Psalm 85 appears to have been written upon Israel’s return from the Babylonian captivity in 538 and 458 B.C. It’s a psalm calling for spiritual re-awakening. God had disciplined the children of Israel for their unfaithfulness in their marriage to Him. They had served other gods instead of Yahweh. So now, coming back to the land, they want a fresh start. Sometimes a fresh start is what we need too.
1 – 3
The psalmist here is rejoicing that they have been allowed back into Israel and that the guilt of their unfaithfulness has been covered.
4 – 7
These verses seem a little odd. If God already forgave them, why are they worried about God’s anger? It’s because for them, a return to disobedience would result once again in God’s discipline. In fact, there were several instances where they started down that road. In Ezra 9-10 some of the returning exiles were once again intermarrying with non-Jews—the very sort of behavior that got them into trouble the first time. Fortunately Ezra put a stop to it.
Should we worry about our mistakes making God angry? The anger of God is not mentioned in the New Testament until the book of the Revelation, when His wrath is poured out on those who reject Him. God poured out his anger against us on Jesus on the cross. Does that mean we can just do whatever we want? Of course not. Our goal is to let the Holy Spirit transform us into His image and character. When we fail, God is not angry, but He does discipline us.
The key to that process we find in the next verses:
8 – 9
It’s amazing to me how many people simply don’t listen to what God says in His Word. God has declared peace with us through Jesus Christ and does not let us go back to our old ways.
Rom. 5:1 Therefore, since we have been declared righteous by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
God does not allow us to go back to our foolish ways by bringing discipline into our lives. (Hebrews 12:7-11). This can take many forms but is designed to help, not hurt us.
Verse 9 is so true. For those who have awe, respect, and even fear of the Lord, coming to salvation is much easier. Paul echoed these words in Romans 13:11 when he talked about waking up from sleep. Pretty soon, Jesus will return for us and literally “save” us from this world. Can’t wait!
10 – 13
These verses contain some wonderful poetic pictures of God’s coming kingdom on earth.
Four qualities of God are mentioned here: faithful love, truth, righteousness, and peace. They are all seen here working together in perfect harmony. But in a sinful world you cannot have God’s love and peace without His righteousness and commitment to the truth of His Word. You see, they all meet in one person: Jesus. Jesus is the righteousness and the truth of God. But he also poured out love through His death in order to make us at peace with God in Jesus.
One day the world itself will have this blessing. What a glorious day that will be!
And remember, while the blessings God bestowed on Israel were material—crops and water, etc. The blessings He pours on us and that we should pray for are spiritual—His character poured into our lives and His joy!
Psalm 86
Psalm 86 is the only Davidic psalm in Book III. It finds him in a familiar situation—hunted by enemies and crying out to God for help.
1 – 4
David wants three things in these first few verses: he wants God to protect his life, be gracious, and bring him joy. Why does David ask this? Because he is “faithful” in other words, he “trusts in” God. Finally because he “turns” to the Lord.
So David declares that he will not trust in himself or any others. He belongs to God and has put his lot in with Yahweh.
David had a lot of resources he could draw on—wealth, position, power, good looks, a witty tongue, and great physical strength and ability. Yet he throws it all on God. What a great lesson for us when faced with difficulty.
6 – 10
In these verses David extols the virtues of the Lord—answering the question: why call only on God?
Look at the attributes of God here: kind, fast to forgive, an active listener, unique among all the other possible solutions to his problem—and more than that, able to do “above and beyond whatever we ask or think” (Ephesians 3:20).
He finishes it off by saying “You alone are God.” There really only is one source that can provide actual help to us, and that is the Lord God.
So what is the result of this prayer? It isn’t what you might expect.
11 – 13
David wants to learn about God’s way of acting. He knows that in his humanity he is prone to be divided in his thinking and his loyalties. It is also so true with us. He wants a mind that is undivided. What a prayer for all of us as well!
Then David declares that he will worship the Lord for his upcoming answer to his prayer.
14 – 17
So here we get into the meat of what’s troubling David. As David fears the Lord, those that attack him “have no regard” for the Lord.
I love verse 15. We think of God as an angry old man, but in reality this is Yahweh—compassionate, gracious, slow to anger, rich in love, and rich in truth.
He prays for strength. This ought to be our prayer in times of trouble as well. We all need strength to bear the storms of life and the attacks of the enemy. Secondly he prays that God’s deliverance of him will be a “sign”. I love what that sign will do—show those who hate God and David that God is a helper and a comforter.
Psalm 87
Psalm 87 is a short psalm with a simple, yet profound message—Jesus will rule from Jerusalem and all are welcome to be born of Him, no matter if they were once friend or foe.
1 – 3
The Sons of Korah according to 1 Chronicles 9 were gatekeepers in the Temple. They later became associated with worship as they would stand and praise Yahweh in the congregation. Here the psalmist declares that Jerusalem is the place where God chose to put His name and His Temple. And Jerusalem will be the place where Jesus rules and reigns for a thousand years when He returns to earth in the Second Coming.
4 – 6
Rahab represents Egypt (Isaiah 30:7), Babylon, Philistia—all enemies of Israel. Tyre was a wealthy nation to the north, and the Cushites from the south. None of these people are Jewish. Yet the psalmist declares that in God’s kingdom the Lord will record them as if they are part of God’s nation.
How can that be? Peter, on the day of Pentecost, declared that the salvation won by Jesus Christ was for everyone. Acts 2:39 “For the promise is for you and for your children, and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call.”
Just prior to this, Jesus Himself said “you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8).
I imagine this psalm was a bit disconcerting to the Jews. In fact, the Jewish Study Bible commentary of this psalm indicates that the list of nations are “those from the Gentiles who have adopted Judaism.”
7
Finally there is this great verse. Is our “whole source of joy” from the Lord?
Where do you get your sense of belonging, your sense of identity?
Psalm 88
Psalm 88 is another of the sons of Korah. Heman was Solomon’s seer. Just as Psalm 84 was one of the happiest of the psalms, Psalm 88 is one of the darkest with no light at the end of the tunnel.
1 – 5
Obviously this guy is in trouble. In fact, verse 3 could be translated “my soul is sated with turmoil.” He’s in such deep water that it has saturated his soul. He has no strength and feels like he is going to die and be cut off from God’s care. That’s a lonely place for sure.
6 – 9
The man felt that his sickness was the result of God’s wrath. He has become a shut-in, yet his friends won’t come to see him and are “repulsive” to him. That word is often used in connection the reaction to horrendous practices like child sacrifice. So he is definitely being treated as an outcast. Yet he is still reaching out to God.
10 – 12
Basically he is saying that if he dies it’s all over—it’s too late.
13 – 18
Yet he calls to the Lord. He feels that God is not listening. In that time it was thought that God answered prayers said in the morning so he wants to meet God first before anyone else has had a chance to ask Him anything.
This psalm is known as the saddest song in the entire book. It was probably sung in a minor key (just kidding).
It is sad and negative and without hope from beginning to end.
May I suggest that sometimes life is like that, even for a Christian? Sometimes all that surrounds us is darkness, illness, loss, depression, and sadness.
First let me say that if circumstances overwhelm you it is not a reflection of God’s love for you, or your worth as a person. Deuteronomy 7:6 says the people of God are a “treasured possession.” Jesus considered you so valuable that He died a horrendous death to obtain a permanent relationship with you. Paul wrote in Romans 8:1 “Therefore, no condemnation now exists for those in Christ Jesus.”
Secondly, if you have a relationship with Jesus, God has not abandoned you. Paul went on in Romans 8:38 to say: “For I am persuaded that no even death or life, angels or rulers, things present or things to come, hostile powers, height or depth, or any other created things will have the power to separate us from the love of God that is Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Third, God is there to give strength when you are at your weakest.
In Romans 8:26 Paul writes: “In the same way the Spirit also joins to help in our weakness, because we do not know what to pray for as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with unspoken groanings. And He who searches the hearts knows the Spirit’s mind-set, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.”
And that’s the final thing—not only is God for you, accepts you, will never leave you—He is also working for you:
Romans 8:28 We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God; those who are called according to His purpose.”
In a way I’m glad this psalm ends sadly because the old covenant in which this person lived has no hope in and of itself. It cannot save anyone; it cannot help anyone. But the One this covenant points to can heal and save and help. That person is Jesus!
