Tabor Baptist Church

Introduction

• v3, v7, v19 - Restore us O God of hosts
• A psalm of Asaph
• His burden is that God's people would be restored
• God is angry with His people
• With their prayers (v4)
• He is angry because of their sin and is no longer hearing their prayers
• It is a time of judgment
• Yet Asaph does not give up
• He believes God can restore
• An impassioned plea to God
• This is a prayer for 2018
• For Tabor
• For the Church in the UK
• Compromises
• The lack of evidence of God's power [locally]
• Has God withdrawn His [particular] presence from His people
• Psalm 80 - The enemy is mocking God (v6)
• Is the Church the butt of mens jokes?
• Psalm 80
• Not all doom & gloom (v17-18)
• His burden is that God would restore His people
• Overview:
• Recognise the need
• Pray boldly
• The Solution

Recognise the need

• Asaph was a man of the Southern Kingdom in Judah
• He composed Psalms for God's people to sing in the temple
• His burden is for the Northern Kingdom
• Three tribes are mentioned (v2)
• Ephraim, Benjamin and Manasseh
• Walked together
• Successors of Rachel and Joseph
• They are blessed by Jacob in Genesis 49
• Now the three kingdoms are in disarray and living in sin
• Psalm 78:9
• (The tribe of Ephraim is synonymous with the Northern Kingdoms)
• They have turned their back on God
• How are we to think of the Church in the UK?
• Different people think differently
• There are pockets of revival
• The Church is the bride of Christ
• We are forgiven before God
• What is our state though?
• Do we really honour God?
• What are we like?
• How are we compared to our neighbour?
• Do we love God?
• Are we fruitful?
• Are we growing old as a church?
• Are churches closing?
• Asaph is burdened not just for the Northern Kingdoms but for Judah and himself
• "Restore us"
• "You have made us"
• Do we pray and consider others in the Church?
• Restore us
• Do we need to pray for a clean heart?
• Do we need to pray for salvation and conversion?
• Call upon God and be saved

Pray boldly

• "Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel" (v1)
• Not a judge but a shepherd
• "Stir up Your strength" (v2)
• An audacious prayer
• Direct and bold
• "Cause Your face to shine" (v3)
• Remember Aaron's high priestly prayer?
• Spurgeon - quote
• Do you feel the presence of God in your life?
• The presence of God is to do with Himself
• "O Lord God of hosts, how long will You be angry" (v4)
• He remembers His great power
• How can Asaph know God is angry with His people?
• God is always angry with sin
• He recognises God's providence (v5-6)
• Some of the chastening comes from the Lord
• God has fulfilled the promises of His curses (because of the peoples idolatry)
• He recounts God's goodness (v8-11)
• He pictures Israel as a vine
• Yet the enemy has come in, the kingdom is divided 
• He is asking why and is perplexed (v12)
• He beseeches God to return (v14)
• He believes God can act
• How are we to pray in 2018?
• Examples
• We must pray for mercy over sin and compromise
• We must pray for God to change us
• The only message of hope comes from the lips of the Gospel

The Solution

• v17-19
• The man of Your right hand - the tribe of Benjamin
• Revive us and we will call upon Your name
• The answer is only found in Jesus Christ
• Shepherds and Kings came to Him
• A reflection that Jesus is our Great Shepherd and King
• Spurgeon - quote
• Let us ask in 2018 that God will restore us