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Psalm
85 was possibly written by one of the sons of Korah after the captivity of
Israel in Babylon. The people of Israel were granted a new beginning back in
the land. The LORD was gracious to forgive and cover their sin of idolatry. God
had lifted His wrath and turned from His anger on them (vv. 1-3). Notice how
many times the words “You or Yours” are repeated in these three verses speaking
of the LORD and what He did for the people. The psalmist then asked for God to
restore and revive them that they may rejoice in His righteousness as the LORD
showed them His mercy and salvation (vv. 4-7). In these verses you can’t help
but notice how many times the word “us” is repeated as the people have gather
to pray for renewal!

 

Now
in verses 8-13, the people are encouraged to listen to God’s message to them! "I
will hear"
(v. 8), suggests that the worship leader or a prophet
stepped forward and said, in effect, "Now it is time to be silent before
God and listen for His message to us for this hour." God and His people
were now reconciled, and He was speaking peace to them. Jeremiah had given them
this promise in Jeremiah 29:10-14: “For thus says the LORD: When seventy
years are completed for Babylon, I will visit you, and I will fulfill to you my
promise and bring you back to this place. For I know the plans I have for you,
declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and
a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear
you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. I will
be found by you, declares the LORD, and I will restore your fortunes and gather
you from all the nations and all the places where I have driven you, declares
the LORD, and I will bring you back to the place from which I sent you into
exile.”

 

"Saints" means "people who
are set apart for God." God was speaking peace but was at the same time was
warning them not to turn back to foolish living. Israel had a long record of "turning
to folly"!
According to the book of Judges, seven different nations
were sent by God to chastise Israel; they repented, but they always lapsed back
into idolatry again. After Solomon died, his son Rehoboam was a fool not to
listen to the wise men of the land, and this led to a division of the kingdom.
Jeroboam, ruler of the northern kingdom, manufactured his own religion and led
the nation astray. How foolish!

In
verses 10-13, the Lord announced future blessings that He would send if His
people continued to walk with Him. Righteousness and peace—attributes of
God—are personified and would "kiss" each other, for the warfare
would be over. (See Isa. 32:17; Rom. 3:21-31 and 5:1-3.) Surely there is a
glimpse here of the person and work of Jesus Christ on the cross. It was on the
cross of Jesus that mercy and truth become friends. The truth is that we are
sinners and deserve God’s wrath, but God’s grace and mercy through the death of
Christ on the cross brings us reconciliation, peace with God, and salvation
(Romans 5:1-2; 6:23).  

 

“Truth
shall spring out of the earth”!
Jesus said, “I Am the way, the truth and
the life…”.
The psalmist described a world of holiness and harmony, a
picture of the coming kingdom over which Christ shall reign. And what a harvest
there will be, not only of food necessary for survival (Hag. 1:3-11) but of
heaven-sent blessings that will bring joy to the land. As people walk through
the land, God's righteousness will go before them, and their way will be
prepared. God's will shall be done on earth just as it is now done in heaven. "Even
so, come, Lord Jesus!"
(Rev. 22:20).

 

Even
today, our Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ “restores us and leads us in paths of
righteousness”!
(Psalm 23:1-3). Follow Him!

 

God
bless!