Read Psalm 85 at Bible Gateway.
1a) Psa 85:1, The land and the restoration of Jacob:
1) Psa 85:1a, Lord, You have been favorable to Your land;
2) Psa 85:1b, You have brought back the captivity of Jacob;
1b) Psa 85:2, You have forgiven the iniquity of Your people; You have covered all their sin. Selah;
1c) Psa 85:3-4, Anger and restoration:
1) Psa 85:3, You have taken away all Your wrath; You have turned from the fierceness of Your anger;
2) Psa 85:4, Restore us, O God of our salvation, And cause Your anger toward us to cease;
2c) Psa 85:5-6, Anger and revival:
1) Psa 85:5, Will You be angry with us forever? Will You prolong Your anger to all generations?
2) Psa 85:6, Will You not revive us again, That Your people may rejoice in You?
2b) Psa 85:7-11, Mercy and salvation rather than iniquity and sin:
1a) Psa 85:7a, Show us Your mercy, Lord;
1b) Psa 85:7b, And grant us Your salvation;
1c) Psa 85:8a, I will hear what God the Lord will speak; {n}
2c) Psa 85:8b, For He will speak peace to His people + His saints; but let them not turn back to folly;
2b) Psa 85:9, Surely His salvation is near to those who fear Him, That glory may dwell in our land;
2a) Psa 85:10-11, Mercy + truth have met together; Righteousness + peace have kissed/ Truth shall spring forth + righteousness shall look down;
2a) Psa 85:12-13, The land and the restoration of Jacob:
1) Psa 85:12, Yes, the Lord will give what is good; and our land will yield its increase;
2) Psa 85:13, Righteousness will go before Him, and shall make His footsteps our pathway. {p}
In this psalm which celebrates the end of the Lord’s wrath, and the coming of His forgiveness, mercy, and salvation, isn’t it interesting that mercy and truth have met together, and righteousness and peace have kissed? We tend to think of mercy, grace, forgiveness, and peace with God through Jesus Christ the opposite of righteousness and the truth of God’s Word (expressed in His Law and His commandments). But in Scripture, mercy and truth are sisters, not enemies. The fruit of mercy wholly and truly received, is in fact righteousness! For He will speak peace to His people, but let them not turn back to folly, foolishness, or sin … for His mercy is never a license to sin, but deliverance from its bondage! ♥
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