“THE PSALMIST’S CONFIDENCE IN THE LORD WHO RESTORES” PSALM 85:1-13

As all of the psalms, Psalm 85 has really anchored my heart to trust in God. Largely because He restores, forgives, withholds His wrath, grants mercy and salvation, and He speaks peace.  Who can compare to a God of infinite goodness as the God we serve?  If you agree with the above statement, say Amen!  God is infinitely good to us as believers today because He didn’t have to dispense His salvation to us.  I thank God that He withdrew His wrath and saved a wretch like me.  At birth, we were all condemned and doomed for hell, but Jesus Christ came to set us free from the ruins of sin; and because of His finished work on Calvary, we have been rescued as Romans 8:1 states: “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”  Yes, God has rescued us from the plight which we were in, and I am going to join the psalmist as he exclaims the goodness of the Lord in Psalm 118:1-3 which states:  “O give thanks unto the LORD; for He is good: because His mercy endureth for ever.  Let Israel now say, that His mercy endureth for ever.  Let the house of Aaron now say, that His mercy endureth for ever.”

From verses 1-3, the psalmist acknowledges the goodness of the Lord in behalf of His people.  God is indeed a good God who restores, forgives, and withholds the fierceness of His wrath.  The psalmist points out: “Thou hast forgiven the iniquity of thy people, thou hast covered all their sin. Thou hast taken away all thy wrath: thou hast turned thyself from the fierceness of thine anger” (vv. 2-3).     As people of God today, we should be thankful that the church has been exempted from “the wrath to come” (Tribulation Period), for I Thessalonians 1:10 says, “And to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.”

In verses 4-7, the psalmist is praying that the Lord would turn away from His anger toward the nation so that they would be revived and rejoice in Him.  His plea is seen in verse 7 which states:  “Shew us thy mercy, O LORD, and grant us thy salvation.”

Of particular note is the fulfillment of verses 8-9:  “I will hear what God the LORD will speak: for He will speak peace unto His people, and to His saints: but let them not turn again to folly.  Surely His salvation is nigh them that fear Him; that glory may dwell in our land.”  The ultimate end of the words of verses 8 and 9 will be realized when the manifestation of the Lord’s glory will be displayed in verse 10, when “Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other.”    Brothers and sisters, there cannot be peace when the righteous One, Jesus Christ is not reigning!  When He is reigning during the Millennium, then verse 10 will be fulfilled.

Finally in verses 11-13, the psalmist concludes this psalm by affirming that God will act in favor toward His people.   We are blessed to know that “Truth shall spring out of the earth; and righteousness shall look down from heaven” (v, 11).

May God Bless!