Series Introduction:

Advent is a special time for Christians as we prepare for and anticipate the birth of Jesus Christ. It’s a great opportunity for self-reflection, repentance, and spiritual renewal. However, in our modern hustle and bustle society, we often focus too much on shopping, parties, and decorations – forgetting the deeper meaning of Advent. To truly renew our spirit, we need to focus on repentance, faith, hope and love rather than the glitz and glamor of the holiday season.

The main focus of Advent should be on the transformative power of Christ’s love and the salvation that comes through faith in Him. Thus, Advent invites us to reevaluate our priorities and redirect our hearts toward Christ. Amidst all the noise of the holiday season, Advent serves as a reminder to seek genuine spiritual renewal through Christ, who was born to bring salvation and light into the world. As we come to the end of this Advent season, let us be guided by a sincere desire for repentance and steadfast faith in the One whose birth we joyfully celebrate.

Scripture Reading: 

To the choirmaster: according to Lilies. A Testimony. Of Asaph, a Psalm. 

Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel,
    you who lead Joseph like a flock.
You who are enthroned upon the cherubim, shine forth.
    Before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh,
stir up your might
    and come to save us!

Restore us, O God;
    let your face shine, that we may be saved!

O Lord God of hosts,
    how long will you be angry with your people’s prayers?
You have fed them with the bread of tears
    and given them tears to drink in full measure.
You make us an object of contention for our neighbors,
    and our enemies laugh among themselves.

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

You brought a vine out of Egypt;
    you drove out the nations and planted it.
You cleared the ground for it;
    it took deep root and filled the land.
The mountains were covered with its shade,
    the mighty cedars with its branches.
It sent out its branches to the sea
    and its shoots to the River.
Why then have you broken down its walls,
    so that all who pass along the way pluck its fruit?
The boar from the forest ravages it,
    and all that move in the field feed on it.

Turn again, O God of hosts!
    Look down from heaven, and see;
have regard for this vine,
    the stock that your right hand planted,
    and for the son whom you made strong for yourself.
They have burned it with fire; they have cut it down;
    may they perish at the rebuke of your face!
But let your hand be on the man of your right hand,
    the son of man whom you have made strong for yourself!
Then we shall not turn back from you;
    give us life, and we will call upon your name!

Restore us, O Lord God of hosts!
    Let your face shine, that we may be saved!

Psalm 80, ESV

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.

Isaiah 9:6-7, ESV

Opening Prayer:

Heavenly Father, as we gather in Your presence at the threshold of this Advent season, we come before You with hearts filled with gratitude and anticipation. In the midst of the hustle and bustle, we seek to pause and turn our attention to the true meaning of Advent. We acknowledge that the busyness of the holiday season often distracts us from the deeper significance of this sacred time. Today, we open our hearts to self-reflection, repentance, and spiritual renewal. Help us to refocus our priorities and redirect our hearts toward Christ, the center of this season. May the glitz and glamor of the world not overshadow the transformative power of Your love and the salvation that comes through faith in Your Son, Jesus Christ. As we embark on this Advent journey, may our spirits be renewed, and may we draw closer to You, the source of eternal hope and love. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

Introduction: 

It’s already Christmas Eve, can you believe it? This year’s Advent season was short, with the fourth Sunday of Advent falling the day before Christmas. To be honest, I’m a little sad that Advent came and went so quickly. I hope you were able to spend some time reflecting on the gift of Christ this season and that it was a great time of spiritual renewal for you and your family. However, if you realize this morning that tomorrow is Christmas and you’re still feeling overwhelmed or disconnected, I pray that you’ll be able to give this time to the Lord and that you’ll find renewal and blessing in the remaining hours of this Christmas season.

Psalm 80 depicts the state of Israel in dire need of revival. Following the death of King Solomon, Israel was divided into two kingdoms, Israel (the North) and Judah (the South). Despite repeated warnings, Israel continued to disobey God, which led to divine judgment. Consequently, God withdrew His protection, allowing invaders to plunder the vineyard and wild beasts to ravage it. These events symbolized the invasion by Assyria and the loss of God’s blessings. Psalm 80 addresses the downfall of the Northern Kingdom by Assyria. This tragic event inspired the psalmist to seek revival for God’s people.

Many Christians and churches today struggle with the same sins of ancient Israel. We can easily fall prey to spiritual coldness, indifference, and acceptance of sin, leaving us spiritually disconnected and unfulfilled; when we feel ourselves growing cold to the warmth of God’s love, we, as believers, should pray for the revival of our hearts and of the hearts of all of Christ’s church.

This psalm reminds us that when our hearts grow spiritually cold, we can remind ourselves that Christ is the divine shepherd of His chosen flock. He is present with them as an enthroned king by the Holy Spirit. He is the Lord God of hosts, the all-powerful Commander of all creation. His face shines upon believers and within their hearts through the gospel. We are God’s vineyard, and Christ Himself is the vine whose sap gives life to all branches that abide in Him. At Christmas, we celebrate how He has joined Himself to us by taking our human nature as the Son of Man so that we might be joined to Him by His Spirit.

The Divine Shepherd and the Scattered Flock

In Psalm 80, the author starts with a deep and sincere plea to God for rescue and revival. The opening verse describes God as the Shepherd of Israel, highlighting God’s role as His people’s true King and leader. Moreover, God’s dwelling between the cherubim signifies His majestic presence and authority as the Almighty God. This analogy depicts God’s closeness and accessibility to His people while emphasizing His power and might.

The reference to God as the Shepherd of Israel is significant because it portrays a tender and cherished relationship between God and His people. The image of a shepherd caring for his sheep is a powerful analogy for God’s love and care for His people. However, it also highlights our complete reliance on Him and our tendency to stray from His guidance. The psalmist’s plea emphasizes the desperate need for God’s guidance and assistance, acknowledging that without God’s help, the psalmist and His people are lost and defenseless.

The psalmist praises God as a faithful Shepherd who never abandons His stray sheep, a comforting reminder to believers that even when they wander off the path, God lovingly guides them back:

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Psalm 23, ESV

Likewise, the prophet Ezekiel foresaw a day in which the Lord would come to us as a faithful shepherd and gather all his lost sheep scattered across the land: 

For thus says the Lord God: Behold, I, I myself will search for my sheep and will seek them out. As a shepherd seeks out his flock when he is among his sheep that have been scattered, so will I seek out my sheep, and I will rescue them from all places where they have been scattered on a day of clouds and thick darkness. 

Ezekiel 34:11-16, ESV

This portrayal of God as a shepherd is ultimately fulfilled in Jesus Christ, who is referred to as the Good Shepherd, and who sacrificially cares for His sheep.

I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. 

John 10:11-16, ESV

The heart of our good shepherd is one who seeks out the lost, the needy, the disconnected, and the forgotten: 

So he told them this parable: “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’ Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.” 

Luke 15:3-7, ESV

If you feel lost this Christmas season, know that Jesus is seeking to find and bringing back every lost soul. At Christmas we can celebrate the security of believers in the faithful care of their Shepherd. 

The psalmist acknowledges God’s direct intervention in history, expressing confidence that as God acts, enemies will be defeated, and salvation will come to His people. The plea to “restore us” is a request for God to bring His people back into a right relationship with Him, leading to the restoration of Israel’s well-being. Being restored involves experiencing God’s favor, represented by His shining face. When God is displeased, He looks away, but in His grace, He turns His gaze back to us.

The benediction from Aaron in Numbers 6:24–26 emphasizes God’s shining face as a blessing and source of peace, signifying salvation. 

The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace. 

Numbers 6:24-26, ESV

Revival occurs when God’s powerful presence is deeply felt among His people. The psalmist, reflecting on this, earnestly asks God for restoration, His comforting presence, and salvation. Looking at the history of Israel and the Church, we see a pattern of ups and downs, with moments of spiritual renewal and decline. Despite tough times, God stays faithful to a remnant, and the hope of revival always remains.

This leads to a question: how long will the people suffer? The psalmist sadly sees Israel going through a moral and spiritual decline. Little does he know that the time of prophets is about to end, and there will be 400 years of quiet before the start of the New Testament with the coming of Christ.

The Divine Gardner and the Broken Hedges

The psalmist compares God’s care for His people to tending a vine. God initially rescued Israel, treating them like a special vine. This vine idea represents not only the people of God but also Jesus and His followers.

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.

John 15:1-10, ESV

God, portrayed as a careful gardener, prepared the soil and made sure His chosen plant had strong roots. The vine thrived, spreading across the land, even adorning tall cedars with its branches. Remembering this historical glory, the psalmist feels sad about the current state of things, especially when comparing it to past revivals in churches.

The picture of broken hedges and wild boars invading symbolizes the disaster that has affected God’s people, leaving them vulnerable to external harm. The psalmist wonders why this suffering continues and asks God to look back favorably on His people.

The psalmist requests God to look down from heaven and care for Israel, the vine planted by His powerful right hand. 

But let your hand be on the man of your right hand, the son of man whom you have made strong for yourself! Then we shall not turn back from you; give us life, and we will call upon your name!

Psalm 80:17-18, ESV

This prayer finds its ultimate fulfillment in Christ, who is expected to revive His people and bring about their salvation. The promise in verse 18 assures that when revived, God’s people will remain faithful, turning to Him in worship and renewed dedication to His name. This simple yet profound prayer expresses the hope for God’s restoration and a renewed spiritual awakening.

The Nativity Call of Repentance

The central theme resonating through this profound psalm reflects the deep yearning for a savior that echoed throughout the ages, an urgent plea for God to restore His people by turning His benevolent face toward them. Far too often, rather than humbling ourselves and seeking God’s face, we tend to rely on our strength, plans, and human efforts. However, the psalm underscores that genuine revival is not a product of human efforts or techniques; rather, it is a divine gift bestowed by God. In times of crisis, the resounding call is to the Lord: “Restore us,” “Cause Your face to shine.” It’s a heartfelt plea for God’s power, the Holy Spirit, and the tangible manifestation of His glory, believing that through His divine intervention, “we shall be saved!”

The answer to this plea is found in the Christmas story, when God intervened by sending His Son, Jesus Christ, into the world. Through Jesus, God provided the ultimate expression of mercy, grace, and love, bringing hope and salvation to all who believe. However, only the repentant will receive the gift of salvation that Christ came to bring and that the psalmist long hoped for. The call to repentance that marked the ministry of John the Baptist, who prepared the way for Jesus. The proclamation, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near” (Matthew 3:2, ESV) sets the stage for the transformative work of Christ. Likewise, when Christ began his ministry of revival, restoration, and salvation, he began by declaring: 

“The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” 

Mark 1:15, ESV

The story of Christmas is much more than just a tale of the birth of Jesus Christ. It is a powerful revelation of God’s ultimate plan of redemption for humanity. The nativity scene, with all of its iconic characters and elements, has become a timeless symbol of repentance and a humble acknowledgement of our deepest need for a Savior. It calls us to genuine repentance, a turning away from our sins and a surrender to God’s will, which results in a spiritual revival and a restored fellowship with our Heavenly Father. This transformation can only become a reality through the person and work of Christ, who came to this world to reconcile us to God and to offer us the gift of grace and eternal life. As we celebrate Christmas, let us not forget the true meaning of this holy season and let us embrace the message of hope, love, and salvation that it brings.

Conclusion:

This Christmas season, as we revel in the festivities and exchange gifts, let us not forget the greatest gift of all—salvation through faith in Christ. The psalmist’s acknowledgment of God’s direct intervention in history, the longing for His shining face, and the plea for restoration find their fulfillment in the nativity call of repentance. The Christmas story is not just about a baby in a manger; it is about God’s grand plan of redemption. The call to repentance, reverberates through the corridors of time, reaching us in this Christmas season.

“The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel,” declared Jesus. As we celebrate Christmas, let us heed the call to repentance, turning away from our sins and surrendering to God’s will. This act of repentance opens the floodgates of grace, ushering in spiritual revival and a restored fellowship with our Heavenly Father.

The true meaning of Christmas lies in the recognition of our deepest need for a Savior. This Christmas, may our hearts respond to the call of repentance, and may we receive the greatest gift—salvation and revival through faith in Christ.

Closing Prayer:

Heavenly Father, as we come to the conclusion of this Advent season, our hearts are filled with gratitude for the gift of Your Son, Jesus Christ. We thank You for the opportunities of self-reflection, repentance, and spiritual renewal that this season has provided. Lord, as we move forward from this sacred time, we carry with us the joy of salvation and the light of Christ that has illuminated our lives.

May the lessons learned during this Advent season continue to shape our hearts throughout the year. We pray that the transformative power of Your love remains alive in us, guiding our thoughts, words, and actions. As we celebrate the birth of Jesus, help us to carry the message of repentance and faith into the days ahead.

Lord, we thank You for Your faithfulness, and we entrust ourselves into Your loving hands. May the peace that surpasses all understanding guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. In His precious name, we pray. Amen.