85 Lord, you have poured out amazing blessings on this land! You have restored the fortunes of Israel, 2 and forgiven the sins of your people—yes, covered over each one, 3 so that all your wrath, your blazing anger, is now ended.
4 Now bring us back to loving you, O Lord, so that your anger will never need rise against us again. 5 (Or will you be always angry—on and on to distant generations?) 6 Oh, revive us! Then your people can rejoice in you again. 7 Pour out your love and kindness on us, Lord, and grant us your salvation.
8 I am listening carefully to all the Lord is saying—for he speaks peace to His people, His saints, if they will only stop their sinning. 9 Surely His salvation is near to those who reverence him; our land will be filled with his glory.
10 Mercy and truth have met together. Grim justice and peace have kissed! 11 Truth rises from the earth, and righteousness smiles down from heaven.
12 Yes, the Lord pours down his blessings on the land, and it yields its bountiful crops. 13 Justice goes before him to make a pathway for his steps.
Introduction
This Psalm written in connection to the return of the Jews from exile in Babylon. It begins with thanksgiving and praise but becomes a prayer, a very good prayer. Oliver Cromwell was so moved by this Psalm that he made it a prayer for England.
As I read it this week {TLB} in my devotional time, the first line really caught my attention…YOU have poured out amazing blessings on this land! I know that this Psalm was about Israel but we here in the USA could and should confess that God has poured out His blessings on America [in an unprecedented way}. I know it is not politically correct to say that GOD HAS BLESSED AMERICA but it is true. How else can you explain the freedom and prosperity we have enjoyed.
GOD HAS BLESSED AMERICA
I am 70 years old and I have lived all 70 years in freedom. Our friends in Eastern Europe lived for 70 years under the oppression of communism. We here do not know what it is like to live in fear of a ruthless tyrant.
I know today is not Thanksgiving but I think we need to stop and give thanks to God for our freedom and or out country. We need to be thankful for our history and heritage. Our founding fathers are taking a pounding from the left today. George Washington has been labeled a racist because he owned slaves–nothing is further from the truth. He loved his slaves and did not allow them to be separated as families. He died in debt because he refused to sell his slaves. America was blessed by Godly and wise founding fathers. I am not ashamed of our history or our heritage: I am thankful. I am telling you GOD HAS BLESSED AMERICA.
WE NEED TO PRAY THE PRAYER
V. 4…Restore us again, God our Savior [TLB} “Bring us back to loving YOU!”
V. 6…Will You not revive us again, that Your people may rejoice in You? This is my prayer today and everyday…revive us again…fill each heart with Your love…May each soul be rekindled with fire from above.
–Pour out Your Spirit
–Awaken Your People
–Revive Your Work
–Manifest Your Glory
–Prosper Your Word
–Glorify Your Son
A WORD OF HOPE
I don’t know who wrote this Psalm, who it was that prayed this prayer, but some years later, God answered the prayer. The REVIVAL came under the leadership of Nehemiah and Ezra.
[1] Word was proclaimed
[2] Prayer was made
[3] Confession of sin
[4] Passion to Obey
[5] God manifested His glory
Prayer fulfilled in Jesus
Love and faithfulness {truth} meet together; righteousness and peace kiss each other.
Sermons 