Psalm 85

February 26, 2025

A Psalm of Revival #

Psalm 85:1-3

Introduction

We have a very simple Psalm before us. In all of it’s simplicity, there is great truth, and blessing found in it, which makes it a golden Psalm to be treasured.

I. Acknowledgment of God’s Goodness! (1-3) #

A. Physical blessing - #

1. “thou hast been favourable unto thy land” (1) #

God has blessed the land #
The land is God’s not ours #

2. “thou hast brought back the captivity of Jacob” (1) #

Returning to the homeland! #

B. Spiritual blessings #

1. “thou hast forgiven the iniquity of thy people” (2) #

2. “thou hast covered all their sin.” (2) #

3. “thou hast taken away all thy wrath” (3) #

4. “thou hast turned thyself from the fierceness of thine anger” (3) – No anger! #

II. Asking for Revival (4-7) #

A. Process (4) “turn us” #

1. They were physically returned to the land… #

2. Now they must spiritually return to God! #

2Chr. 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

B. Pity from God (5) “Wilt thou be angry with us for ever?” #

1. They were asking for God to have mercy on them! #

C. Plea – “revive us again” (6-7) #

1. Do we desire to hear from God? #

2. Do we desire to be revived by God? #

3. “revive US” – we are the ones in need! #

4. “again” WE have experienced God in the past, and we need a fresh touch! #

5. Joy from revival! “rejoice in thee” #

Phil. 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.

6. “salvation” – being fulfilled! #

III. Anticipation of God working (8-13) #

A. Warning – “let them not turn again to folly” (8) #

1. God’s mercy and grace are not so we can live in sin! #

B. Salvation (9) #

1. There is prophecy in these verses referencing the coming of Jesus Christ! #

C. Peace of God (10) #

1. WE are not righteous… but Jesus gives us His righteousness for our wicked sin! #

D. Truth shall spring (11) #

1. Jesus is truth #

John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

2. He sprang from the earth… and lived among us! #

3. There is fruit from his coming to the earth! #

E. Path of righteousness (13) “shall set us in the way of his steps” #