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1 God, you smiled on your good earth! You brought good times back to Jacob! 2 You lifted the cloud of guilt from your people, you put their sins far out of sight. 3 You took back your sin-provoked threats, you cooled your hot, righteous anger. 4 Help us again, God of our help; don't hold a grudge against us forever. 5 You aren't going to keep this up, are you? scowling and angry, year after year? 6 Why not help us make a fresh start - a resurrection life? Then your people will laugh and sing! 7 Show us how much you love us, God! Give us the salvation we need! 8 I can't wait to hear what he'll say. God's about to pronounce his people well, The holy people he loves so much, so they'll never again live like fools. 9 See how close his salvation is to those who fear him? Our country is home base for Glory! 10 Love and Truth meet in the street, Right Living and Whole Living embrace and kiss! 11 Truth sprouts green from the ground, Right Living pours down from the skies! 12 Oh yes! God gives Goodness and Beauty; our land responds with Bounty and Blessing. 13 Right Living strides out before him, and clears a path for his passage. (Psalm 85 The Message Bible)
A blessed Thursday of opportunity and adventure for you, dear Friend! May God bring blessings to your life the kind you love to share with others.
When I was in college one of our classmates lost his older brother in the late 1950s. I believe his death was due to an illness. What my friend who was. his roommate and I could figure out is that that event froze his life, meaning that the music that followed that era was never good enough, nor the dress or movies or television shows, etc. His life for all intents and purposes ended the day they committed his brother to the grave. I suppose it was his grief that kept him living there. If you can call that living. Grief is one of many factors or events that can paralyze one's life and many are the ones who have stopped growing and living because of them. Sin is also a factor that has power to cripple. God has the power to restore the fullness of life through Jesus Christ.
In this passage we see a nation whose actions of rebellion against God kept them from progressing like God expected during several eras. The psalmist remembers this era and also knows how important it is for the nation to pray for renewal. As we've mentioned before, the prophetic cycle is a circle that show the highs of their national life as well as their lows. The people sin and fall; they cry out to God for deliverance and forgiveness; God forgives and restores and again they sin and fall and cry out; with God providing a prophet at each key step as part of their coming back. The funny thing is that that cycle or circle could also be used in our lives; our highs and lows, forgiveness and repentance, etc. and etc.
The Message paraphrases verses 8-9 this way:
“I can’t wait to hear what he’ll say. God’s about to pronounce his people well, The holy people he loves so much, So they’ll never again live like fools. See how close his salvation is to those who fear him?”
This is the posture of trust—waiting, listening, expecting God to move. It’s the hope that even when things fall apart, God is still near. The psalmist believes that mercy and truth will meet, that justice and peace will kiss—that what seems impossible in the world becomes possible when God shows up.
We live in a time when we too need renewal. In our personal lives, our communities, even our churches, we long for healing and reconciliation. Psalm 85 reminds us that real restoration doesn’t start with our strategies but with our surrender. It begins when we listen for God’s voice and look for His presence.
God is not done with His people. He specializes in fresh starts. He is ready to breathe new life into what feels lost. But we must be willing to listen and respond—to turn from foolish ways and walk toward peace and truth.
PRAYER: God of mercy and justice, thank You for Your patience and faithfulness. We long for Your presence to renew what is broken in us and around us. Help us to listen closely for Your voice and follow in Your ways. Let truth, peace, and righteousness take root in our hearts and in our land. Amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! OUR CALL TO ACTION: Take time today to listen. Find a quiet moment to ask God where He wants to bring renewal in your life. Pray for His peace to kiss your path and commit to walking in His truth.
I love you and I thank God for you!
Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.
