July 8, 2015

Instruction
Scripture: Psalm 85
The Sons of Korah were descendants of Levi and served in the temple as musicians. It was written in a time when the people were going through difficulty. They knew they were a forgiven people, which may indicate this was after the Jew’s return from exile in Babylon, but they still sense a need for restoration and removal of God’s anger. This psalm gives us beautiful words to call out to God asking for forgiveness and restoration, but it also points us to hearing God’s word and putting our trust in him.  
Teaching
The psalmists saw God’s forgiveness in the center of their relationship with him. They knew they had broken the covenant he had made with them and that they had sinned against him. Notice that in the first three verses the psalm speaks of the forgiveness they had received in the past. This leads into the next four verses (4-7) which look to the future asking for restoration and salvation. Verse 8 stands as a turning point in the poetry as here the psalmist reminds himself to listen to God’s word, implying that not listening would be returning to folly. Verse 9-13, then, preach God’s word. They are what the psalmist wants to remember: that God is steadfast in love, faithful, righteous, and the bringer of peace. He will do what is good, and it will be done in his power.
Life
When your life is difficult, or you go through trials, how often do you remember that you are God’s forgiven child? The heart of your relationship with him is the forgiveness that Jesus has won for you by his own death. Some would say that the heart of your relationship is that he made you, or that his Spirit dwells in you, but your relationship with the Creator is broken by sin, and the Spirit comes to deliver Jesus’ salvation. Let that forgiveness give you hope and confidence in all things for this life.
Also, keep verse 8 in mind. We want to hear what God will speak. We know much of this already; the peace he gives to his holy ones. Yet we do not want to “turn back to folly.” We do not want to go back to our ideas, desires, or reason to guide our lives. Indeed, we want to look for the many ways that we can live lives that display the steadfast love and faithfulness we have experienced in Jesus.

Prayer

This prayer is written in the theme of Petition.

Lord, you have been favorable to us, and you have restored our future by Jesus’ death and resurrection. You have forgiven our iniquity and covered our sin. Restore us again. Revive us – that is, make us alive in Christ once again! Show us your steadfast love, O Lord, and grant us your salvation. Let me hear your word, Lord God: the word that declares that you have made peace with your people through your Son’s blood. And set your word in our ears, mouth, heart, and mind so that we will never return to the folly of our sin in its many forms. Indeed, let me hear, over and over, of your steadfast love, faithfulness, righteousness and peace, for in you they all come together! Bless us with your good so that all of us who follow you will walk in your righteous ways. Amen. 

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