The word “restoration” is found around 129 times in the Bible. The word implies that there is a standard, the standard has been changed, and that we should go back to the standard.

The 80th Psalm is a prayer for restoration. The Psalmist recognized that the people had so sinned as to be punished and forsaken by God. By their continued sin, God was angered with them (Ps. 80:4-6). God had punished them because of their sin.

The Psalmist prayed that the people would be restored. In verse 3 and in verse 7 and in verse 19 he said, “Restore us, O God; let your face shine, that we may be saved!” The refrain tells us that sin can take us away from God. If we weren’t taken away from God, the relationship would not need to be restored. We also see that we can go back to God through restoration. Finally, we see that we can only find restoration through looking at God rather than our own ways.

The word “restore” in Psalm 80:3, 7, & 19 means “to set in place.” Just as we might go to a nice dinner with the glasses, spoons, forks, knives, and plates properly set, we recognize that God has designed a way for us to live. Many reject the idea of the Biblical standard by which we will be judged. But if there is no standard, how can we be restored to it? The concept of restoration demands a standard. Restoration also demands God’s grace. Look at the way restoration was to come–“let your face shine, that we may be saved!” Restoration would be impossible without God’s grace because we should be destroyed for sin and we will never be perfect. God has chosen to be gracious to us despite our continual failures.

“Restore us, O God of hosts; let your face shine, that we may be saved.”