Merry Christmas! Today I would like to look at Psalm 85
LORD, you were favorable to your land; you restored the fortunes of Jacob. (2) You forgave the iniquity of your people; you covered 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 toward us! (5) Will you be angry with us forever? Will you prolong your anger to all generations? (6) Will you not revive us again, 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 saints; but let them not turn back to folly. (9) Surely his salvation is near to those who fear him, that glory may dwell in our land. (10) Steadfast love and faithfulness meet; righteousness and peace kiss each other. (11) Faithfulness springs up from the ground, and righteousness looks down from the sky. (12) Yes, the LORD will give what is good, and our land will yield its increase. (13) Righteousness will go before him and make his footsteps a way.
Psalms 85:1-13 ESV To the choirmaster. A Psalm of the Sons of Korah.
I wanted to share this Psalm with you this week, as it points to the advent. Here are some lessons we can glean from this Psalm.
1 God is faithful
In the first few verses we see God’s mercy on His people. Just like Israel, we are often unfaithful to God. Yet, He forgives, and when He forgives, He forgives fully.
2 God saves
On this side of the cross, we know that God’s salvation is through Jesus Christ. We find peace with God through Jesus Christ. Look at what verse 9 says. God’s salvation is near to those who fear Him.
3 God’s salvation is beautiful
If you read the last few verses of this chapter you can see the poetic beauty. The picture being painted is the intimate nature of our faithfulness and God’s blessing.
All of this flows directly to and through Jesus. Jesus is God’s blessing and it takes faith in Christ to receive all of God’s blessing.
Pastor Jonathan Welch
