REVIVAL-Psalm 85-86

“Restore us again, God our Savior, and put away your displeasure toward us.” “Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you?” (Ps 85:4, 6)

FAITHFULNESS: His Salvation is Near. “Surely his salvation [yēšaʿ] is near those who fear him, that his glory [kāḇôḏ (Exo 33:9)] may dwell [šāḵan*] in our land. Love [ḥeseḏ] and faithfulness [truth-ĕmeṯ] meet together; righteousness [ṣeḏeq] and peace [šālôm] kiss each other” (Ps 85:9-10). [*root for Shikinah–an expression for God’s glory dwelling among his people (Ps 26:8)] 

“Teach me your way, Lord, that I may rely on your faithfulness; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name” (Ps 86:11). [Revival After Devastation]

Life’s troubles do not always indicate God’s disapproval, but our reaction should always include self-examination lest there is sin to be confessed or wrong to be righted.

REVIVAL (Psalm 85): Restoration, revival, and rejoicing in righteousness.

1. Review God’s past mercies (85:1-3). God’s favor was only a memory. You have blessed us.
2. Recognize God’s present estrangement (85:4-7). The present was full of God’s anger. Bless us again.
3. Reveal God’s future salvation (85:8-13).

DISTRESS (Psalm 86): In the day of my trouble, give me a sign of your goodness.

1. Request God’s mercy (86:1-7).
2. Testify to God’s sovereignty (86:8-13).
3. Plead for God’s deliverance (86:14-17).

Psalm 85, attributed to the Sons of Korah, is likely a post-exilic national lament psalm, where the people of God cry out for restoration and deliverance from adversity and catastrophe (Ps 85:4-7).

Psalm 86 (the only psalm of David in Book III [73-89] is an individual lament psalm that has expressions in common with many other psalms–speaking out of circumstances of adversity. It is a prayer for mercy (1-7, 14-17) and confession of the Lord (8-13). The sense of abandonment is expressed throughout with themes of the absence and presence of God’s goodness (Ps 86:5, 17; 85:12), God’s forgiveness (Ps 86:5; 85:2), God’s love (Ps 86:5, 13; 85:7, 10) and the fear of God (Ps 86:11; 85:9).

1. Former Mercies (Ps 85:1-3): Proclamation of God’s past acts.
2. Present Estrangement (Ps 85:4-7): Laments and Prayer for Restoration.
3. Pause for Reflection (Ps 85:8-9): Anticipation of God’s Salvation.
4. Harmonious Prospect (Ps 85:10-13): The Oracle of Hope.
5. The Suppliant (Ps 86:1-7): Prayer for mercy.
6. The Sovereign (Ps 86:8-13): Confidence and Anticipation.
7. The Scornful (Ps 86:14-17): Prayer for deliverance.

I. Former Mercies (Ps 85:1-3): Proclamation of God’s past acts.

For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. A psalm. (Num 26:9-11)

1 You, LORD [Yᵊhōvâ], showed favor to your land; you restored [šûḇ] the fortunes of Jacob. (Ps 85:3, 4, 6, 8; 23:3; 51:12, 13; Jer 3:22)

2 You forgave the iniquity of your people and covered all their sins. (Ps 32:1)

3 You set aside all your wrath and turned [šûḇ] from your fierce anger.

II. Present Estrangement (Ps 85:4-7): Lament and Prayer for Restoration.

4 Restore [šûḇ] us again, God [ĕlōhîm] our Savior [yēšaʿ], and put away your displeasure toward us. (Ps 85:7, 9)

5 Will you be angry with us forever? Will you prolong your anger through all generations?

6 Will you not revive us again [šûḇ], that your people may rejoice in you?

7 Show us your unfailing love [ḥeseḏ], LORD [Yᵊhōvâ], and grant us your salvation [yēšaʿ].

III. Pause for Reflection (Ps 85:8-9): Anticipation of God’s Salvation.

8 I will listen to what God [ēl] the LORD [Yᵊhōvâ] says; he promises peace [šālôm] to his people, his faithful servants—but let them not turn [šûḇ] to folly. (Isa 57:18-21)

9 Surely his salvation [yēšaʿ] is near those who fear him, that his glory [kāḇôḏ (Exo 33:9)] may dwell [šāḵan*] in our land. [*root for Shikinah–an expression for God’s glory dwelling among his people (Ps 26:8)] 

IV. Harmony (Ps 85:10-13): Glorious Hope.

10 Love [ḥeseḏ] and faithfulness [truth–ĕmeṯ] meet together; righteousness [ṣeḏeq] and peace [šālôm] kiss each other.

11 Faithfulness [truth–ĕmeṯ] springs forth from the earth, and righteousness [ṣeḏeq] looks down from heaven. [“Loyalty reaches up from the earth and Righteousness leans down from heaven.” JB {Jerusalem Bible}]

12 The Lord will indeed give what is good [ṭôḇ], and our land will yield its harvest.

13 Righteousness [ṣeḏeq] goes before him and prepares the way for his steps.

V. The Petitioner (Ps 86:1-7): Prayer for mercy.

A prayer of David.

1 Hear me, LORD [Yᵊhōvâ], and answer me, for I am poor and needy. (Ps 51:17; Mt 5:3)

2 Guard my life, for I am faithful to you; save your servant who trusts in you. You are my God [ĕlōhîm]; 

3 have mercy on me, Lord [ăḏōnāy], for I call to you all day long.

4 Bring joy to your servant, Lord [ăḏōnāy], for I put my trust in you.

5 You, Lord [ăḏōnāy], are forgiving and good, abounding in love [ḥeseḏ] to all who call to you. (Ps 86:13, 15; Exo 34:6-7; Is 55:6-7)

6 Hear my prayer, LORD [Yᵊhōvâ]; listen to my cry for mercy.

7 When I am in distress, I call to you, because you answer me.

VI. The Sovereign (Ps 86:8-13): Confidence and Anticipation.

8 Among the gods there is none like you, Lord [‘ăḏōnāy]; no deeds can compare with yours. 9 All the nations you have made will come and worship before you, Lord [‘ăḏōnāy]; they will bring glory to your name. (Ps 22:27)

10 For you are great and do marvelous deeds; you alone are God  [ĕlōhîm].

11 Teach me your way, LORD [Yᵊhōvâ], that I may rely on your faithfulness; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name.

12 I will praise you, Lord [‘ăḏōnāy] my God [ĕlōhîm], with all my heart; I will glorify your name forever. 13 For great is your love toward me; you have delivered me from the depths, from the realm of the dead [šᵊ’ôl]. (Ps 16:10; 49:14, 15; 88:3)

VII. The Scornful (Ps 86:14-17): Prayer for deliverance.

14 Arrogant foes are attacking me, O God [ĕlōhîm]; ruthless people are trying to kill me—they have no regard for you.

15 But you, Lord [‘ăḏōnāy], are a compassionate and gracious God [ēl], slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.

16 Turn to me and have mercy on me; show your strength in behalf of your servant; save me, because I serve you just as my mother did.

17 Give me a sign of your goodness, that my enemies may see it and be put to shame, for you, LORD [Yᵊhōvâ], have helped me and comforted me.

How Psalm 85-86 points to Christ:

1. God forgave us through Christ (Ps 85:2; Lk 23:34).
2. God turned aside his anger through Christ (Ps 85:3; 2 Cor 5:21).
3. Love [grace] and faithfulness [truth] meet together in Christ (Ps 85:10; Jn 1:16-17).
4. Jesus fully trusted God (Ps 86:4; Heb 12:2).
5. The works and deeds of Jesus are incomparable (Ps 86:8: Jn 20:30).
6. Jesus is God’s ultimate sign (Ps 86:17; Jn 14:6).