Psalms Reading – 3.21.2022
Psalm 85
For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. A psalm.
1 You, Lord, showed favor to your land; you restored the fortunes of Jacob.
2 You forgave the iniquity of your people and covered all their sins.
3 You set aside all your wrath and turned from your fierce anger.
4 Restore us again, God our Savior, and put away your displeasure toward us.
5 Will you be angry with us forever? Will you prolong your anger through all generations?
6 Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you?
7 Show us your unfailing love, Lord, and grant us your salvation.
8 I will listen to what God the Lord says; he promises peace to his people, his faithful servants—
but let them not turn to folly.
9 Surely his salvation is near those who fear him, that his glory may dwell in our land.
10 Love and faithfulness meet together; righteousness and peace kiss each other.
11 Faithfulness springs forth from the earth, and righteousness looks down from heaven.
12 The Lord will indeed give what is good, and our land will yield its harvest.
13 Righteousness goes before him and prepares the way for his steps.
This is a prayer of the community for restoration in a time of crisis. In order to bring encouragement and hope, this prayer reflects back on a previous occasion when God forgave and restored the people. In verses 2-3, four verbs of forgiveness are used to picture God wiping away every sin so that there is no trace of guilt left behind. It’s reminiscent of Psalm 32 which speaks about the joy of experiencing such total forgiveness.
The people face another crisis so they again cry out for God’s help. They ask God to show His unfailing love and grant them salvation from their situation which may have been a famine as suggested in verse 12. God’s unfailing love is His covenant love that He offered to the Israelites and with anyone who would choose Him as their Lord and God.
In verse 8, the psalmist speaks individually as one who chooses to listen to the Lord’s answer. The message of the gospel is for the community but must be accepted individually. He has heard that God promises peace and salvation to those who faithfully fear the Lord and refuse to turn to foolish ways. This restoration is for the greater purpose of God’s glory being seen by all.
That glory is magnificently revealed in verses 10-13 where we are given one of the most beautiful pictures of restoration in Scripture. It envisions what the Messiah would bring to earth and what the new heaven and new earth will perfectly be. This has always been God’s heart and desire for all of creation. May we pray and serve God in bringing His glorious kingdom to earth.
Memory Verse: Psalm 86:15, But you, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.
Question(s) to Consider: What is the Lord saying to you today? What does this description of God’s vision of restoration tell you about God? What does it tell you about what will be one day?