God Never Gives Up On Us

Topic: Restoration
Passage: Psalms 85:1–13

January 1, 2022

Commentary

Because of the reference to captivity many Bible scholars believe this psalm was written at the time of Zerubbabel (Ezra.3:4) or more likely during the days of Ezra and Nehemiah (Neh. 2-4) (v. 1). At any rate it seems to belong to the early days of the return from Babylon. The theme of this chapter is “Restoration” not only historically but prophetically.

A look at the past (vv. 1-3)

  1. Restoration requires God’s favor (v. 1).
  2. Restoration requires God’s forgiveness (v. 2).
  3. Restoration requires God’s forbearance (v.3).

A look at the present (vv. 4-7)

  1. The God of salvation is the God capable of our restoration (v. 4).
  2. The God of righteous anger is the God capable of our restoration (v. 5).
  3. The God of joy is the God capable of our restoration (v. 6).
  4. The God of loving-kindness is the God capable of our restoration (v. 7).

A look at the future (vv. 8-13)

  1. Restoration means peace for the Godly (v. 8).
  2. Restoration means deliverance for the God fearing (v. 9a).
  3. Restoration means the glory of God’s presence on the earth (v. 9b).
  4. Restoration means the reign of the Messiah King (vv. 10,11).
  5. Restoration means prosperity (v. 12).
  6. Restoration means clear sailing (v. 13).

Application

When a situation seems hopeless in my life I need to remember the Lord never gives up on me.

Psalms 85:1– 13 (NET)

1 O Lord, you showed favor to your land; you restored the well-being of Jacob.

2 You pardoned the wrongdoing of your people; you forgave all their sin. (Selah)

3 You withdrew all your fury; you turned back from your raging anger.

4 Restore us, O God our deliverer. Do not be displeased with us.

5 Will you stay mad at us forever? Will you remain angry throughout future generations?

6 Will you not revive us once more? Then your people will rejoice in you.

7 O Lord, show us your loyal love. Bestow on us your deliverance.

8 I will listen to what God the Lord says. For he will make peace with his people, his faithful followers. Yet they must not return to their foolish ways.

9 Certainly his loyal followers will soon experience his deliverance; then his splendor will again appear in our land.

10 Loyal love and faithfulness meet; deliverance and peace greet each other with a kiss.

11 Faithfulness grows from the ground, and deliverance looks down from the sky.

12 Yes, the Lord will bestow his good blessings, and our land will yield its crops.

13 Deliverance goes before him, and prepares a pathway for him.