Notes by Charles Spurgeon:

Psalm 80:3  Turn us again, O God, and cause thy face to shine; and we shall be saved.

“Turn us again, O God.” It is not so much said, “turn our captivity” but turn “us.” All will come right if we are right. The best turn is not that of circumstances but of character. When the Lord turns his people he will soon turn their condition. It needs the Lord himself to do this, for conversion is as divine a work as creation; and those who have been once turned unto God, if they at any time backslide, as much need the Lord to turn them again as to turn them at the first. The word may be read, “restore us;” verily, it is a choice mercy that “he restoreth my soul.” “And cause thy face to shine.” Be favourable to us, smile upon us. This was the high priest’s blessing upon Israel: what the Lord has already given us by our High-priest and Mediator we may right confidently ask of him. “And we shall be saved.” All that is wanted for salvation is the Lord’s favour. One glance of his gracious eye would transform Tophet into Paradise. No matter how fierce the foe, or dire the captivity, the shining face of God ensures both victory and liberty. This verse is a very useful prayer. Since we too often turn aside, let us often with our lips and heart cry, “Turn us again, O God, and cause thy face to shine, and we shall be saved.”

Psalm 80:7  Turn us again, O God of hosts, and cause thy face to shine; and we shall be saved.

“Turn us again, O God of hosts.” The prayer rises in the form of Its address to God. He is here the God of Hosts. The more we approach the Lord in prayer and contemplation the higher will our ideas of him become.

Psalm 80:19  Turn us again, O LORD God of hosts, cause thy face to shine; and we shall be saved.

“Turn us again, O Lord of hosts.” Here we have another advance in the title and the incommunicable name of Jehovah, the I Am is introduced. Faith’s day grows brighter as the hours roll on; and her prayers grow more full and mighty. “Cause thy face to shine; and we shall be saved.” Even we who were so destroyed. No extremity is too great for the power of God. He is able to save at the last point, and that too by simply turning his smiling face upon his afflicted. Men can do little with their arm, but God can do all things with a glance. Oh, to live for ever in the light of Jehovah’s countenance.