Bread of Tears
December 04, 2017
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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 smoulder
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 neighbours,
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.
Bread is an essential in our household. ‘Our daily bread’ - popped in the toaster each day; smeared with butter and sweet jam, washed down with fresh ground coffee. We take our bread for granted – and that’s the way it should be. But for so many people bread is not a given. Their daily diet is stress and anxiety, poverty rather than plenty. Sanctions trump sanctuary, crushing the poor and dispossessed.
The image we have in Psalm 80 is of bitter tears falling upon stale bread. Saline soaked bread cannot sustain the weary soul. Hungry bellies cry out for the shining face of God – “restore us, God Almighty.”
One of my favourite U2 songs is Crumbs From Your Table from the Vertigo album:
“You speak of signs and wonders; I need something other.
I would believe if I was able, but I'm waiting on the crumbs from your table.” (U2)
Perhaps those of us with plenty can help redress the inequality - support those who eat the bread of tears this Advent. Our church is focusing on the four themes of adventconspiracy.org in our Sunday services – worship fully, spend less, give more, love all. Its our way of saying that Christmas, and the coming of God, can still turn our world upside down!
Visit the Upper Room Church in Partick - a wonderful example of the bread of tears of displaced refugees being turned to a joyful feast. Glasgow City Mission’s night shelter is a haven of rest and friendship through the cold hard winter. Or maybe you could deliver a bag of shopping to the struggling single mum or the hungry family, or the lonely man waiting six weeks with no cash because his universal credit hasn’t kicked in yet. Sharing even the crumbs from your table this Christmas would be a welcome change to the bread of tears.
Let’s pray Psalm 80 on their behalf as well as our own.
Oh God, our culture is saturated in consumerism. At times we thought that those eating the bread of tears were getting their just desserts. Lord, forgive our contempt towards refugees, homeless, addicted, and those scrambling with debt. Thank you for churches, agencies and individuals working for a brighter day for all. Give us compassion we pray. Thank you for sending your Son to make a new world possible. “Restore us, LORD God Almighty; make your face shine on us, that we may be saved.” In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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