Worship XIII, Day 14 I Will Listen: Digging Deeper
April 10, 2025
Discover the original intent of Scripture. Make good application to our everyday lives.
Become equipped to correctly handle the Word of Truth!
Psalm 85:4-7
and abandon your displeasure with us.
5 Will you be angry with us forever?
Will you prolong your anger for all generations?
6 Will you not revive us again so that
your people may rejoice in you?
7 Show us your faithful love, Lord,
<and give us your salvation.
The Original Intent
1) What prompted the psalmist(s) to ask God to “return” to the people? (verse 4)
God promised from the beginning that He would never forget His covenant (Deuteronomy 4:31) nor would He forsake His people even when He disciplined them. (Leviticus 26:44-45, Deuteronomy 31:6) As rebellious as God’s people were, God always responded graciously, willing to receive them back. (Deuteronomy 30:5-6) He continuously forgave them because He is merciful, not because they deserved it.
The unspecified writer(s) begin this psalm by remembering God’s devotion to keep His promise of deliverance toward His people. The reference to restored fortunes (verse 1) may point to the time of their return from Babylonian exile, or it could be referring to a less significant enslavement by a neighboring nation. Either way, the writer understood Israel’s former captivity as resulting from their rebellion and disobedience. (Deuteronomy 30:1-10)
The Lord’s everlasting covenant with Israel did not only pertain to the land they would inhabit, but also – and even more so – it related to the spiritual condition of the people themselves. (Joshua 1:6-9) As the psalmist reflects on God’s kindness and mercy, he acknowledges that forgiveness and restoration were at the Lord’s discretion. You showed, You restored, You forgave, You covered, You withdrew, You turned. (verses 2-3)
Israel had been set free to return to their divinely promised land, but they needed to ‘re-surrender’ by recommitting their hearts to the Lord. Having witnessed God’s willingness to forgive and remain faithful to His covenant, the psalmist made a bold plea saying, “return to us”. (verse 4)
The appeal was made in light of the Lord’s character, which was revealed as early as the Garden of Eden when He graciously covered the shame of the first rebellious humans. (Genesis 3:21) The psalmist applied Hebrews 4:14-16 before it was ever written! Because God is and has been faithful and gracious in all His actions. (Psalm 145:8-18)
The Everyday Application
1) What prompted the psalmist(s) to ask God to “return” to the people? (verse 4)
The Bible tells us God is never far from those who seek Him. This is who God has always been; it’s the essence of His nature to respond with mercy. (Acts 17:24-29) The beauty in remembering His merciful character is found as we compare our weakness and rebellion to God’s strength and forgiveness.
We can join with ancient Israel in singing our confession and commitment as we remember how our Good Shepherd has led us all the way to the place of salvation: “Restore us, Lord, God of Armies; make your face shine on us, so that we may be saved!” (Psalm 80:7)
I like to imagine the music leaders all those years ago as they invited the people to join them in commemoration and celebration of God’s forgiveness and restoration. Although there’s a somber feel in the psalm, there’s also thanksgiving for God’s undeserved favor upon them. I can feel the blending of sorrow with gladness. Can you sense it, my friend?
Verses 10-13 speak of love, truth, righteousness and goodness. That’s the beauty of remembering our God’s character; we see ourselves in light of God’s mercy and we worship Him. Paul wrote to the believers in Rome about this kind of awareness.
“So then, my brothers and sisters, because of God’s great mercy to us I appeal to you: offer yourselves as a living sacrifice to God, dedicated to his service and pleasing to him. This is the true worship that you should offer. Do not conform yourselves to the standards of this world, but let God transform you inwardly by a complete change of your mind. Then you will be able to know the will of God—what is good and is pleasing to him and is perfect”. (Romans 12:1-2, Good News Bible)
The Original Intent
2) What is the expected outcome of God’s people being revived? (verses 5-6)
On many occasions, the psalmist confessed sins to God knowing it would result in joy being restored. (Psalm 32, Psalm 38, Psalm 51, Psalm 130:7-8) While sin separates us from God in His holiness (Isaiah 59:1-2), the Lord is ready and willing to forgive when we come to Him in repentance. (Psalm 103:3-12, Isaiah 43:25) As His chosen people, the Israelites needed revival, which is the restoration and revitalization of their souls.
The writer of this psalm knew exactly where to take his plea. Since he’s already answered himself with truth (verses 2-3), I believe the psalmist was asking rhetorical questions to the Lord, “Will You be angry with us forever? Will You prolong Your anger for all generations? Will You not revive us again so that Your people may rejoice in You?” (verses 5-6)
Though it may appear out of place for there to be such a preoccupation with the Lord’s wrath in a worship book (GotQuestions.org), let’s put on eastern lens on for just a moment. First, we need to remember God’s anger isn’t to be equated with human anger. Second, His way of restoration is far more merciful than ours.
Bible scholars who are well-studied in Jewish literature and culture interpret God’s “anger/wrath” as His commitment to justice and righteousness. The biblical Hebrew words (mishpat and tzedakah) we translate as “justice and righteousness” are more rightly identified from the eastern perspective, relating to generosity and honor (as being restored and lifted from shame).
Pairing these words is a thread woven throughout the biblical narrative. (Psalm 33:5, Psalm 106:1-3, Jeremiah 9:23-24, Ezekiel 18:5-9) And that’s why there is joy when revival comes!
The Everyday Application
2) What is the expected outcome of God’s people being revived? (verses 5-6)
For years I didn’t fully comprehend what the Scriptures were communicating about God’s wrath. While I understood He is not personally vengeful or resentful like an immature human, I never had been told of the deeper meaning of Psalm 89:14-17. It’s so clear now, but it took years for my heart to be ready to receive the message.
I had always pictured righteousness (tzedakah) and justice (mishpat) as God’s evaluation process for humanity. From my western perspective, I pictured God’s arms outstretched, fingers facing toward the right and left as if He was measuring all things on the scale. I saw right on one side and wrong on the other. But, dear Sister, God’s mercy is about so much more than rightness, and His justice about so much more than our meager view of fairness.
Digging deeper into the word “righteousness” I have discovered the generosity of God. Giving is one of the highest forms of honor in the (eastern) biblical world, and Jesus spoke of it often. (Matthew 5-7) The outcome of coming to God in repentance is receiving His generous grace! (1 John 1:9) But there’s more, Friend!
Biblical justice actually functions more like a lever than a scale. The honor and shame world of the Bible is a vertical world where the honorable are raised and the shameful are lowered. The Lord Jesus demonstrated mishpat by leveraging His life to lift up those weighed down in shame. That’s who our God is!
In Jesus, He not only brought justice to women in the first century world, He brought a generous justice to them. Even now He reaches all the way down to meet women right where they are. Women like you and me! The psalmist knew His God well for He is the One who restores us so we might experience the joy of salvation. (Psalm 30, Psalm 51)
The Original Intent
3) What characteristic of God does the psalmist connect to salvation? (verse 7)
God confronts sin with His righteous anger not in spite of His love but because of it. (Psalm 89:14-16, Psalm 103:3-6) The people desperately needed God’s deliverance and His hesed love. (BlueLetterBible.org) God’s good and kind love (Hebrew: hesed / chesed) is mentioned 129 times in the psalms alone. (BlueLetterBible.org)
In our passage, the author connects the love of God with the salvation of His people. (verse 7) In verses 5-6, the psalmist pleads with the “God of our salvation” to turn away from His justified anger and restore them back to a relationship with Him. God’s forgiveness is linked with a recognition that God’s love for them is their only hope for being saved. Their salvation will only come as a result of God’s character being exhibited through His great love.
God’s passion, that is, His holy desire for justice and righteousness, is not ignited by unhinged anger devoid of perfect love. His righteous anger toward mankind involves allowing those He created to face the consequences of their rejection of His love. This brings Him great sorrow! (Ephesians 4:30)
The Message paraphrase puts it this way, “Don’t grieve God. Don’t break His heart. His Holy Spirit, moving and breathing in you, is the most intimate part of your life, making you fit for Himself. Don’t take such a gift for granted.” (Ephesians 4:30-32, The Message)
The prophet Jeremiah found hope by meditating on God’s love. (Lamentations 3:21-24 ) In his melancholy condition, he recalled the compassion of the Lord and was rescued from his despair.
The Everyday Application
3) What characteristic of God does the psalmist connect to salvation? (verse 7)
Theologian Charles Spurgeon said, “Joy in the Lord is the ripest fruit of grace, all revivals and renewals lead up to it. By our possession of it we may estimate our spiritual condition, it is a sure gauge of inward prosperity. A genuine revival without joy in the Lord is as impossible as spring without flowers, or dawn without light.” (Spurgeon, The Treasury of David)
Yes, God’s faithful love leads to salvation and joy. But how could He love us so much?! God’s plan for the redemption of humanity is a mystery (Ephesians 1:7-10) while also a reality for the person of faith. The God of grace always stands ready to forgive the one who comes to Him with a repentant heart. The apostle Paul recognized the mercy of God in his life. He was overwhelmed by it! (1 Timothy 1:16)
Commentator Barton Bouchier said, “It is not merely of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, but all is mercy, from first to last,—mercy that met us by the way,—mercy that looked upon us in our misery,—mercy that washed us from our sins in his own blood,—mercy that covered our nakedness and clad us in his own robe of righteousness,—mercy that led and guided us by the way,—and mercy that will never leave nor forsake us till mercy has wrought its perfect work in the eternal salvation of our souls through Jesus Christ.” (BlueLetterBible.org)
Oh Sister, are you needing restoration and joy? The Lord is ready and willing to lift you up and receive you to Himself. His invitation is waiting your response; come near through His Word by faith and receive His mercy! His salvation is near!
(Lord, Let us see Your Kindness)
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