The salvation of God is at hand
Psalm 85
To the leader. Of the Korahites. A Psalm.
1 Lord, you were favourable to your land; you restored the fortunes of Jacob.
2 You forgave the iniquity of your people; you pardoned 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 towards us.
5 Will you be angry with us for ever?
Will you prolong your anger to all generations?
6 Will you not revive us again, so 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 faithful,
but let them not turn back to folly.
9 Surely his salvation is at hand for those who fear him,
that his glory may dwell in our land.
10 Steadfast love and faithfulness will meet;
righteousness and peace will kiss each other.
11 Faithfulness will spring up from the ground,
and righteousness will look down from the sky.
12 The Lord will give what is good, and our land will yield its increase.
13 Righteousness will go before him, and will make a path for his steps.
The psalm writer declares that things are not as they should be – restoration is needed (vs. 4), God alone is one who can revive the nation (vs. 6). The cry is that God would do again what God had done in the past – in vs. 1-3 God is reminded that in the past, he forgave Israel and revived, restoring their fortunes.
In this new time (the time of the psalm), Israel had again done wrong. They recognized their wrongdoing and wanted to change, turning to live lives faithful to God. But the writer knows how easy it is to turn back to the wrong ways (vs. 8 – “but let them not turn back to folly”).
The opportunity to turn to God, the opportunity to find salvation is “at hand” (vs. 9). With that salvation comes a new way of life, life in the reign of God, life as it is supposed to be lived. This life is beautifully described (vs. 10, 11) – righteousness (right living) and peace will be together – the right way of living life will be accompanied by peace. The land will produce enough for all. God will be with God’s people in faithfulness as they live by his ways (righteousness).
As we live in a world that looks nothing like the reign of God described here, we are left with the question which pattern will we live our lives by:
a. the world where peace is absent and there is not enough for all because of greed and selfishness, or
b. will we choose to live into the righteous reign of God trusting that the LORD is faithful and will bring good by his gracious care.
To which pattern will we be loyal?
PRAYER:
O LORD God, restore and revive our land, and begin in us. Shape our lives so that we live the patterns of your reign, faithful to your call. Teach us how to participate in the peace and abundance you are bringing so all may have enough. In Jesus’ name. Amen.