Psalm 85: Revive us Again!

​Key Verse
6 Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you?
 
Meditation
Revival begins when faith in God’s covenant love moves our prayers from personal complaints to confidence in God's faithfulness. 
 
In today’s Psalm, prayers of complaint are couched in a thirst only God can quench. “Restore us again!” “Revive us again!” “Put away your indignation and grant us salvation!” (vv. 1-7) Confidence is contained in surety of what is hoped for, certainty in what the worshippers could not see: Salvation is near (v. 9)! Glory will dwell in the land and God’s faithfulness will cover everything, springing up from the ground and reaching to the heavens (vv. 8-13).
 
Covenant love converts complaint to confidence. The thirst to see God’s steadfast love (v. 7) is satisfied when the worshipper sees God’s steadfast, covenant, love is wedded with His faithfulness (v. 10). Confidence in God’s covenant faithfulness knows God will show His care, giving what is good and providing what is needed for fruitful life and labor (vv. 10-13).
 
Jesus is the ultimate picture of God’s steadfast love, the full revelation of God’s salvation. Jesus is the fullness of God’s faithfulness and through His work “righteousness and peace kiss each other” (v. 10). Jesus became our sin to make us righteous, and through His life, death, and resurrection believers can have peace with God. Jesus died so we can be revived. Jesus was killed for our sin so we can be restored, made new in Him.
 
Revival blossoms when our faith focuses on Jesus, the ultimate revelation of God’s faithfulness and salvation. Focus your faith on Him and join in praying, “Lord, revive us again!”
 
Today’s Reading
Lord, you were favorable to your land;
    you restored the fortunes of Jacob.
2 You forgave the iniquity of your people;
    you covered all their sin. 
3 You withdrew all your wrath;
    you turned from your hot anger.
 
4 Restore us again, O God of our salvation,
    and put away your indignation toward us!
5 Will you be angry with us forever?
    Will you prolong your anger to all generations?
6 Will you not revive us again,
    that your people may rejoice in you?
7 Show us your steadfast love, O Lord,
    and grant us your salvation.

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.
9 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.
 
Richly Dwelling
-What stands out to you from today’s reading, especially the transition from complaint to confidence through focusing on God’s covenant love?
 
-Take a moment to pray the language of vv.  4-7 and pay attention to the posture of your heart. Turn and humble yourself before our Holy God.
 
-Which promises in vv. 10-13 are most potent to you? Why? All God’s promises are fulfilled in Jesus. Ask Him to make these promises tangible to you through His Spirit.
 
Key Verse
6 Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you?