May 5, 2017

HOW TO REPAIR A NATION

Psalm 85

Jennifer Kling
Friday's Devo

May 5, 2017

Friday's Devo

May 5, 2017

Central Truth

We aren't the first nation to have turned away from God, as you'll see in this passage, but it's still not too late for us to turn back to Him.

Key Verse | Psalm 85:8

Let me hear what God the Lord will speak,
for he will speak peace to his people, to his saints;
but let them not turn back to folly.
(Psalm 85:8)

Psalm 85

Revive Us Again

To the choirmaster. A Psalm of the Sons of Korah.

LORD, you were favorable to your land;
    you restored the fortunes of Jacob.
You forgave the iniquity of your people;
    you covered all their sin. Selah
You withdrew all your wrath;
    you turned from your hot anger.

Restore us again, O God of our salvation,
    and put away your indignation toward us!
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 steadfast love, O LORD,
    and grant us your salvation.

Let me hear what God the LORD will speak,
    for he will speak peace to his people, 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.

10  Steadfast love and faithfulness meet;
    righteousness and peace kiss each other.
11  Faithfulness springs up from the ground,
    and righteousness looks down from the sky.
12  Yes, the LORD will give what is good,
    and our land will yield its increase.
13  Righteousness will go before him
    and make his footsteps a way.

Dive Deeper | Psalm 85

I often feel helpless as I watch where our country is heading. When I think about the world in which my son could grow up, I just want to protect him. In the past year, we've had a tumultuous election, rioting, mass shootings, growing racial tension, and increasing division among our citizens. But the further we turn from God, the more we seem to feel entitled to His blessings.​

Watermark's senior pastor Todd Wagner has said that he no longer sings the national anthem or “God Bless America." Instead, he thanks God for those who have fought for our freedoms and prays for our leaders. And, rather than ask God to bless a country that doesn't walk according to His will, Todd prays that we would repent and act in a way that would allow God to bless us. This lines up perfectly with Psalm 85.​

Based on their covenant with the Lord, the people of Judah knew the rewards of obeying God and the punishments for disobedience (Deuteronomy 28-30). And God had sent prophets to give them “friendly reminders” many times. But, sure enough, the Babylonians invaded, destroyed Jerusalem and the temple, and took the people captive for seventy years.​

When this psalm was written, the people had just regained their freedom. The psalmist is thanking God for releasing them from captivity and pardoning their sin. However, he realizes that the people still needed to repent. Warren Wiersbe points out in his commentary that while it's a sin to disobey God and fall, it's also a sin to stay fallen. “We must always make a new beginning, and this psalm gives us some instructions that we can follow after times of failure and chastening.”​

So what are those instructions?

Remember the incredible blessings God has given us (verses 1-3).
Ask God to restore us and put away His anger (verses 4-5).
Pray for God to revive us spiritually, show us His love, and grant us His salvation (verses 6-9).
Allow God's mercy, truth, righteousness, and peace to inspire us to remain obedient (verses 10-13).

Discussion Questions

1. The Bible tells us that we are to pray for our leaders (1 Timothy 2:1-2). Have you been praying for them or simply complaining about them on Facebook?

2. How can you be praying specifically for the country's leadership?

3. How can you inspire spiritual revival in your sphere of influence?