Proclaiming God’s Past Acts For Israel
85:1-3
As we have seen in several other psalms, this one starts with a recitation of things God has done for Israel in the past. All of the verbs in this section are past tense. The psalmist is reciting these things to God. God was not doing these things at the time the psalmist wrote the psalm.
The psalmist begins by saying God was, in the past, favorable to the land. The land to which the psalmist refers is Israel. The word “favorable” means more than God was nice to them. He found them acceptable because they loved and obeyed him and he blessed them for it.
This favor came after a period of God’s discipline, however. We see this because verse 2 says God restored the fortunes of Jacob. That means he had taken them away at some time in the past. We also see that verse 3 refers to God’s wrath and anger during the former time.
Jeremiah 14:10 shows us a time when God did not accept Israel because of its idolatry. The language is almost exactly opposite the language in the verses two and three of the psalm. Jeremiah wrote: “…therefore the LORD does not accept them; now he will remember their iniquity and punish their sins”.
So, the psalmist remembered a time that Israel rebelled against God and suffered his discipline, then received the restoration of their “fortunes” when they repented. Fortunes may include protection from enemies and\or abundant crops (those things promised in the blessings of the covenant).
In addition to a restoration of fortunes, God forgave Israel’s iniquity and covered their sins. This is an allusion to Exodus 34. After Moses interceded, God forgave Israel for its idolatry with the golden calf. God revealed himself to Moses as merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin. (Exodus 34:6-7) Here, the psalmist seems to say God forgave their sin and relieved them of its consequences. He withdrew his wrath and restored Israel. (2-3)
God did not always relieve Israel of he consequences of its sin, but here he has and it is a double blessing the psalmist acknowledges. Likewise, with us, God forgives our sins but sometimes lets us experience the consequences of them.
The words used here to describe God’s reaction to Israel’s sin give us a good picture of how serious sin is and how much it displeases God. The psalm speaks of wrath and hot anger. It speaks of God’s indignation. The New Testament speaks of it also.
Romans 1:10 says the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. That chapter goes on to say that God gave sinful men up to their sinful natures and idolatry, and debased thinking. Romans 6:23 tells us the end result of sin is death, physical and spiritual. Fortunately, Romans 5:9 tells us those who believe in Jesus are saved by Jesus from the wrath of God.
Prayer For Restoration
85:4-7
The psalmist asked for restoration again, showing us this is not the first time they suffered God’s wrath for their sin and rebellion. He wanted the Lord to stop being angry and to again show Israel his steadfast love.
“Steadfast love” translates the Hebrew word “hesed”. Exodus 34:6 said that God abounded in steadfast love. “Steadfast love” is an unwavering and enduring love. It is connected to God’s covenant with Israel. God told Moses he is abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness. In Deuteronomy 7:9, Moses said “know therefore that the LORD your God is God, the faithful God, who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations…”.
When Israel was not doing well, it was because they did not keep the covenant and suffered the curses of the covenant. That is likely the case here. But, the psalmist knows that, while Israel is often unfaithful, God is always faithful. So, he appeals to the covenant and to God’s nature as having steadfast love when he asks God to relent from anger and to revive Israel. He asked if God would prolong his anger to all generations as opposed to showing steadfast love to a thousand generations.
Anticipating God’s Favorable Response
85:8
The psalmist wanted to hear God speak, because he believed God would speak peace to his people. This means he would speak of reconciliation, forgiving them and showing favor to them. However, they should make sure their repentance is genuine so they will not return to folly and break the covenant.
The New Testament speaks of reconciliation also. But it is Christ that brings reconciliation. And that reconciliation is permanent.
In the psalm, God offered reconciliation only to Israel, the people with whom he made a covenant. Now, he offers reconciliation to all who will will come to Christ in faith.
Romans 5:10 says “For if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled shall we be saved by his life. More than that, we also rejoice in God thorough our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation”.
The Psalmist’s Hope
85:9-13
The psalmist had sure faith that the Lord would bring salvation and his presence\glory to his people that came to him in faith and obedience.
He broke into a doxology, a praise to God for his steadfast love and faithfulness, his righteousness, and the restoration of peace with his people, the people of his covenant.
That reconciliation would bring good things to the land, as promised in the covenant blessings, and cause them to prosper. (12)
Takeways
We should constantly strive to live in obedience to God to please him. We want to experience his favor, not his displeasure or his wrath. God has done so much for us in sending his son to die for us, that it should grieve us deeply to displease him.
When we sin, we should repent and confess our sins to God, who will forgive and restore us to fellowship with him. (1 John 1:9)
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