Psalm 85 offers a profound dialogue between humanity and the divine.
A song of yearning and hope calling us back to the eternal embrace of God.
It speaks of restoration,
Mercy and peace.
A balm for our restless souls.
In an age where noise and haste dominate,
This ancient hymn invites us to pause,
Reflect and listen to the quiet whispers of the Spirit.
As we journey through its verses,
Let us explore its wisdom,
Applying its truths to our daily lives and find comfort in its promises.
Psalm 85 Lord,
You have been favourable to Your land.
You have brought back the captivity of Jacob.
You have forgiven the iniquity of Your people.
You have covered all their sin,
Selah.
You have taken away all your wrath.
You have turned from the fierceness of Your anger.
Restore us,
O God of our salvation,
And cause Your anger toward us to cease.
Will You be angry with us forever?
Will You prolong Your anger to all generations?
Will You not revive us again,
That Your people may rejoice in You?
Show us Your mercy,
Lord,
And grant us Your salvation.
I will hear what God the Lord will speak,
For He will speak peace to His people and to His saints.
But let them not turn back to folly.
Surely His salvation is near to those who fear Him,
That glory may dwell in our land.
Mercy and truth have met together,
Righteousness and peace have kissed.
Truth shall spring out of the earth,
And righteousness shall look down from heaven.
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.
Verse 1 Lord,
You have been favourable to Your land,
You have brought back the captivity of Jacob.
God's favour is not a fleeting blessing,
But a deep-seated truth etched into the fabric of creation.
This opening verse reminds us of God's faithfulness,
A restoration not just of physical land,
But of the heart.
Reflect on how God has brought you back in your own time,
Times when you felt lost,
Only to find yourself gently guided home.
Pause here and breathe deeply,
Remembering moments of personal restoration.
Let gratitude arise for the favour you have already experienced.
Verse 2 You have forgiven the iniquity of Your people,
You have covered all their sin,
Selah.
Forgiveness is the cornerstone of divine love.
It is not partial or hesitant,
But total,
Covering our imperfections like a warm blanket on a cold night.
How often do we carry the weight of guilt unnecessarily?
This verse invites us to lay down our burdens and trust that we are wholly and unconditionally loved.
Inhale the truth of forgiveness and exhale any lingering shame or regret.
Pause and rest in this truth.
Verse 3 You have taken away all your wrath,
You have turned from the fierceness of your anger.
The image of God here is not of one who is perpetually angry,
But of one whose ultimate desire is peace and reconciliation.
When we imagine God as harsh or distant,
We project our fears onto the divine.
This verse gently corrects us,
Reminding us that anger is momentary,
But love endures forever.
Reflect on relationships in your life.
Are there places where anger needs to be released?
Invite God into these spaces asking for their conciliation and peace.
Verses 4 and 5 Distill us,
O God of our salvation,
And cause your anger toward us to cease.
Will you be angry with us forever?
Will you prolong your anger to all generations?
Here,
The psalmist voices the human fear of separation from God.
Yet,
This cry is met not with condemnation,
But with assurance.
God's silence in our struggles is not absence,
But an invitation to deeper trust.
Restoration is always God's ultimate goal.
Consider a current struggle or area of brokenness in your life.
Speak these verses as a personal prayer for restoration,
Trusting that healing is on the way.
Verses 6 and 7 Will you not revive us again,
That your people may rejoice in you?
Show us your mercy,
Lord,
And grant us your salvation.
Revival is not merely a historical event.
It is a present reality.
The soul longs for renewal,
A fresh outpouring of mercy.
These verses remind us that joy is a natural response to divine grace.
When we feel spiritually dry,
We can cry out for revival,
Knowing God delights in refreshing our weary hearts.
Visualize streams of living water flowing through your soul,
Reviving and restoring.
Let joy rise within you as you reflect on God's mercy.
Verse 8 I will hear what God the Lord will speak,
For He will speak peace to His people and to His saints,
But let them not turn back to folly.
In a world filled with noise,
The call to listen is radical.
God speaks peace,
Yet often we miss it because we fail to listen deeply.
This verse challenges us to cultivate a posture of stillness,
Where we can hear the gentle voice of the divine.
Spend a moment in silence.
Listen,
Not for answers,
But for peace.
Trust that even in silence God is present and speaking.
Verse 9 and 10 Surely His salvation is near to those who fear Him.
His salvation is near to those who fear Him.
That glory may dwell in our land.
Mercy and truth have met together.
Righteousness and peace have kissed.
These verses paint a picture of harmony,
Where divine attributes interwine.
Mercy tempers truth and righteousness embraces peace.
This is not only the nature of God,
But the potential within each of us when we align our lives with divine will.
Reflect on how you can embody mercy,
Truth,
Righteousness and peace in your relationships.
Commit to being a vessel of these divine qualities in your daily interactions.
Verses 11 and 12 Truth shall spring out of the earth and righteousness shall look down from heaven.
Yes,
The Lord will give what is good and our land will yield its increase.
There is a sacred partnership between heaven and earth,
Between divine promise and human action.
When we live in alignment with truth and righteousness,
Our lives bear fruit.
God's goodness flows abundantly,
Providing for all our needs.
Think about areas in your life where you are waiting for increase,
Whether in provision,
Growth or healing.
Trust in God's timing and provision.
Knowing that He will give what is good.
Verse 13 Righteousness will go before Him and shall make His footsteps our pathway.
God's righteousness is both a guide and a foundation.
When we follow the path laid before us,
We walk in step with the divine.
This verse reassures us that even when the way seems unclear,
We are never alone.
Envision yourself walking a path of light,
Each step guided by God's presence.
Trust that His footsteps mark the way,
Leading you to peace and fulfilment.
A Prayer Loving God,
You are the restorer of all things,
The giver of peace and the source of unending mercy.
As we journey through this life,
May we always find our refuge in You.
Revive our hearts,
Guide our steps and let Your peace dwell richly in our souls.
May mercy and truth guide us,
Righteousness and peace guard us and Your presence sustain us always.
Teach us to listen,
To trust and to rest in Your unfailing love.
Amen.
