Revive Us Again! (4)

Opening Prayer: Psalm 85.9, 10
Surely His salvation is near to those who fear Him,
That glory may dwell in our land.
Mercy and truth have met together;
Righteousness and peace have kissed.

Sing Psalm 85.4-9
(Lyons: O Worship the King)
Restore us, O God, renew us in peace,
and cause all Your wrath against us to cease.
Will You evermore all Your wrath to us show?
Revive us that we may Your joy again know.

Lord, show us Your love; restore us, we pray!
And help us to hear the words that You say.
Speak peace to Your people; in truth let us stand.
We fear You; let glory and grace fill our land.

Read Psalm 85.9, 10

Preparation
1. For what purpose does God grant His salvation?

2. What things have been united in the coming of salvation?

Meditation
We recall from verse 1 that the sons of Korah are looking up to God, seeking salvation and restoration from Him (v. 4).

Note the condition on which God grants His salvation: Salvation is for those who fear Him (v. 9). That’s true when we first believe, and it’s true for gaining greater measures of the Lord’s salvation as we walk with Him (cf. Deut. 10.12, 13).

And why does God save or restore us? For His glory, only and always. God is glorified when we are saved, and as we grow in our salvation, because salvation generally results in praise, thanks, and obedient service to God. When we live this way, others see the hope that is within us and are drawn to learn more about this salvation (1 Pet. 3.15; cf. Mic. 4.1-8).

Thus, as we are saved and introduce others to salvation, joy abounds (v. 6), and God is glorified.

But from where does this salvation come? It comes from the fusion of mercy, truth, righteousness, and peace, all bundled and bestowed on those who fear the Lord (v. 10). Only God can bring such virtues together, and He has done so only in our Lord Jesus. He is God’s truth. God’s mercy is poured out on us by His pouring His wrath out on Jesus. He has fulfilled all righteousness for us, and He is the Prince of peace.

As you pray for revival, look up to Jesus, seated in glory. Put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh (Rom. 13.14). Then go forth, clothed in Him and rejoicing all along your way.

Treasure Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162
Mercy and truth come face-to-face for a common purpose. 
Then righteousness and peace touch with the lips as a mark of affection or greeting.
There is a progression of events in the course of our salvation.

“But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus” (Eph. 2.4-7).
“Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me’” (Jn. 14. 6). They met.

“For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Cor. 5.21).
“Great peace have those who love Your law, and nothing causes them to stumble” (Ps. 119.165).
“You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You” (Is. 26.3).
“Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you…” (Jn. 14. 27)
“For He Himself is our peace…” (Eph. 2.14). They kissed.

And the meeting and kissing are “for His glory, only and always”.

Reflection
1. How do mercy and truth come together in Jesus?

2. How do righteousness and peace “kiss” in Jesus?

3. Looking to Jesus is the key to revival. Explain.

Through Christ, the pardoned sinner becomes fruitful in good works, and by looking to and trusting in the Saviour’s righteousness, finds his feet set in the way of his steps. Righteousness is a sure guide, both in meeting God, and in following him. Matthew Henry (1662-1714), Commentary on the Psalm 85.9, 10

Closing Prayer: Psalm 84.5-7
Seek the Lord for revival – for you, for your church, and for the Christian Church all over the world.

Sing Psalm 85.10-13
(Lyons: O Worship the King)
In Jesus God’s grace and truth are combined;
both goodness and peace in Him do we find.
Truth springs from the earth as He walks in our midst,
and righteousness flows from the heav’ns as a gift.

The Lord by His grace will give what is good;
our land will produce abundance of food.
And righteousness will go before the Lord’s face,
and make of His footsteps a way in this place.

T. M. and Susie Moore

You can listen to our summary of last week’s study by clicking here.

Psalm 85 is an exercise in living from the Christian vantage point on life. For more about that vantage point, and how to live it, order a free copy of our book, Vantage Point (click here).

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Except as indicated, all Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. For sources of all quotations, see the weekly PDF of this study. All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter (Williston: Waxed Tablet Publications, 2006), available by clicking here.