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep…. I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me…. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.” (John 10:11, 14, 27) Jesus is not a “hired hand.” He is not in it for profit or power. He doesn’t flee when danger approaches. He knows each sheep by name, and His voice brings peace, clarity, and security.

Unlike the thieves and robbers, Christ does not manipulate the sheep or take from them. He gives them life—eternal life. “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” (John 10:10) When one sheep goes missing, He leaves the ninety-nine to find the one:

• Luke 15:4–5 — “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine… and go after the one that is lost…? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing.”

Jesus’ Shepherd heart is both sacrificial and personal, committed to the restoration of each wandering sheep. For believers, especially those in leadership roles (whether in the home, church, workplace, or community), the example of the Good Shepherd is our model.

• 1 Peter 5:2–4 — “Shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly… not domineering… but being examples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.”

God calls His people not to mere religious performance, but to demonstrate the Shepherd’s heart—to seek the lost, care for the weak, and love without personal gain. This means being present, patient, and sacrificial in our relationships. As the saying goes: “You can’t be a good shepherd if you can’t stand the smell of sheep.” Genuine Christian love requires getting close, entering the mess, and walking patiently with those God has entrusted to us.

• Galatians 6:2 (ESV) — “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.”

Psalm 80:1 calls God “Shepherd of Israel,” yet Israel had rejected His leading. Today, many do the same—turning to false leaders, idols, or their own instincts. But Christ stands as the true and faithful Shepherd, seeking, saving, and sustaining His sheep. Let us listen to His voice above all others. Let us follow His lead, not the crowd. And let us imitate His heart in our care for others, never despising the mess of ministry or the cost of compassion.

Pray: “Lord, You are my Shepherd. Keep me close to Your voice. Help me not to trust in corrupt leaders or follow the crowd, but to hear and obey You. Shape me into a shepherd after Your heart—faithful, present, and sacrificial. Let me love others the way You’ve loved me. In Jesus’ name, amen.”

Psalm 80:3 — Restore us, O God; let your face shine, that we may be saved!

This heartfelt cry is more than a poetic plea—it is the soul’s desperate yearning for restoration, intimacy, and divine favor. The repetition of this refrain throughout the psalm (vv. 3, 7, 19) signals a national lament and a prayer for renewal. Israel, having tasted the bitterness of divine withdrawal, recognizes that when God hides His face, judgment looms, and life loses its vitality. But when God shines His face upon His people, there is salvation, peace, and the assurance of His covenantal love.

The imagery of God’s face shining is deeply rooted in the blessing God gave through Aaron: “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” (Num. 6:25–26). This was no mere ritual benediction—it was a declaration of divine presence, pleasure, and protection. To have God’s face shine upon you is to be seen, known, and loved by the Creator. It means He is not distant or disapproving but near, attentive, and favorable. The Israelites understood this; their longing in Psalm 80 is not for superficial relief, but for the restoration of relationship with their God, whose shining face brings life.

To live coram Deo—“before the face of God”—is to live in light of this blessing, moment by moment, under His gaze, within His will, and for His glory. This Latin phrase is not just theological jargon; it is a call to a lifestyle of constant awareness that nothing is hidden from God. “Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence?” asks David in Psalm 139:7. The answer is nowhere. God sees all, knows all, and is present in all. This is both sobering and liberating. It humbles us because we cannot conceal sin from Him. It liberates us because His grace meets us in every moment, not only in the sanctuary but also in the mundane, messy details of life.

To live coram Deo means to reject the artificial divide between sacred and secular. Every task—whether praying, parenting, working, or resting—is done before the face of God. His pleasure is not confined to Sunday mornings or religious rituals. When His face shines upon His people, His Spirit moves among them, guiding, strengthening, and renewing (Ezek. 39:29). Like the proud smile of a loving parent that instills courage in a child, God’s shining face gives us joy and resolve, no matter the chaos around us.

But Scripture also warns of another reality—the turning away of God’s face. “And the Lord said to Moses, ‘Behold, you are about to lie down with your fathers. Then this people will rise… and they will forsake me… and I will forsake them and hide my face’” (Deut. 31:16–18). The hidden face of God is not merely absence—it is judgment. When He turns His face away, it is a sign of disapproval, a removal of His protective and life-giving presence. “I am against you,” says the Lord through Jeremiah (Jer. 21:10), setting His face against rebellion. Yet even in this, His purpose is redemptive — discipline that leads to repentance.

The only way back into the light of His countenance is through grace. No one can earn God’s shining face. “Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for ‘The righteous shall live by faith’” (Gal. 3:11). Christ alone has secured for us the full pleasure of the Father. He was forsaken so we might be welcomed. He bore the hidden face of God on the cross so that we might receive the smiling face of the Father forever. If we are in Christ, God’s face shines upon us—even when our circumstances feel dark, even when we are disciplined, even when we stumble. He corrects us not in wrath but in love, to keep us close and faithful.

To live coram Deo is to live in gratitude for that grace. It means shaping every choice, thought, and ambition with the awareness that God’s eyes are upon us—not to catch us in failure, but to delight in our faithfulness. It means seeking His smile rather than man’s approval. It means rejoicing in His nearness rather than fearing His discipline. It means never settling for lifeless religiosity or spiritual drift, but crying daily with the psalmist: “Restore us, O God; let your face shine, that we may be saved!”

May we learn to live “Semper Fidelis Coram Deo” in the peace of His presence, in the strength of His Spirit, and in the joy of His gaze.

• Numbers 6:25 — The LORD make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you.

Psalm 80:4–6 — How long will you be angry with your people’s prayers?

The psalmist acknowledges that God’s discipline is just. Their prayers seem unheard, their tears their food. They are mocked and scorned. This lament reflects a broken people aware of their sin but not without hope. Even as God’s people suffer consequences for sin, they still call on Him because He alone is the Shepherd and Savior.

• Isaiah 59:1–2 — Behold, the LORD’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save… but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God.

Psalm 80:8–13 — You brought a vine out of Egypt…

This metaphor of the vine symbolizes Israel. God had planted them, cleared the ground, and given them growth and blessing. But now, the walls are broken, and wild beasts devour it. The psalmist appeals to God’s original care, asking why He would now abandon what He once nurtured.

• John 15:1 — I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser.

Jesus fulfills this imagery. Israel was a failed vine, but Christ is the true and fruitful vine. Restoration for God’s people will come not by returning to old forms but by abiding in Christ.

Psalm 80:14–19 — Let your hand be on the man of your right hand….

This is likely a messianic cry, asking for God’s anointed one to lead the people back to life. “Then we shall not turn back from you; give us life, and we will call upon your name!” (v. 18) Christ is the One through whom restoration, renewal, and spiritual fruitfulness come. This psalm prepares hearts to long for the Savior.

• Acts 2:33 — Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God….
• Hebrews 1:3 — …he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.

Ruth 3:1–18 — Spread your wings over your servant, for you are a redeemer.

Naomi encourages Ruth to make a bold move of faith by appealing to Boaz, her kinsman-redeemer. Ruth humbly follows Naomi’s instructions, showing trust and courage. Her nighttime visit is full of cultural nuance and potential misunderstanding, but she honors God and Boaz through her purity, integrity, and clarity. Verse 9 captures the turning point: “I am Ruth, your servant. Spread your wings over your servant, for you are a redeemer.” This echoes Boaz’s earlier blessing in Ruth 2:12, where he says Ruth has come under God’s wings for refuge. Now Ruth seeks that same sort of covering through Boaz as a picture and instrument of God’s provision.

Boaz responds not with scandal but with joy and commitment. He praises Ruth’s character, recognizes her worth, and promises to do what is right, even if another redeemer must take the role. His integrity matches Ruth’s. He sends her home full, protected, and honored.

• Ezekiel 16:8 — I spread the corner of my garment over you… and made my vow to you.
• Galatians 3:29 — If you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise.
• Philippians 2:3–4 — In humility count others more significant than yourselves.

Ruth models how to seek redemption with humility, and Boaz models how to respond with righteousness. Together they portray the heart of Jesus, our true Redeemer.

Ruth 3:1–5 — “My daughter, should I not seek rest for you…?”

Naomi, now more hopeful, seeks a permanent future for Ruth. Her bold plan suggests Ruth approach Boaz at night after he has eaten and lies down. Again, this could seem scandalous, but within the cultural context of the kinsman-redeemer, it reflects Naomi’s hope in God’s provision. Ruth replies, “All that you say I will do.” Her character again shines — she is courageous, obedient, and respectful. She is not passively waiting; she is actively trusting. Faith acts. Ruth embodies this truth.

• James 2:17 — Faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

Ruth 3:10–13 — “I will do for you all that you ask…”

Boaz responds not with indignation, but with admiration. He blesses Ruth for her kindness and integrity. He honors her request, but also explains that there is a nearer redeemer. Still, he promises to resolve the matter honorably. This shows Boaz’s righteousness, humility, and regard for God’s law. He will redeem, but he will do so in the proper way.

• Philippians 2:4 — Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.

Ruth 3:11 — “My fellow townsmen know that you are a worthy woman.”

Ruth’s reputation of honor was well known despite her poverty. Boaz spoke of her integrity above her beauty — “All my fellow townsmen know that you are a woman of noble character.” (NIV) “…for all the city of my people doth know that thou art a virtuous woman.” (KJV) Though not wealthy, famous, or equipped with any particular skill or talent, Ruth had a reputation of possessing noble character.

The Bible says that noble character is worth more than great riches. (Proverbs 31:10) Luke 2:52 points out that, “Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.” But the world honors talents, skills, personality, and appearance over character. Those lifted up by society are often those who are good at something (or just good looking), regardless of whether or not they are good people. In fact, the world is quite willing to overlook major character flaws of those who have enough talent or beauty. However, God calls His people to have both character and competence — character first.

Ruth 3:14–18 — Wait, my daughter….

Boaz ensures Ruth’s protection and dignity. He sends her away before dawn with a generous provision of barley. Naomi reassures Ruth that Boaz will not rest until the matter is resolved. God’s providence is moving through obedient, faith-filled individuals. Naomi, Ruth, and Boaz all play their part with integrity, and God is weaving redemption through their lives.

“Cross” Fit S-WOD (Spiritual Workout of the Day) – 13 July 2025: Psalm 80 shows us the cry of a nation in spiritual ruin, pleading for restoration through God’s mercy and the coming of His anointed one. Ruth 3 shows us a quiet story of personal redemption, trust, and obedience — a woman who acts in faith and a redeemer who responds with integrity. Both remind us that God restores brokenness through the obedience of those who trust Him and the provision of His appointed Redeemer. Today, follow Ruth’s example: walk in obedient faith even when the outcome is uncertain. Follow Boaz’s example: act with courage, integrity, and care for others. Follow the psalmist’s example: cry out to God for restoration, knowing the true Redeemer has already come. Identify one area where you are waiting for God’s restoration or direction. Bring it to God in honest prayer like Psalm 80. Then, take one concrete step of faith and obedience like Ruth — however small — and trust God to guide your steps.

Pray: “Father, restore me where I am broken. Shine Your face upon me that I may be saved. Thank You for Jesus, my Redeemer, who covers me with His wings. Teach me to walk in faith and obedience today, trusting You to direct my steps and bring forth Your purposes in my life. In Jesus’ name, amen.”