Advent reflection #4: Love (Pastor Willi)

Advent
Written By ETCBC

By Pastor Willi

Psalm 80:1-7; 17-19

1 - Hear us, Shepherd of Israel,
you who lead Joseph like a flock.
You who sit enthroned between the cherubim,
shine forth 2 - before Ephraim, Benjamin and Manasseh.
Awaken your might;
come and save us.

3 - Restore us, O God;
make your face shine on us,
that we may be saved.

4 - How long, Lord God Almighty,
will your anger smolder
against the prayers of your people?

5 - You have fed them with the bread of tears;
you have made them drink tears by the bowlful.

6 - You have made us an object of derision to our neighbors,
and our enemies mock us.

7 - Restore us, God Almighty;
make your face shine on us,
that we may be saved.

17 - Let your hand rest on the man at your right hand,
the son of man you have raised up for yourself.

18 - Then we will not turn away from you;
revive us, and we will call on your name.

19 - Restore us, Lord God Almighty;
make your face shine on us,
that we may be saved.

A shepherd guiding a flock of sheep

It’s the final week of Advent, and the theme is love. But Psalm 80 feels like a strange place to end. This passage is a lament, a cry for help, not a celebration. At first glance, it seems out of step with the feelings we often associate with love during this season.

But maybe that’s the point. Advent love, like the love of God, doesn’t ignore reality. It doesn’t insist on positive emotions or that we pretend everything is fine. The psalmist doesn't pretend things are fine. He pleads, “Restore us, O God; let your face shine, that we may be saved.” This is a call out to God that names what’s broken and still believes God cares enough to respond.

Psalm 80 stretches our understanding of what Advent love looks like. It’s not just about personal peace or private devotion. It’s communal. The cry is “restore us,” not just “restore me.” The psalmist’s vision is bigger than for the individual. It’s about a people being revived, about light breaking into the shared places in need of hope. Advent love does not arrive in ideal conditions. It arrives in the middle of lament and begins the slow work of restoration.

Questions

  • Where in your life or community are you longing for God’s restoring presence?

  • What is one way you can share God’s love this week by offering presence and care to someone who is worn down?

ETCBC
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Advent reflection #3: Joy (Jordan Tang)