1. “Save Your Flock” (vv. 1-3). In the Old Testament and the New, the flock is a familiar image of the people of God (23:1; 28:9 nasb, niv; 74:1; 77:20; 78:52; 79:13; John 10; 1 Peter 5:1-4; Heb. 13:20-21). The request here is that the Lord might lead His people through this crisis as He led them safely through the wilderness. He led the way by the ark (the throne of God; 99:1; Num. 10:33; 1 Sam. 4:4; 6:2) and the cloud (the shining forth of the glory of God; Num. 14:14; see 50:2; 94:1; Deut. 33:2). After the ark came the people of Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun. Next were the Levites from Gershom and Marari carrying the tabernacle structure, followed by Reuben, Simeon, and Gad. Then came the Levites from Kohath carrying the tabernacle furnishings, followed by Ephraim, Manasseh, and Benjamin, with Dan, Asher, and Naphtali bringing up the rear (see Num. 10). Asaph asked the Lord to “stir up [His] strength” (7:6; 78:65) and bring salvation to His people. This reminds us of the words of Moses whenever the camp set out, “Rise up, O Lord! May your enemies be scattered” (Num. 10:35 niv). The request “cause thy face to shine” of the refrain reminds us of the priestly benediction (Num. 6:22-27; and see 4:6; 31:16; 67:1; 119:135). When God hides His face, there is trouble (13:1; 27:9; 30:7; 44:24; 69:17; 88:14). “Turn us again” means “restore us to our former state of blessing and fellowship with the Lord.” (See 85:4; 126:1, 4; Lam. 5:21.)