Advent Day 4 - Longing

Psalm 79

8 Do not remember against us our former iniquities; 

  let your compassion come speedily to meet us, 

  for we are brought very low.

9 Help us, O God of our salvation, 

  for the glory of your name; 

deliver us, and atone for our sins, 

  for your name's sake!

Psalm 80

1 Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, 

  you who lead Joseph like a flock. 

You who are enthroned upon the cherubim, shine forth.

2 Before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh,  

  stir up your might 

  and come to save us!

3 Restore us, O God; 

  let your face shine, that we may be saved!

17 But let your hand be on the man of your right hand,

   the son of man whom you have made strong for yourself!

18 Then we shall not turn back from you; 

  give us life, and we will call upon your name!

19 Restore us, O LORD God of hosts!

   Let your face shine, that we may be saved! 

Job 9

19 If it is a matter of strength, he is mighty! 

   And if it is a matter of justice, who can challenge him? 

20 Even if I were innocent, my mouth would condemn me; 

   if I were blameless, it would pronounce me guilty.

29 Since I am already found guilty, 

   why should I struggle in vain? 

30 Even if I washed myself with soap 

   and my hands with cleansing powder, 

31 you would plunge me into a slime pit 

   so that even my clothes would detest me.

 32 “He is not a mere mortal like me that I might answer him, 

   that we might confront each other in court. 

33 If only there were someone to mediate between us, 

   someone to bring us together, 

34 someone to remove God’s rod from me, 

   so that his terror would frighten me no more. 

35 Then I would speak up without fear of him, 

   but as it now stands with me, I cannot.

What I see in these Old Testament passages is that the reason they were so longing for something or someone to make them right with God is because they were able to recognize their true condition. They had sin. They needed atonement. They needed to be restored. And they were completely incapable of doing it themselves.

I can't help but smile when I read Job saying, "If only there were someone to mediate between us. . ." Ahhh! Just wait! He's coming! You'll see :) I'm like so ready for Christmas Day, right now!