20 October 2015

Psalm 85

By John Ollis

There is an important Principle of Interpretation when it comes to the Old Testament. Much of the O.T. seems irrelevant to us, unless we pass the Scripture through the cross and then apply New Covenant principles to the verses, and then it will come alive and really minister to us.
Verse 1&2 the Psalmist reminds  and thanks the Lord for His favour to the land. let us sit quietly for a few minutes and  contemplate the Lord’s favour on our lives. I have celebrated 64 years as a born again believer this month, and I could write a series of books on all that God has done in my life, and what He means to me. The Message Bible says He smiled (smiles) on us. We were in captivity in the slave market of sin, but He set us free, He has forgiven all our sin, and totally wiped the slate clean, our sins are not just covered (as in the O.T.) but no longer exist, our God has placed them in the sea of His forgetfulness Hallelujah.
Verse 3 God’s wrath was (past tense) on humanity,(His white hot anger was against us Message) but Jesus took the Father’s wrath upon Himself.
Verse 4 & 6 The Psalmist asks God to Revive and restore. Let me remind you, James tells us “we have not because we ask not”. I would suggest this to be our constant prayer, we know the depravity of our hearts, we know how easy it is to get cool in our walk with God. I am so glad our God is a “God of restoration”. It is an exciting theme throughout the Scriptures.

WHAT ARE THE MAIN AREAS OF RESTORATION?

  1. Hebrews 6:1-3, 1 John 1:7. John 14;6
  2. Ministries Ephesians 4:9-12,Isaiah 30:26, Jeremiah 33:12-13
  3. People Jeremiah 31:10,Psalm 23;3, Galatians 6:1
  4. Worship Jeremiah 31:12,
  5. Paths Isaiah 58:12, Job 24:2.13, Jeremiah 31:21, Isaiah 30:21
  6. Years Job 2:25, Haggai 2:9
  7. Kingdom Matthew 5:6-7, 6:33,
  8. Let us learn to live in a state of constant restoration Amen ?

The result of restoration are found in verse 7-8 is we cannot help but rejoice, and laugh and sing, as we see how much God loves us, and the glorious Salvation he has procured for us. We hear God’s voice clearly giving us revelation and the awareness of revival and renewal in our spirits, our lives become the home base for God’s glory (Message) God told Moses and King David  if they built the Tabernacle and the Temple according to the “Pattern” they would experience the glory of God, so as we build our lives “according to the pattern of the Word of God, we will be carriers of the glory of God

Verse 10 We experience God’s love (mercy) and truth coming together, it produces righteousness living and the peace of God continues to flood our hearts.

Verse 11 We will experience a spirit of revelation like green shoots popping up everywhere, and we will walk and live in the Spirit , v.12 He will meet all our needs according to His riches in glory, and our growth will be spectacular, and others will see the work of grace going on in our lives.

The Apostle Paul talks much about our inheritance as New Covenant believers, and here the Sons of Korah spell out much of what our inheritance is. As the Word of God reminds us constantly of who we are in Christ, what we have in Christ, what we can still have even now, and what our eternal reward is/ let us never tire of reading  (and re-reading) and meditating on the Word of God. God had so much for us in the NOW,

I trust these simple meditations on the Psalms are a blessing to you, please write and share your experiences too ok ?