PSALM 85

CONSIDER

• In forgiveness God’s love, faithfulness, righteousness and peace all meet

• As a forgiven people, God’s own can expect renewed blessing as the Lord shows His unfailing love

• God’s promise of peace, however, is contingent to those who fear God and turn from moral evil  <R1795>

NOTES BY VERSE

Note: each ** comment in this document is listed in numerical order according to the verse(s) from this chapter

** The Psalmist recognized a God who forgives us of our iniquities and asked Him to do so again

Psalm 85:1-3 NIV

[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.

Psalm 85:4-7 NIV

[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.

** God grants peace to His people who follow Him; only those who renounce their sinful autonomy and put their complete trust in the living God will participate in the blessings of salvation and the future kingdom  <M130>

Psalm 85:8-9 NIV

[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.

John 3:3-5 NIV

[3] Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again. ” [4] “How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother's womb to be born!” [5] Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit.

** The salvation of sinners by the substitutionary death of Christ, gives the brightest display of the perfections of God; and particularly of those which belong to Him as the Supreme Ruler of the moral world.

Justice and mercy, duly tempered, and exercised with wisdom--is a summary of those virtues which belong to a good ruler. Now these are most illustriously displayed in a happy union, in Christ crucified.

Justice shines brighter in the cross--than if every sin had been punished upon offenders, without any mercy!  Mercy shines brighter in the cross--than if every sin had been pardoned, and every sinner made happy, without any execution of justice.

Mercy appears in turning the divine heart with such a strong propensity upon the salvation of sinners!  Justice appears in that when the heart of God was so much set upon it, yet He would not save them without a complete satisfaction to His justice.

Mercy appears in forgiving sin!  Justice appears in not forgiving so much as one sin--without a sufficient atonement!

Mercy, rich, free mercy--towards the sinner!

Justice, strict, inexorable justice--towards the Surety!

In short--mercy and justice, as it were, walk hand in hand through every step of this amazing scheme of salvation by the substitutionary atonement of Christ!  God pardons and saves the sinner--and yet condemns and punishes his sin!  <D43>

Psalm 85:10 NIV

[10] Love and faithfulness meet together; righteousness and peace kiss each other.

** One precious quality begets another, such as love and faithfulness; these four spiritual qualities characterize Christ and His future kingdom

• We can understand ‘forgiveness’ by seeing it as a place where God’s love, faithfulness, righteousness and peace all meet

• Because God loves us, He forgives

• Because God is faithful to His covenant promises, He forgives

• Because God is righteous, He pays the price in Christ that forgiveness requires

• When these three qualities unite in forgiveness, man is restored to that state of peace (well-being) which Adam and Eve first knew  <R1795>

Psalm 85:10-11 NIV

[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.

Psalm 85:10-11 NKJV

[10] Mercy and truth have met together; Righteousness and peace have kissed. [11] Truth shall spring out of the earth, And righteousness shall look down from heaven.

** God, who is righteous and acts out of righteousness, will provide blessings to His children

Psalm 85:12-13 NIV

[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.