April 18, 2011

Psalm 85 (Click to see scripture)

Bible in One Year Passages:
Mark 6:14-29, 1 Corinthians 10:23-33, Judges 9

Journal Entry

Scripture

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.
4 Restore us again, O God of our salvation,
and put away your indignation toward us!
5 Will you be angry with us forever?
Will you prolong your anger to all generations?
6 Will you not revive us again,
that your people may rejoice in you?
7 Show us your steadfast love, O LORD,
and grant us your salvation.

Observation

In this passage, the psalmist acknowledges that mistakes and sins were committed. Apparently, many of the people that He had rescued from Babylon remained bitter towards God. This left God with no alternative but to have His anger and wrath directed towards these ungrateful children of His. The psalmist continues by pleading with God to cease his hot anger and revive the ungrateful ones just one more time. The psalmist also forewarns that his believers can easily turn back to folly even after God’s restoration of them, implying that they may take God’s actions of grace and mercy for granted. The psalmist concludes by stating that the Lord will give what is good as well as righteousness going before Him to show the way.

Application

I am quick to admit that I have fallen so short of the righteousness of God. Upon receipt of blessings from God, I failed to praise Him appropriately; instead, I was anxiously awaiting the next blessing from God before giving the praise due to God. Only upon the elimination of my anxieties and frustrations will I begin to truly experience Him again in an intimate capacity that I have treasured in the past. Please be patient with me and teach me how I may become a better person. Please help me never to take you for granted again!!

Prayer

Dear God:
Forgive me, Lord, for I have fallen so severely short of your righteousness. May I always seek to work and glorify You in accordance with Your plan while casting away my own plans. Please assist me to continue to patiently be guided by your will that is truly the sovereign plan. Allow me to never go astray from your will that must be the guide for the balance of my life. Thank you, God, for allowing me to share my thoughts with respect to this passage to my fellow brothers and sisters. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.

--Dean Park