For those who may wish to ‘study’ this chapter, the following simple resources are provided for you. Each passage has a four-Part approach to help you take in and think further about what you have read.

Passage: Psalm 85

1 You, Lord, showed favour 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 Saviour,
    and put away your displeasure towards us.
5 Will you be angry with us for ever?
    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.

A. Find Out:

1. What does the psalmist remember? v.1-3
2. What does he ask the Lord to do? v.4-7
3. What does he say he will do? v.8
4. How does he reassure himself? v.9
5. What are the characteristics he knows come with the Lord? v.10,11,13
6. What is his hope? v.12

B. Think:

1. How does the psalmist encourage himself by looking back?
2. What does he know about when the Lord comes?
3. So what is his yearning and his plea?

C. Comment:

This psalm obviously comes at a time when Israel are going through a time of chastening. The psalmist, as he speaks to the Lord (v.1-7), first reminds the Lord that He has in the past shown them favour and restored them already (v.1), and forgave them when they sinned (v.2). Look Lord, you put aside your anger then (v.3), is what he seems to say, so won’t you do it again and restore us (v.4) again. Please don’t let your anger against us go on and on for ever (v.5), please revive us so we can become again the people who praise you (v.6). Please come and save us because of your unfailing love (v.7).

Thus this first part is a prayer of reminder and request. Then the psalmist talks to himself. He’s prayed and so now he will listen to what God will say (v.8). He knows God wants peace for his people – as long as they don’t return to their folly of godlessness. God’s salvation is there for all who turn to Him (v.9) and His salvation means Him coming and His glory returning to the land. When His glorious presence returns then the land knows love, faithfulness, righteousness and peace (v.10). Like fresh sprouting seed, faithfulness will spring up afresh in the land and righteousness will be declared from heaven (v.11). When God comes, blessing comes with Him and the land will be blessed and will be fruitful again (v.12) and He prepares to come again to them,. (v.13) to dwell in their midst.

D. Application:

1. Recognise God’s absence from the Land and cry for Him to come.
2. Realise the goodness that comes with God’s presence. Cry for it.