Yesterday while attending a sermon while visiting my daughter's church in Tennessee the pastor told us for over 20 years he has kept a journal. He looks back on the journal whenever times get difficult so that he can remember how God has always carried him through no matter what he faced. It is good to remember God's faithfulness so that we can stay firm as we stand in faith throughout our lives In Psalm 85 we see the psalmist doing just that.
Psalm 85:1-2
TO THE CHOIRMASTER. A PSALM OF THE SONS OF KORAH. LORD, you were favorable to your land; you restored the fortunes of Jacob. You forgave the iniquity of your people; you covered all their sin. Selah
Our Christian walk will find us, like Israel, oftentimes slipping off the path. Satan will try and convince us we are not saved, that somehow we are not good enough to be Christ’s. But Jesus paid the price in full at the Cross. It is finished.
John 19:28-30
After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the Scripture), "I thirst." A jar full of sour wine stood there, so they put a sponge full of the sour wine on a hyssop branch and held it to his mouth. When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, "It is finished," and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the Scripture), "I thirst." A jar full of sour wine stood there, so they put a sponge full of the sour wine on a hyssop branch and held it to his mouth. When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, "It is finished," and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
It is finished and Romans 5:1
declares that “…since
we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus
Christ.” His wrath was satisfied for those who by faith trust in Him.
Psalm 85:3
You withdrew all your wrath; you turned from your hot anger.
You withdrew all your wrath; you turned from your hot anger.
Israel’s history reveals a continual story of backsliding
and turning towards idolatry. The OT story tells of the revolving door of their
relationship with God.
Psalm 85:4-6
Restore us again, O God of our salvation, and put away your indignation toward us! Will you be angry with us forever? Will you prolong your anger to all generations? Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you?
Restore us again, O God of our salvation, and put away your indignation toward us! Will you be angry with us forever? Will you prolong your anger to all generations? Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you?
This would be their cry when they had wallowed in their own
mud long enough.
Psalm 85:6-7
Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you? Show us your steadfast love, O LORD, and grant us your salvation.
Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you? Show us your steadfast love, O LORD, and grant us your salvation.
When we fall away and slip back into sinful ways we, too,
feel separation from God. But all we need do is to confess our sin and then
repent of it.
1 John 1:9
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
But that does not mean we should take our sin lightly. There
is a lot of bad teaching in the world. God will not let His children stay in
their sin forever.
Psalm 85:8-9
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. Surely his salvation is near to those who fear him, that glory may dwell in our land.
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. Surely his salvation is near to those who fear him, that glory may dwell in our land.
There must be a healthy fear of the Lord. But to those who
fall on their knees before Him with broken hearts over their sin comes a wonderful
act of mercy.
Psalm 85:10
Steadfast love and faithfulness meet; righteousness and peace kiss each other.
Steadfast love and faithfulness meet; righteousness and peace kiss each other.
What a beautiful picture we see here. Righteousness and
peace kiss each other. This is what Jesus is all about. God is a holy God. God
is a loving God. You cannot separate the two. And only by the blood of Christ
and then the sanctifying power of the Holy Spirit can we have this relationship
in our lives.
Psalm 85:11
Faithfulness springs up from the ground, and righteousness looks down from the sky.
Faithfulness springs up from the ground, and righteousness looks down from the sky.
Another beautiful verse and I think each of us need to simply
grab hold of verses 10 and 11 and spend some time allowing the Spirit of God to
write these on our hearts. Our walk is to bring glory to God and we do so by
growing each day to be more like Christ. This can be yours friend.
Psalm 85:12-13
Yes, the LORD will give what is good, and our land will yield its increase. Righteousness will go before him and make his footsteps a way.
Yes, the LORD will give what is good, and our land will yield its increase. Righteousness will go before him and make his footsteps a way.
I am tired of my old, sinful self. I will lift up hands to
God in faithfulness and bask in the glory of His righteousness. God will make
my footsteps a way.
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