January 20, 2020
Please use the comment section on this page to share insights from today’s reading OR your own personal Bible reading.
Reading along with us in Psalm? Here’s today’s reading:
Psalm 85 (ESV)
To the choirmaster. A Psalm of the Sons of Korah.
1 Lord, you were favorable to your land;
you restored the fortunes of Jacob.
2 You forgave the iniquity of your people;
you covered all their sin. Selah
3 You withdrew all your wrath;
you turned from your hot anger..............Continue Reading
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Repentance
Hope
The history of the Sons of Korah is remarkable. Some of their forefathers were jealous of Moses and Aaron’s priesthood, so Moses asked God to show the rebels it was God who appointed Moses and Aaron to their position. Moses said if he was wrong the rebels would die of natural causes, but if he was right God would do something like never before. The earth opened up and swallowed all the rebels and their belongings. Some young Korahites were spared and the prophet Samuel was in that lineage. These servants of God had the wonderful privilege of being doorkeepers and custodians for the tabernacle. They were great musicians. Some even joined David on his quests and were known as great warriors. They saw firsthand the greatness of our God.
Thanks for the background Cherrilynn! The Psalms are great in that they reflect various aspects of our walk with God and provide insights into the human condition (that we are well aware of) as well as the truth of who God is and what He provides. Well part of our experience is disobedience and the need we have for both forgiveness and repentance. It is good to know as believers that we never lose our connection with God, but we can lose His favor, and that is the condition described here. It is good to know that God welcomes repentance and is wiling to restore us. And so the Psalm begins with its questions and requests and ends with affirmation of restoration, grace and blessing. What a gracious God we serve! May our hearts be ever inclined to Him!
Psalm 85:3 (ESV)
You withdrew all your wrath; you turned from your hot anger.
I am not sure that people today have a good sense of the anger of the Lord. I tend to focus on his grace and mercy, and certainly, God pours out these freely. However, God does not wink at sin. This Psalm describes his reaction to sin as wrath, hot anger, indignation. Anger is mentioned several times in relation to God’s response to sin.
The positive note in this Psalm is that when God’s people repent and turn from their folly then God will speak peace to his people (Psalm 85:8-9). While we are not always faithful toward God, God is always faithful toward us.
10 Steadfast love and faithfulness meet;
righteousness and peace kiss each other.
11 Faithfulness springs up from the ground,
and righteousness looks down from the sky.