Psalm 85:1-13 / Restoration and Peace
📘 Scripture
1. You, Lord, showed favor to your land; you restored the fortunes of Jacob.
2. You forgave the iniquity of your people and covered all their sins.
3. You set aside all your wrath and turned from your fierce anger.
4. Restore us again, God our Savior, and put away your displeasure toward us.
5. Will you be angry with us forever? Will you prolong your anger through all generations?
6. Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you?
7. Show us your unfailing love, Lord, and grant us your salvation.
8. I will listen to what God the Lord says; he promises peace to his people, his faithful servants—but let them not turn to folly.
9. Surely his salvation is near those who fear him, that his glory may dwell in our land.
10. Love and faithfulness meet together; righteousness and peace kiss each other.
11. Faithfulness springs forth from the earth, and righteousness looks down from heaven.
12. The Lord will indeed give what is good, and our land will yield its harvest.
13. Righteousness goes before him and prepares the way for his steps.
📖 Scripture Summary
The sons of Korah remember the Lord’s favor and forgiveness toward His people. They ask Him to restore and revive them once again. The Lord promises peace to His faithful servants; His salvation is near those who fear Him. Love and faithfulness meet, and righteousness and peace come forth. The Lord will give what is good, and the land will yield its harvest.
💬 Reflection
Revived and Rejoicing (85:1–7)
God is completely justified in His anger and displeasure when His people sin against Him. Yet the psalmist remembers the favor God has bestowed upon them in the past and asks Him to restore them once again. The psalmist knows that the people will rejoice as God revives them, shows them His unfailing love, and grants them salvation. We, too, can rejoice as we recognize the love and salvation we have received. We worship with thanksgiving, knowing that God chose not to remain in His anger. Because of His grace, we are forgiven, revived, and restored in our relationship with Him. May we not take this grace for granted but rejoice in the God who extends His love and salvation to us.
Reflection question: Think about how you have been forgiven, revived, and restored by God. Use this time to respond in worship.
A Harvest of Peace (85:8–13)
The psalmist understands that listening to God and faithfully serving Him yields peace. The faithful and righteous can expect to receive the fruit of their ways: they will experience the goodness of God. When we listen to the Lord and faithfully serve Him, we can be encouraged in knowing that we will experience His peace. When we keep a reverential fear of God and our ways reflect His love and righteousness, we can anticipate His fruitfulness in our lives. We are faithful, not because we selfishly seek God’s blessings for ourselves, but because our hearts are set on serving God and His people, and His peace and goodness are the blessed result.
Reflection question: Reflect on the peace you have experienced as a result of listening to the Lord. What promises from His Word have been on your mind lately?
🙏 Prayer
Dear Lord, I rejoice with thanksgiving because of Your grace, forgiveness, and love. Please help me to listen to You and to serve You well so that I may remain in Your peace. In Your name I pray, amen.
✍ Essay
Where Peace Is Found
Our modern world is bustling with activity and bears the weight of many different responsibilities. As a result, people often experience stress and anxiety. Many feel overwhelmed and peace seems elusive to them. In my work of writing, editing, teaching, and research, I deal with multiple deadlines every month and specific standards that need to be met. The work can be complex and demanding, and if I let myself, I can succumb to feeling overwhelmed or stressed. In such moments, I do not experience peace because I am focused more on the tasks than on God.
People often try to find peace in meditation, walks in nature, or breaks from work. While these can be helpful, some may be surprised to know that peace can be found in any circumstance. Psalm 85 reminds us that listening to God and faithfully serving Him yields peace because we are focused on the Lord. We can pay attention to the details of our everyday responsibilities, but when we are listening to God and doing everything in service to Him, we remain at peace because we know that He cares for us. If we make a mistake or falter in our work or responsibilities, God does not condemn us. We have the joy and confidence of a child with a good father or a worker with a great supervisor. We are at peace because we know that we are near to God and are secure in our relationship with Him.
Written by Ahreum Kim
💬 Today’s Inspiration
“Faith in Jesus means trusting him not only for our salvation but for his grace to cover our limitations and humanity.”
– Sarah Walton