Psalms 85

Psalms 85THEME: Future restoration of IsraelThis psalm is “To the chief Musician, A Psalm for the sons of Korah.” Certain critics have attempted to identify this psalm with the return of the people to the land under Ezra and Nehemiah. Actually it has no reference to that at all. The reason critics do this is because they do not recognize the fact that the Psalms are prophetic. We are in a section where we have several writers of the Psalms and the amazing thing is that these psalms have been put together to tell a story. Although I do not insist upon the inspiration of the arrangement, it certainly looks as if God had the oversight of it. We have seen that they appear in seriesa cluster here and a cluster therethat present a prophetic picture. This psalm looks to the future, and I have no confidence in any translation or interpretation made by a man who does not believe this is the very Word of God. I feel like a certain minister in Southern California who says, “We might as well trust a lunatic for a lawyer, a quack for a physician, a wolf for a sheepdog, or an alligator for a babysitter, as to trust a modernist’s translation of the Word of God or proclamation of the Word of God.” I say amen to that. My feeling is that we need expositors who believe the Bible is the Word of God and God knows the future as well as He knows the past. Now note this prophetic picture:

Psalms 85:1

Many critics assume that this verse refers to the return of the Jews to their land from the Babylonian captivity, but in reality only a small remnant returned to the land at that time. Less than sixty thousand people came back. The bulk of the people did not return. Rather than referring to the return after the Babylonian captivity, it looks forward to the kingdom age when God brings all of His people back into the land.

Psalms 85:2

What a glorious picture this is! It can only refer to the future. It certainly did not depict the condition after the Babylonian captivity. If you think it does, read the Books of Ezra, Nehemiah, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi. Why, Malachi severely rebukes the people because their hearts are far from God. Oh, they were going to the temple and bringing sacrifices, but their hearts were far away from God. This psalm presents an entirely different picture.

Psalms 85:3

This looks forward to the time when the judgments are over for Israel. The worst time for this nation and for the world is still in the future. The Great Tribulation is going to be global in its extent, and it will be a time of judgment. Satan will be turned loose, and the Holy Spirit will not be restraining evil. The lid will be taken off. The fellow who wants to paint the town red will have to have a brush that is big enough and plenty of paint to do it. God is going to let men go the limit, and then He is going to judge them. For the child of God in this day, the judgment for sin is over. The sin question was settled when Jesus died on the cross for our sins. As the song writer put it, “The old account was settled long ago.” But there is something that does trouble me: it is the fact that I will have to stand before the judgment seat of Christ, as will every believer, to give an account of my life and my works. Our works are going to be tried by fire. “Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire” (1Co_3:13-15).

I’m not sure about some of my works. No wonder that Paul didn’t even judge himself because God alone can judge. I hope He will say, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant,” but I’ll have to wait and see. During the Great Tribulation there is going to be brought together into a focal point everything in the way of judgment and evil, which is the reason I don’t want to be here when it happens. And I don’t think I will be here. To say that the church goes through that period is to miss entirely what is meant by the Great Tribulation.

Psalms 85:4

The day is coming when the suffering of these people will cease. As we saw in a previous psalm, their history has been one of tears to drink and tear-sandwiches to eatthat was their diet. The day is coming when it will be over. God will come and wipe away all of their tears.

Psalms 85:6

Today we need revival in our churches for several reasons. One reason is there is a lack of joy in the lives of believers. It should be there, but it is not.

Psalms 85:7

This is something into which all of our hearts can enter. God hates evil and will judge it, but He is also a God of mercy and salvation to those who turn to Him.

Psalms 85:8

When God’s final judgment of sin takes place, His people will no longer turn to folly. They will not return to their sins because sin will be removed from the universe.

Psalms 85:9

There is no glory in Israel today. I love to visit that land, but I see nothing in the way of glory there, only a pile of rocks. Of course there are many places which are sacred to us as Christians. Now this is one of the most remarkable verses in Scripture:

Psalms 85:10

“Mercy and truth” haven’t met each other in our day. “Righteousness and peace have kissed each other"they aren’t even on speaking terms today. One of the reasons we cannot have peace in this world is because we do not have righteousness in the world. Things have to be right, my friend, before there can be peace in the world. Things are not “right” todaythey are not right in my neighborhood, or anywhere, and maybe things are not right in our lives. Until things are right, there will be no peace on earth. This is a great verse!

Psalms 85:13

When the Lord Jesus Christ reigns, He will reign in righteousness.