Backsliding . . . from my experience, not a word the church uses much anymore. Not that it ranked among the “top ten” of most frequently used term, but it seems to me that years ago the word found it’s way into conversation more often . . . used when talking about a brother or sister who was not walking with the Lord . . . used as a warning concerning the danger of allowing our passion and pursuit for the things of the kingdom to wane . . . and sometimes used jokingly of those who chose to sit in the back row at church — we’d quip that these “back-seaters” were in danger of “backsliding”. Maybe the reason I don’t hear the word much anymore is because we have replaced it with a more contemporary word . . . or maybe it’s because the pilgrim path has become so wide, and the “walk that is worthy” has become so diluted, that backsliding is a thing of the past.

But reading Psalm 80 this morning, the word came to mind as I read the psalmist’s thrice repeated plea to the Lord . . .

Restore us, O God; let Your face shine, that we may be saved! . . .
Restore us, O God of hosts; let Your face shine, that we may be saved! . . .
Restore us, O LORD God of hosts! Let Your face shine, that we may be saved!
(Psalm 80:3, 7, 19 ESV)

Psalm 80 is a lament. Things are not going well for Israel. God is angry with their prayers . . . and is feeding them a steady diet of tears (v.4-5). The Vinedresser who transplanted His vine out of Egypt and nurtured it’s growth into that of a mighty nation, has allowed the walls to broken down about the vine . . . and the vine is being pillaged by passerbys and ravaged by wild beasts (v.12-13). And so, the songwriter cries out to the Shepherd of Israel . . . pleads with Him who is enthroned upon the cherubim . . . that He would shine forth . . . stir up His might . . . and “come to save us” (v.1-2).

And three times, each time with growing intensity, the songwriter pens the refrain, “Restore us, O God . . . O God of hosts . . . O LORD God of hosts . . . let Your face shine, that we may be saved!”

That term “restore us” is translated “turn us” in both the original King James Version and in the more modern New Living Translation. The sense being not just “turn our situation” but start by “turning us.”

In their prosperity, God’s people had become loose with the things of God . . . in their blessings, they had grown to presume on the favor of God . . . in their freedom, they had chosen to stray from faithfulness to God . . . they had backslidden. They weren’t where they should have been . . . they weren’t being who they were called to be . . . and so the psalmist pleads, “Restore us, God. Turn us again to Yourself.”

And while the trial may have gotten their attention, their restoration would come only as God allowed His face to shine upon them. Only as God, in His grace, made His presence known among them . . . only as the Almighty condescended to manifest Himself among them . . . only as they again tasted of divine communion . . . indulged in His abundant love . . . and received His unmerited favor . . . would they be turned again towards Him. And in that, would their rescue be known.

O’ that I might not need the walls broken down around me to recognize my waywardness . . . might I not need the discipline of God heavy upon me before realizing I have become cold, callous, or careless. But that I might be sensitive to know when my heart is distracted . . . when my soul is diluted . . . when I am backsliding. And then, that I might look to Him who is enthroned among the cherubim to shine His face upon me . . . not because I deserve it . . . but because, in His grace and love, He desires it.

And then, would this backsliding heart turn again toward His shining face. By His grace . . . for His glory.