Sunday, May 6, 2012 pm
“You Have Been Favorable
to Your Land”
Psalm 85
As
to the timing of this psalm, we are not told.
Some attribute it to David, while others to the return of Judah
after the Babylonian captivity. It
is a time of discouragement for the people, yet also a time following
deliverance. If this were
written before the building of the 2nd Temple (cf. Ezra) or
the rebuilding of the city of Jerusalem (Nehemiah) the text would
certainly fit, and we will use such as our approach.
But it could be some other occasion.
Regardless, the psalmist observes deliverance, but also requests
complete restoration and revival so that the anger of God will cease.
a.
Lord, You have been
favorable to Your land, and brought back the captivity of Jacob. As always, we
find in the psalms gratitude for God’s favor.
IF this is the return of
Judah, we need here a very brief history of the occasion.
For centuries both Israel and Judah existed by the mercies of
God, though they were in continual rebellion.
A study of their history reveals how much God cared in everything
He tried to do so that they would return and serve Him.
He sent multitudes of prophets until he could take no more
without severe punishment.
In 722 BC, (Northern) Israel was carried away into Assyrian captivity.
Because of the righteousness of Hezekiah, Judah was spared at
that time (cf. 2 Kings 18-19).
However, their righteousness was (once again) short lived.
As a result, prophets were sent warning Judah to prepare for a
captivity of 70 years. It
began in 606 BC when Babylon invaded Jerusalem and carried away some of
the choice men of Judah, nobles, the wealthy, etc.
(2 Kings 24-25). It
was during this time that Daniel was carried away, and probably Ezekiel
as well. For another 20
years the city and nation would remain though subdued until finally in
586, Jerusalem was burned and the temple of Solomon utterly destroyed.
Virtually everyone else was taken away to Babylon.
They remained there until 536 BC, when Belshazzar died (Daniel 5)
and the city fell to Darius the Mede (Dan. 5:30-31).
AT that time, Cyrus, king of Peria issued a decree permitting the
captives of Judah to return to Jerusalem.
They were even given assistance and told to rebuild the temple
(Ezra 1:1-4).
With this brief history, let us resume our study of this psalm.
“You have found favor” – interestingly, in spite of all that His people had done to
Him and against Him, God still loved them.
His punishment was intended (ALWAYS) to produce repentance and a
return to Him. He even
promised this of Judah, before their captivity.
b.
You have forgiven the iniquity of Your people, You have covered all their
sin – when
God forgive, He FULLY forgives.
Our hope and consolation lies in that fact – Acts 22:16 speaks of
sins being washed away. Heb.
10:17 says, “Their sins and their
lawless deeds I will remember no more.”
This is in a text reminding us of the permanency of the sacrifice
of Christ (in contrast to the temporary forgiveness of the Law).
For those who returned to Jerusalem from captivity, we do observe a
degree of repentance. They
will never again go after the idols of the nations around them.
c.
You have taken away all
Your Wrath and turned from the fierceness of Your anger
– It is interesting how “overnight” there was a change
in their condition, from captives of the Babylonians to a people
permitted to return to Jerusalem and reestablish their lives and faith.
While we know the anger of God will revisit them, it will NOT be because
of sins that led to their captivity – rather it will be because of new
and other sins. When they
returned, God’s wrath in reference to their idolatry was completely
turned away.
NOTE: There are so many things to consider about God in this – His
compassion, mercy, longsuffering, love, goodness, etc.
a.
In vs. 4-5,
interestingly, the psalmist here begins with a plea for restoration and
that His anger cease. How do
we reconcile this anger with what we just discussed in the previous
verses?
Let us again revisit, Judah’s history after the return.
As they return, shortly
thereafter they would attempt to rebuild the temple but they were
stopped by their enemies and the temple remained undone for many years.
It was through the instructions of Zerubbabel along with the prophets
Zechariah and Haggai (cf. Ezra 5:1-2).
It was finally rebuilt.
Nehemiah then records the rebuilding and repair of the city of
Jerusalem and restoration of proper worship to God.
However, we know that their faithfulness to God was short lived
and filled with corruption (cf. Malachi, Neh. 13, etc.)
b.
The word, “restore” or
“turn” is their request.
There is a realization that they need to be as they USED to be in
God’s presence. Imagine
returning from Babylonian captivity and seeing the temple still in
ruins. Yes, they had been
returned, but things are NOT as they were before.
WHAT a lesson for us: Sin does damage!
Even though we can be forgiven, there are often consequences that
we must now live with. In
many instances, things are no longer the same.
c.
“Cause Your anger toward
us to cease. Will You be
angry forever? Will You prolong Your anger…?”
Why was God still angry? Consider Haggai 1:3-8.
If this was a few years later after their return, they have yet
to rebuild and thus they cannot worship God properly.
So there was STILL some anger as the people have not fully
repented.
Lesson: As I examine this psalm, I see the need for TRUE and FULL
repentance from sin. It is
imperative that we understand repentance is not just saying, “I’m
sorry!” Be careful
before you blame the anger on God!
d.
Will You not revive us again? Another
interesting word – “revive”.
It is a word that means to restore back to health.
There is a request of God that He bring them back to life in His
favor. They were wanting
what they used to have.
WE understand this word today spiritually.
Was it possible for them to be revived?
Yes! But one thing
they needed to realize was their part.
I am reminded of the Psalm 119 which uses this word some 16 times
(sometimes translated live or give).
That of course is a psalm dealing with God’s word.
Psalm 119:25, “My soul clings to the dust; Revive me according to
Your word.
Psa. 119:37, “Turn away my eyes from looking at worthless things, and
revive me in Your way.”
Psa. 119:149, “…revive me according to Your justice”
Psa. 119:156, “…Revive me according to Your judgments”
Psa. 119:159, “Revive me, O Lord, according to Your loving-kindness.”
Lesson: Do we need revival?
Are there times when our zeal is simply not what it ought to be?
Are we in a rut? Even
as we seek to repent of our sinful conduct, do we find ourselves
struggling to do the right thing?
This is something to think about!
e.
“Show us Your mercy, Lord, and grant us Your salvation.”
We see this intense longing for His help.
a.
I will hear what God the
Lord will speak, for He will speak peace to His people and to His saints
– The psalmist, has a right heart, as he acknowledges his need to do his
part.
Notice how he promises to hear what the Lord says.
Habakkuk 2:1 says, “I will stand my watch and set myself on the rampart, and watch to see
what He will say to me, And what I will answer when I am corrected.”
Lesson: Oh, that we might ALWAYS have that attitude.
It is in His word that we will find what we need and we must
diligently search it for answers – Psa. 119:105 – a lamp to my feet and
a light to my path.
b.
But
let them not turn back to folly – it can become a challenge to
remain faithful. Luke 9:62
finds Jesus warning, “No one, having put his hand to the plow and
looking back is fit for the kingdom of God.”
2 Pet. 2:20-22 speaks of the one who returns to the world.
c.
His salvation is near to
those who fear Him, that glory may will in our land” –
while we seek to develop a relationship with Him that
casts out fear (1 John 4:18), we must NEVER diminish the importance of
fearing God – whether it be the terror that accompanies rebellion and
disobedience OR the reverence for Him that causes us to tremble when we
realize who we are and His great glory.
It seems that this psalmist has a good understanding of what is needed
for God to once again rule in the land.
a.
In this final section we
find the hope of the psalmist that God will answer his request.
b.
Notice – mercy
(loving-kindness – NASU) and truth have met together – Mercy comes from
God and is available based upon truth.
As we respond to TRUTH we find His mercy.
c.
Notice – righteousness
and peace have kissed – peace comes from God based upon righteousness.
We find His peace when we act in righteousness.
d.
Truth shall spring out
of the earth and righteousness shall look down from heaven – there is
the desire that God’s will prevails.
e.
“Yes
the Lord will give what is good, and our land will yield its increase.
Righteousness will go before Him, and shall make His footsteps
our pathway.” AS the
psalmist concludes, he recognizes what will happen when things are as
they OUGHT to be between man and God.
f.
Lesson: NOTICE
how in these traits that God’s grace and man’s obedience complement one
another. Man must act in
God’s truth and righteousness to receive His mercy and peace.
Oh how we need to learn this as His children, but even more so as a
nation! Prov. 14:34 says,
“Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.”