Have you ever been so distraught that you had very little appetite, and spent a meal weeping instead of eating? In Psalm 80, Asaph records the pain of his people. He poetically describes their meals as consisting of the "bread of tears" and a cupful of tears (v. 5; see also Psalm 42:3, https://psalmprayers.wixsite.com/prayers/post/psalm-42). As the tears rain down from their faces, what brings Asaph hope is thinking of the face of God that shines forth like the sun and brings salvation (Psalm 80:3, 7, 19).
Lord, rainy days can make us blue, and sunny days can bring us cheer. Asaph looks around on a "rainy" day, when everyone around is weeping and their tears fall like rain drops. His prayer is "How long?" (v. 4) and "Restore us, O God; let your face shine, that we may be saved!" (v. 3). His hope is in your face, shining like the sun, drying up all their tears. Let our hope also be in you, O Lord, the light of the world.
Asaph describes the people of God like a vine planted and tended by God (v. 8-9). And yet, the vine comes to suffer abuse (v. 12-13, 16). Asaph's hope for his people is in the son chosen by God and strengthened by him (v. 15, 17-18). Lord, we've come to see that these words are fulfilled in our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. We praise you for sending him to be our Savior. As we water the ground with our tears, help us look to him and see in him your amazing love, your promise to save us, and may our hearts be fed not by our tears but by beholding his face. You are enough for us, O Lord. We will praise your name forever. Amen.
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