Daily Devotion in Psalm 85

 

Daily Nugget:
Throughout the Psalms, there is much mention of God being angry at the heathen and their sin. In many of the situations, the psalmist pleaded that God strictly discipline the ungodly.

Unfortunately, there is another group that also deserves God’s judgment and discipline. It is His people. At least ten times in the Psalms, it was mentioned that God was angry at Israel. Most of the time, when God was furious at His believers, it was concerning rebellion against Him and His commandments.
“Turn us, O God of our salvation, and cause thine anger toward us to cease. 5 Wilt thou be angry with us for ever? wilt thou draw out thine anger to all generations?” Psalm 85:4,5 Also: Psalms 6:1, 74:1, 77:9, 78:21, 78:38, 79:5. 80:4, 85:4-5, 90:7.

Sadly, that rebellion continues in this church age. Many that call themselves Christians certainly are not Christ-like. The world’s thinking, actions, and philosophies have gotten a higher priority than obeying God’s Word. 

Many “Christians” do not even know what the Word of God teaches because they have never read it. Without knowing God’s commandments, no one can follow them. Because of being ignorant of Bible teachings, many church leaders also allow more worldliness and encourage disobedience to their unknowing flocks. Rebellion against God’s demands is increasing.

Holy living is rare today! Separation from the world’s sinful temptations is hard to find. Wickedness is accepted, and often biblical righteousness is sometimes seen as evil and mocked. Man is doing whatever he sees is right and not what God says he should do.
“Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!” Isa. 5:20
“The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise.” Prov. 12:15

As it was in the time Psalm 85, God is angry at even His own who have succumbed to the world’s ways other than His desires. In the past, God had been “favourable” (Psalm 85:1) to the lands of believers, but those eras have passed.

Will He continue to be angry at our unrighteousness, possibly forever, as the psalmist queried? It will not be forever. God’s patience and mercy on our sinful lands will one-day end.

The day is getting closer that God will take His own, living and dead (I Thes. 4:16-18) back to Heaven. After the rapture of the believers, there will be seven years of tremendous tribulation to test Israel and those that will believe and heed Him. Jesus will then rule and reign righteously for a millennium.

Although there will probably not be another worldwide revival before Jesus returns, we still can have a personal revival. We do not have to follow what the majority is doing. Each of us has the opportunity and responsibility to turn our own lives around and to obey God’s commandments. 

If you are wayward from God’s direction, determine to turn to Christ and be an obedient believer. You do not have to go down the popular road of unrighteousness. You can be obedient to God’s ways. Do not put it off. You do not know how much time remains until God no longer tolerates our sin.

Today’s Thought:
Abraham Lincoln said, "When I went to Gettysburg, I then and there consecrated myself to Christ." 

Something indeed happened to Lincoln at Gettysburg. Something could happen to you to change your life and make you the kind of man the world needs at this hour of history. — Author Unknown

Words to Understand:
Korah, sons of: sons of Moses’ cousin, Korah, who were singers

Today’s Reading:
Psalm 85
1 To the chief Musician, A Psalm for the sons of Korah. LORD, thou hast been favourable unto thy land: thou hast brought back the captivity of Jacob.
2 Thou hast forgiven the iniquity of thy people, thou hast covered all their sin. Selah.
3 Thou hast taken away all thy wrath: thou hast turned thyself from the fierceness of thine anger.
4 Turn us, O God of our salvation, and cause thine anger toward us to cease.
5 Wilt thou be angry with us for ever? wilt thou draw out thine anger to all generations?
6 Wilt thou not revive us again: that thy people may rejoice in thee?
7 Shew us thy mercy, O LORD, and grant us thy salvation.
8 ¶ I will hear what God the LORD will speak: for he will speak peace unto his people, and to his saints: but let them not turn again to folly.
9 Surely his salvation is nigh them that fear him; that glory may dwell in our land.
10 Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other.
11 Truth shall spring out of the earth; and righteousness shall look down from heaven.
12 Yea, the LORD shall give that which is good; and our land shall yield her increase.
13 Righteousness shall go before him; and shall set us in the way of his steps.