An Eternal Dynasty

Psalm 89:1-4, 19-29

Psalm 89 begins with the title, “A Maschil of Ethan the Ezrahite.”

I assume you do not know who Ethan is; I didn’t. He is mentioned in 1 Kings 4:31. God made Solomon wiser than any man alive. As a comparison, God says that Solomon was even wiser than Ethan the Ezrahite. Since God makes the comparison, we can assume that Ethan was a very wise man.

According to Strong’s and Brown-Driver-Briggs, a “Maschil” is a didactic Psalm (a teaching Psalm), and it is a “Contemplation” in that it reflects prolonged and serious thought. Ethan was a man who specialized in prolonged and serious thought.

Psalm 89 overflows with worship and praise for God and the greatness of His works, His mercy, and compassion. Contemplation (thinking about) God brings us to this place of worship. If it does not, we are not thinking according to the truth. We must learn to think about God by what He reveals of Himself in His word.

We are in clay vessels and live in a world of perishing things. The world and all it contains is wearing out. Our loved ones grow old, and our children grow up. We naturally think in terms of time and the limits of our lives. So, when the Psalmist says, “I will sing of the mercies of the Lord forever,” we should notice his reference to time.

The first four verses of Psalm 89 are very much focused on “forever.” Read them with me.

Psalms 89:1-4 (NKJV) ¹A Contemplation of Ethan the Ezrahite. I will sing of the mercies of the LORD forever; With my mouth will I make known Your faithfulness to all generations. ²For I have said, “Mercy shall be built up forever; Your faithfulness You shall establish in the very heavens.” ³“I have made a covenant with My chosen, I have sworn to My servant David: ⁴‘Your seed I will establish forever, And build up your throne to all generations.’” Selah

The Psalmist speaks of “forever” and “all generations.”

We must adopt an eternal perspective if we want to contemplate God (think about God). An eternal viewpoint is not natural because everything we do is limited by time. God is the everlasting God. He is from everlasting to everlasting. His character, promises, and works are eternal. 

What does the everlasting nature of God mean when it comes to His mercies?

The Psalmist can “sing of the mercies of the Lord forever” because those mercies will never change; they are everlasting. God has never been more merciful than He is right now, nor will He ever be less merciful. 

The Psalmist also must last forever if he is going to sing forever. God created us to exist forever. When this body wears out or is destroyed, our spirit will continue to exist, and we will be either in the presence of God or separated from God forever. God tells us that “…it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment.” (Hebrews 9:27) God does not speak of another chance or purification after leaving this body.

When we get sick and God heals us, we say, “God is good!” God is good, and He is good when He chooses not to heal us. Nothing comes into our lives out of God’s control, and he can change, fix, stop, or prevent anything. And yet, bad things happen. The Psalmist deals with this truth in verses 46-48.

Psalms 89:46-48 (NKJV) ⁴⁶How long, LORD? Will You hide Yourself forever? Will Your wrath burn like fire? ⁴⁷Remember how short my time is; For what futility have You created all the children of men? ⁴⁸What man can live and not see death? Can he deliver his life from the power of the grave? Selah

Here we see the Psalmist confronting the chastisement (correction) of God. God’s rebuke and discipline come from His mercy as much as His comfort and abundance. Hebrews 12 tells us that the Lord disciplines the child that He loves.

Hebrews 12:5-6 (NKJV) ⁵And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons: “My son, do not despise the chastening of the LORD, nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; ⁶for whom the LORD loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives.”

Job spoke profound truth when he said:

Job 2:10 (NKJV) Shall we indeed accept good from God, and shall we not accept adversity?

If all things are under God’s control, what is mercy?

The word used in Psalm 89:1 is “checed.” The root meaning of this word is goodness or kindness. However, “checed” is not about being polite; rather, it extends goodness to the lowly, needy, and miserable. The Psalmist says he will sing of the goodness and kindness of the Lord forever. 

Humanity and each of us individually should sing of the goodness and kindness of the Lord forever. The reason is found in Psalm 40 where it says:

Psalms 40:1-3 (NKJV) ¹… I waited patiently for the LORD; And He inclined to me, and heard my cry. ²He also brought me up out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, [and] established my steps. ³He has put a new song in my mouth-- Praise to our God; many will see [it] and fear, and will trust in the LORD.

The pit and the miry clay are of our own making, but God does not treat us as we deserve, and that is mercy. 

Attached to mercy, Psalm 89 also speaks of God’s faithfulness. He says, “With my mouth will I make know Your faithfulness to all generations.” 

God’s faithfulness is His “emunah.” This Hebrew word means “firmness, steadfastness, fidelity.” God’s faithfulness is closely associated with His mercy; because of His faithfulness, His mercies never fail or run out. As has been stated, God does not change. In Lamentations, the prophet Jeremiah says:

Lamentations 3:22-24 (NKJV) ²²[Through] the LORD’s mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. ²³[They are] new every morning; Great [is] Your faithfulness. ²⁴“The LORD [is] my portion,” says my soul, “Therefore I hope in Him!”

Here, as in Psalm 89, the Scriptures point to God’s faithfulness in His mercy.

With God’s mercy and faithfulness as the background, the Psalmist says:

Psalms 89:3-4 (NKJV) ³“I have made a covenant with My chosen, I have sworn to My servant David: ⁴‘Your seed I will establish forever, and build up your throne to all generations.’” Selah

Why would God make a covenant with man?

The nations of Europe have the “North Atlantic Treaty Organization” (NATO). NATO was formed after WWII for cooperative defense against the expansion of the Soviet Union. The nations who sign on to this treaty promise to defend and help each other.

God does not need our help or defense, so His covenant (treaty) is one-sided. God has made known to us His reason. Ephesians 2:4-5 say:

Ephesians 2:4-5 (NKJV) ⁴But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, ⁵even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),

Because of mercy and love, God made a covenant with man. The covenant Psalm 89 speaks of is with God’s “chosen.” God swore to David to give him an eternal dynasty, a never-ending kingdom. But the one to sit on the throne is to be the seed of David.

The seed of David was born in a stable in Bethlehem. He is King of Kings and Lord of Lords, and he is everlasting. Listen to what the Psalmist says about this seed of David.

Psalms 89:19-29 (NKJV) ¹⁹Then You spoke in a vision to Your holy one, and said: “I have given help to [one who is] mighty; I have exalted one chosen from the people. ²⁰I have found My servant David; with My holy oil I have anointed him, ²¹with whom My hand shall be established; also My arm shall strengthen him. ²²The enemy shall not outwit him, nor the son of wickedness afflict him. ²³I will beat down his foes before his face, And plague those who hate him. ²⁴“But My faithfulness and My mercy [shall be] with him, and in My name his horn shall be exalted. ²⁵Also I will set his hand over the sea, and his right hand over the rivers. ²⁶He shall cry to Me, ‘You [are] my Father, My God, and the rock of my salvation.’ ²⁷Also I will make him [My] firstborn, the highest of the kings of the earth. ²⁸My mercy I will keep for him forever, and My covenant shall stand firm with him. ²⁹His seed also I will make [to endure] forever, and his throne as the days of heaven.”

This Psalm is a prophecy about Jesus. When He came to the stable in Bethlehem, He came to suffer and die for our sins. Right now, He is seated at the right hand of the throne of God and is waiting until His enemies are made a footstool for His feet. When He returns, He will be our conquering Lord and King. Every knee will bow, and every tongue confess that He is Lord. His kingdom will be everlasting as He is everlasting. David’s dynasty is eternal because God chose for the flesh of His Son to come through David’s lineage.

Since He is our King, please note that:

The enemy shall not outwit him, nor the son of wickedness afflict him. I will beat down his foes before his face, and plague those who hate him.

This promise of protection and strength extends to us who are His. We do not deserve this; His mercy and faithfulness never change, so we are saved.

Do you keep this eternal perspective?

Is your hope in the Lord?

At the Father’s Right Hand, Ephesians 1:20

Ephesians 1:20

At the Father’s Right Hand

We are still in the prayer that Paul is praying for all the saints (that includes you and me). He requests that we know the greatness of God’s power that is at work in our lives.

According to verse 20, this power is the same power that raised Jesus from the dead.

Ephesians 1:20 (NKJV) which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated [Him] at His right hand in the heavenly [places,]

Now, the Apostle is talking about Jesus. We must understand that although I say “the Apostle is talking about Jesus,” God is the One speaking. The Bible was given to us by the Holy Spirit. While the Bible is not a magical book, it is living, active, sharp, and powerful. The words of this prayer take us to the throne room of God, where Jesus is seated on a throne. His throne is at the right hand of God the Father. 

Sitting at the Father’s right hand is a place of favor, but in Jesus’ case, it is much more than favor. Jesus said,

John 10:30 (NKJV) “I and [My] Father are one.”

The unity of the Father and the Son is such that Heaven’s throne is not divided even if there is a right-hand seat. Jesus is God’s unique (or as we know it, “one and only”) Son, and there is none like Him.

To the Jews of 30 A.D., Jesus said,

John 8:58 (NKJV) Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.”

With the statement, Jesus declares that He is “I am,” which is God’s name. John 1 tells us that He was in the beginning with God, and nothing that was made was made without Him. (In other words, He created everything.)

However, Jesus humbled Himself and took on human flesh, and he became obedient to the point of dying of the cross for our sins. But when God raised Him from the dead, He exalted Jesus. Ephesians 1:21 says:

Ephesians 1:21 (NKJV) far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.

We cannot improve on the words of this verse. Jesus is FAR above all powers, all authorities, all rulers, and His name is GREATER than any name that is named.

Why is it important for us to know this?

First, this same power lives in and works in us. We are weak, but He is strong. We make excuses for ourselves, but we lack faith. When the disciples were afraid, Jesus scolded them for their lack of faith. Why do we afraid? Why do we not trust God for everything? Is there anything He cannot do? So, if I am His child, and His power is working on my behalf, do I have anything to worry about? Yet, we get so stressed!

Second, God has given Him as head over all things to the Church. Jesus owns and runs the Church. According to Revelation 2 and 3, He holds the Church in His hands and can plant and remove as He sees fit. He instructs us how we should function as a Chuch. There is nothing in these verses about pews or chairs, hymnals or projectors, the color of the carpet, or buildings. These things are actually important. I am not saying that we should not be careful in what we choose to do with God’s money. However, Jesus’ focus when He talks to the seven churches is their relationship to Him and whether or not they remained faithful to the truth. Did they tolerate bad doctrine? Did they deny the truth under persecution? Were they passionate about Jesus?

Church and our lives are about our relationship with Jesus. Everything else matters. Our families are important, our children invaluable, fellowship is essential, and others are indispensable. But Jesus is and must be first. He is our Savior, and He is also our master, not just boss but MASTER. 

Do we seek Him? Do we obey Him? Do we listen to Him?

Jesus is seated in the heavenly places. We MUST stop seeking earthly things! Jesus said, Seek first God’s kingdom and His righteousness. Colossians 3:1 says:

Colossians 3:1 (NKJV) If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God.

Why are we so petty, selfish, and stubborn?

We seek the wrong things, and we do not believe (we have very little faith).

Like Those Who Dream

Psalm 126

Psalms 126:1 (NKJV) A Song of Ascents. When the LORD brought back the captivity of Zion, we were like those who dream.

Do you notice the phrase “A Song of Ascents?”

What does that mean?

Let me explain.

The Psalms are the songs of Israel, and they are unique in that they are given by God to teach, comfort, and encourage His people through all generations. In the Psalms, we find every human emotion expressed to the Lord. 

The people who wrote these Psalms lived a long time ago in a culture that would be strange to us today. The Psalms of “Ascents” come from one of these cultural differences.

From the time of Moses, the Lord required that all the men of Israel gather in Jerusalem three times a year; once at Passover, once at Pentecost, and once for the Festival of Booths. Some of the Psalms were for these occasions. Psalm 126 is “A Song of Ascents.” “A Song of Ascents” means that the people sang this song when they were on the way to Jerusalem for the annual festivals.

The people remembered what God had done for them during these celebrations. Passover celebrated God delivering them from slavery in Egypt, which was a totally miraculous deal. Pentecost celebrated the wheat harvest, which is God’s provision, and the Feast of Booths celebrates God’s preservation of the people in the wilderness when they lived in booths (tents). The Feast of Booths carried the additional significance that it came at the final harvest of the agricultural year in Israel, which is, once again, celebrating God’s goodness and provision.

In some ways, we use Christmas in the same manner. We remember and retell the story of Jesus’ birth each year at the same time. We also use Easter to declare the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. In these “festivals,” we celebrate God’s goodness and provision.

The Lord established the festivals of Israel so His people would never forget their God and worship other gods. However, God knew that people are stubborn and prone to wander. So, in Deuteronomy 28, God tells the people exactly what will happen when they turn away from Him. As long as they worshiped only Him, they were exceedingly blessed. But, when they turned away from God, they were cursed.

The lesson for us lies in the truth of 1 Corinthians 10:11.

1 Corinthians 10:11 (NKJV) Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.

The Israelites suffered because they valued things, pleasures, and power more than God. In their suffering, they cried out to God for salvation. Psalms 126 celebrates God delivering them from suffering. Having been forcibly moved to foreign nations, they did not think they would see Jerusalem again. So, the psalmist says:

Psalms 126:1 (NKJV) A Song of Ascents. When the LORD brought back the captivity of Zion, we were like those who dream.

The phrase “brought back” comes from a Hebrew word which in some places, is rendered “revoked.” The psalmist is saying that the Lord released them from captivity. The ESV Bible says, “When the LORD restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dream.” The idea behind “brought back the captivity” is captured by the phrase “restored the fortunes,” however, the history and context of “captivity” is lost in such a translation. The idea of captivity is essential to our understanding of this passage. I am not saying this to be critical of the ESV; instead, I desire to help us understand the meaning of “bring back the captivity” and help us realize that this can apply to each of us because we all are born slaves (captives) of sin.

The Israelites thought that salvation from captivity was impossible, yet the Lord did it. So, they walked in amazement, hardly daring to believe their eyes.

When God acts, we find it too fantastic to believe. For example, Acts 12 tells us that King Herod killed James, John’s brother, and this pleased the Jews. So, he planned on doing the same with Peter and had him arrested and kept in jail. However, before Herod could carry out his plan, an angel came to Peter in the middle of the night, woke him up, and walked him out of jail. Acts 12:9 says:

Acts 12:9 (NKJV) So he [Peter] went out and followed him [the angel], and did not know that what was done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision. 

God does things that seem almost too good to be true. Much of it we do not see because we do not understand. But, occasionally, like Peter, we get a glimpse. 

At such times, we can say with the psalmist:

Psalms 126:2 (NKJV) Then our mouth was filled with laughter, And our tongue with singing.

The same thing happened to the lame man healed by Peter in Acts 3:8 where it says:

Acts 3:8 (ESV) And leaping up, he stood and began to walk, and entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God.

Our rejoicing in what God does is a witness to those around us. In Israel’s case, the witness is to all nations on earth. Psalms 126:2-3 says:

Psalms 126:2-3 (NKJV) ²Then our mouth was filled with laughter, And our tongue with singing. Then they said among the nations, “The LORD has done great things for them.” ³The LORD has done great things for us, [And] we are glad.

This same rejoicing is ours at Christmas. The Lord has done great things for us. The whole world celebrates the birth of God’s Son, Jesus Christ. It is a season of joy because God has done something for us that seems too good to be true.

There are few places where the name of Jesus is not known, and in addition, many places have manger scenes. Despite this, many do not know Jesus. Perhaps they have heard His name, but they do not know Him. The same can be said of nativity sets. Many do not understand the significance of the manger.

People are lost because they do not know the way of salvation, Jesus. Even though God has provided the way of salvation, most of the human race remains in captivity to sin.  

Just like Israel, many need God’s intervention. Many times Israel found herself subject to those who hated her. Therefore, we find in Psalm 126:4 a plea for God to deliver them.

Psalms 126:4 (NKJV) Bring back our captivity, O LORD, As the streams in the South.

The “streams in the South” refer to the Negev in Israel. The southern part of Israel was a desert (it still is). Some gullies and rivers remain dry until it rains, and then they are full of water.  (You can find YouTube videos of water flowing in these streams!)

Israel’s captivity is compared to the desert. Humanity’s separation from God can also be compared to a desert. Psalm 63:1 speaks of this when it says:

Psalms 63:1 (NKJV) O God, You [are] my God; Early will I seek You; My soul thirsts for You; My flesh longs for You In a dry and thirsty land where there is no water.

A person without God will thirst and seek to satisfy that thirst. Everyone is different in how they experience spiritual thirst, but most of us drown it with the desires of our flesh. We are busy with our needs and wants, so we do not think about God. But for the person God releases from captivity, there is rejoicing like the early verses of Psalm 126.

As God’s people, Israel was responsible for spreading the knowledge of God. As God’s people, we are also responsible for spreading the good news. When God “restores our captivity,” He expects us to declare (recount the details) what He has done for us. Each person has a unique story, which needs to be told. The psalmist speaks of this when he says:

Psalm 126:5–6 (NKJV) ⁵Those who sow in tears shall reap in joy. ⁶He who continually goes forth weeping, bearing seed for sowing, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.

The Lord Jesus compared the Word of God to seed. Psalm 126 uses the same simile. We all are to be sowing (planting). However, what about the weeping and tears?

This tells us what our attitude should be. We quickly become proud of what we know. Many of us feel that the world is entitled to our opinion. This reminds me of a story I heard (I can’t say if it is true or not).

A young man fresh out of seminary was hired by a church to be their pastor, and he was sure they were lucky to have him. On his first Sunday, he came perfectly dressed and groomed without a hair out of place. His sermon also was perfectly prepared and would have earned him an “A” in his homiletics class. However, when he got up to preach, he got confused, and the more he tried to straighten it out, the worse it got. Finally, he started weeping and walked out. One dear saint in the back said, “If he had come in like he went out, he would have gone out like he came in.”

We must remember you and I are just clay pots. The glory and majesty belong to God. Our attitude toward others needs to be one of love and compassion and not arrogance. The fate of those enslaved by sin will be terrible if they do not turn to Jesus.

The Lord Jesus took on a body of clay to set us free. Psalm 126 expresses the joy of the one who receives salvation and of the one who plants the seeds and sees the harvest. We should look at verses 5-6 again!

Psalms 126:5-6 (NKJV) ⁵Those who sow in tears shall reap in joy. ⁶He who continually goes forth weeping, bearing seed for sowing, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves [with him.]

Tears of compassion plant seeds of joy. As we share the Word of God, we share life, and as others come to know Jesus, we share in the joy of their salvation.

Christmas reminds us we have good news of great joy to share with all men. 

Do you tell others what God has done for you?

If God has not done anything for you, please, please speak with me about it, and, more importantly, talk with God about it.

Favor, Psalm 85

Psalm 85

Psalm 85:1 (NKJV) Lord, You have been favorable to Your land; You have brought back the captivity of Jacob.

Some Psalms begin with “Lord” or “O Lord.” Often the name used is “Jehovah” (Yahweh). The letters YHWH were written without vowels because the name was considered too Holy to write or pronounce. And yet the Psalms do not hesitate to call on that name. 

Psalm 85 begins with the name “Jehovah.” The Psalmist calls on the holy name of the Lord, the God of Israel. When Moses asked God His name, God said, “I AM WHO I AM.” The name Jehovah (Yahweh) is related to “I am that I am.” When God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM,” He pointed to His infinite, eternal nature. Another way of translating this phrase from Hebrew would be to say, “I AM THAT WHICH I AM.” God is making a point to Moses, the Israelites, and us. He is whatever He desires. Therefore, He is whatever His people need. Are His people lacking? He is Jehovah-Jira (the Lord our provider). Are His people in bondage? He is the Lord, our Deliverer. God does not change, but He is all we will ever need. He can meet any need. Our God is a mighty warrior and a Prince of Peace. He is a powerful judge and a loving Father. He is our Shepherd.

When the Psalmist says, “Lord,” he calls upon the One who is all things to all people. God is not a chameleon. Instead, He is a mighty rock and fortress to those who call on Him.

Addressing the Lord, the Psalmist says, “You have been favorable to Your land.” The Psalmist means that the Lord has accepted (been pleased with) His people.

The Lord is Lord of the whole earth. All peoples on earth belong to Him. However, God made a covenant with Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and their descendants. And, since that time, the nation of Israel has been known as God’s people. But, people being people, the relationship between God and the Israelites has been rocky from the beginning. 

When the Lord sent Moses to lead them out of Egypt, they resisted and at times wanted to stone Moses. When the Lord wanted them to enter Canaan, they rebelled, and an entire generation died in the wilderness. They fought against the Lord and insisted on having a king so they could be like other nations. They constantly worshiped Idols, never doing away with them altogether.

During the period of their history known as “the Judges,” God repeatedly punished and then delivered His people. The nation would turn away from God and worship and serve idols. God would warn them, and they would ignore His warnings, even going as far as killing His prophets. God would be angry and punish His people by sending other nations to oppress them. After a period of suffering under their oppressors, the nation would repent and call on the name of the Lord. Then the Lord would raise up a deliverer (a judge). While the judge lived, the nation remained faithful to the Lord. But then, after a period of relative prosperity, the people would rebel, and the cycle began again.

This same cycle continues to this day. For almost nineteen hundred years, Israel did not exist as a nation even though those who were Israelites knew their heritage. In effect, they were in exile from the land God promised Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. We have been watching another cycle in the cycle of the judges.

The Psalmist sees, through Scripture, a number of these cycles. And in them, He sees God’s mercy and goodness to His people. He sings of the favor the Lord shows toward His people and then says:

Psalm 85:1–3 (NKJV) ¹…You have brought back the captivity of Jacob.

²You have forgiven the iniquity of Your people;

You have covered all their sin.

Selah

³You have taken away all Your wrath;

You have turned from the fierceness of Your anger.

In their history, the people of Israel rebelled against the Lord numerous times. And in response, the Lord gave them up into slavery or oppression. When they called upon the name of the Lord, He poured out His love and affection.

But the people soon forgot the grace and love of God and rebelled once again. However, each time the people rebelled, the punishment got more severe. For example, at the time of Samson, the Philistines oppressed the Israelites. However, the Israelites still lived in the land. Centuries later, God used the Babylonians to punish His people. In 586 BC, the Babylonians sacked Jerusalem, removing them from the land. However, even this was not as severe as God’s judgment when in 70 AD, Rome sacked Jerusalem and the land became known as Palestine for almost 1900 years.

Therefore, as the Psalmist praises the Lord for His kindness and forgiveness, He asks:

Psalm 85:4–7 (NKJV) ⁴Restore us, O God of our salvation,

And cause Your anger toward us to cease.

⁵Will You be angry with us forever?

Will You prolong Your anger to all generations?

⁶Will You not revive us again,

That Your people may rejoice in You?

⁷Show us Your mercy, Lord,

And grant us Your salvation.

The love of God for His people and the favor He shows toward them caused God to “cover” their sins and iniquities. However, the Psalmist sees God’s judgment in His people’s continuing rebellion against God. 

God will cover the iniquities of any person who calls on His name. He made His Son, Jesus, a sacrifice for our sins to free us from the bondage that accompanies sin. However, many do not believe. They do not accept the gift of eternal life that God paid for. So the wrath of God remains on them. This is what has happened to Israel. A remnant (a small number) trusts in the Lord and has received their Messiah. But, the majority do not believe. Like any nation, Israel has the full spectrum of spiritual beliefs and practices, including Islam, Buddhism, Christian, and secularism. The time of Jacob’s trouble foretold in Scripture is yet to fall on modern Israel because of their continued refusal of Jesus, their Messiah.

The Psalmist understands this. The Psalmist looks at the past and prophetically sees the future, and asks:

Psalm 85:5 (NKJV) Will You be angry with us forever?

Will You prolong Your anger to all generations?

While the Psalmist opens the Psalm recognizing God’s favor and forgiveness, He is troubled by the condition of the hearts of God’s people. This question of “Will You be angry with us forever? is sandwiched between two pleas, “Restore us;” Revive us.”

The Psalmist recognizes that if God does not change the hearts and minds of His people, they will never be saved. Therefore, he appeals to the Lord God to have mercy on His people and turn their hearts to Him.

Having made his appeal, the Psalmist listens. He says:

Psalm 85:8–9 (NKJV) ⁸I 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.

⁹Surely His salvation is near to those who fear Him,

That glory may dwell in our land.

God still loves His people, and he will speak peace to them. This is what verse nine tells us, and it is always true. Salvation is near to those who fear God. Because of His love and His willingness to forgive, salvation is never far from any one of us.

The Psalmist looks to the future and says:

Psalm 85:10–13 (NKJV) ¹⁰Mercy and truth have met together;

 Righteousness and peace have kissed.

¹¹Truth shall spring out of the earth,

And righteousness shall look down from heaven.

¹²Yes, the Lord will give what is good;

And our land will yield its increase.

¹³Righteousness will go before Him,

And shall make His footsteps our pathway.

“Mercy and truth have met together; righteousness and peace have kissed.” While these are poetic words, they are also prophetic words. The Lord will yet give what is good, and the land of Israel will yield its increase. 

Look at what the Apostle Paul wrote about Israel.

Romans 11:1–5 (NKJV) ¹I say then, has God cast away His people? Certainly not! For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. ²God has not cast away His people whom He foreknew. Or do you not know what the Scripture says of Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel, saying, ³“Lord, they have killed Your prophets and torn down Your altars, and I alone am left, and they seek my life?” ⁴But what does the divine response say to him? “I have reserved for Myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.” ⁵Even so then, at this present time there is a remnant according to the election of grace. 

Romans 11:25–26 (NKJV) ²⁵For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. ²⁶And so all Israel will be saved,

The salvation of all Israel is the subject of the ending verses of Psalm 85. A time is coming when God will establish the nation of Israel as chief among the nations and set the Prince of Peace on the throne. We are in the time of the Gentiles, and the fullness of the Gentiles has not come in yet. But when that number is complete, Righteousness and Peace will meet as Jesus takes the throne.

One thing is holding back the beginning of this time. God’s great love is holding back these events. He is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance (2 Peter 3). 

God’s favor (God’s love) was shown in His willingness to forgive and restore Israel, and it is shown in His willingness to forgive and restore each of us. We see the expression of His love in what He did to make this all possible by giving His only Son. Although He was God, Jesus humbled Himself to become a man and live and die to pay the price for our sins.

Here’s how that works. The wages of sin is death. Jesus had no sin, but having an eternal, infinite nature, by His death He was able to pay the price for all the sins ever committed. All we have to do is accept that forgiveness.