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Psalm 85 (ESV)

Revive Us Again

To the choirmaster. A Psalm of the Sons of Korah.

1 Lord, you were favorable to your land;
you restored the fortunes of Jacob.
² You forgave the iniquity of your people;
you covered all their sin. Selah
³ You withdrew all your wrath;
you turned from your hot anger.

⁴ Restore us again, O God of our salvation,
and put away your indignation toward us!
⁵ Will you be angry with us forever?
Will you prolong your anger to all generations?
⁶ Will you not revive us again,
that your people may rejoice in you?
⁷ Show us your steadfast love, O Lord,
and grant us your salvation.

⁸ Let me hear what God the Lord will speak,
for he will speak peace to his people, to his saints;
but let them not turn back to folly.
⁹ Surely his salvation is near to those who fear him,
that glory may dwell in our land.

¹⁰ Steadfast love and faithfulness meet;
righteousness and peace kiss each other.
¹¹ Faithfulness springs up from the ground,
and righteousness looks down from the sky.
¹² Yes, the Lord will give what is good,
and our land will yield its increase.
¹³ Righteousness will go before him
and make his footsteps a way.

 REFLECTION:

1. The psalmist began by thanking God for forgiving and restoring His sinning people. Even though Israel was free, she still needed spiritual restoration and revival. Therefore, the psalmist petitioned God to put away all of His anger against His sinning people. They needed His faithful love and His deliverance “that your people may rejoice in you.”
2. How can we understand forgiveness? By seeing it as a place where God’s love, faithfulness, and righteousness unite to bring peace. Because God loves us, He forgives. Because He is faithful to His covenant promises, He forgives. Because God is righteous, He pays the price in Christ that forgiveness requires.
3. When we see forgiveness as an expression of God’s character and attitude toward man, we can be sure that “the Lord will give what is good.”
4. Are you disappointed that something didn’t turn out the way you hoped it would? How might this psalm help you?

PRAYER:

Stay with God for a little longer.  Continue to converse with God and listen to what He wants to tell you.  Then write down any thought and/or prayer in your spiritual journal.

HYMN:

Restore Us, O God of Our Salvation – www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cfo-toNbaTM