Psalm 80
"You have fed them with the bread of tears"
Psalm 80 is another song of the exile, the poet struggling to make sense of Israel and Judah's fall and desolation. God's people are fed "the bread of tears" and are given "tears to drink."
It's an appropriate psalm to contemplate this Friday the Second Week of Advent. The hymns of Advent speak to the condition of exile:
O come, O come, Immanuel,
and ransom captive Israel
that mourns in lonely exile here
until the Son of God appear.
I was visiting recently with a pastor from a mainline congregation. I mentioned my envy that mainline denominations have a greater repertoire of Advent hymns in contrast to Christmas carols. But the pastor responded, "Oh, we still have to sing Christmas carols before the 25th. Plus, if we don't sing those carols before Christmas we won't ever get a chance to sing them." All that to say, everyone seems to struggle to consistently adopt an exilic posture for the four weeks of Advent.
And yet, while this might be a liturgical struggle, it's not an experiential problem. During Advent we don't just look "forward" to Christmas. Historically, the Incarnation is in our past. Advent--from the Latin adventus which means "coming" or "arrival"--is looking forward to Christ's Second Coming. Seen this way, we're living in the season of exile, the agonized period of waiting. Today we eat the bread of tears. Lamentation is our lived experience. Consequently, Psalm 80 expresses our Advent lament and hope. With the psalmist, we cry out:
Restore us, O Lord God of hosts;
let your face shine, that we may be saved.
Thinking about advent in terms of us still being in exile and waiting for the second coming of Christ enlivens the season. The incarnation is behind us, as is the resurrection, so his return is what we can look forward to.
Title: A Season of Exile
Yvon Roustan ©
In the shadow of weeping willows, we stand,
Hearts heavy with the bread of tears,
Lost in the echoes of a distant land,
Awaiting the Light that banishes fears.
Through the veil of sorrow and lament,
We seek the touch of a saving grace,
A yearning that in our souls is pent,
Longing for the dawn of a new embrace.
In the silence of our weary sighs,
We summon the echoes of prayers untold,
Transcending the limits of earthly ties,
Hoping for a future yet to behold.
Oh, Lord of hosts, in our broken plea,
We beseech your countenance to shine,
Grant us the strength to rise and be free,
From the shackles of darkness, to define.
With hearts weighed down by the burden of fear,
We raise our voices in unison,
Yearning for a brighter dawn to appear,
And lead us from this exile, undone.
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Explanation:
In this poem, the themes of exile, lament, hope, and yearning are intricately woven to reflect the essence of the Advent season. The depiction of standing in the shadow of "weeping willows" sets a somber tone, symbolizing the weight of sadness and tears that accompany waiting for redemption. The reference to the "bread of tears" highlights the nourishment of sorrow that feeds the soul during this period of anticipation.
The imagery of longing for the Light to dispel fears captures the central theme of seeking salvation and comfort in a time of darkness. The intertwining of sorrow, prayer, and hope underscores the emotional complexity of waiting for a divine intervention. The plea to the "Lord of hosts" reflects a yearning for divine intervention and guidance during this time of uncertainty and despair.
The poem's progression from lamentation to a collective cry for deliverance portrays a journey of spiritual transformation and resilience. The parallels drawn between the psalmist's plea for restoration and the contemporary yearning for salvation evoke a timeless and universal longing for redemption. The closing lines emphasize the unity in seeking liberation from the darkness of exile, resonating with the communal spirit of Advent observance.