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Psalm 85 – Peace

Pastor Lee Hemen

December 8, 2024

In our world today, many feel we need peace more than during any time, yet this has been true since human history has begun. One of the names people like most for Jesus is Prince of Peace. However, what we think we need and what Jesus provides is often misunderstood by what we think we need.

The Psalmist was concerned for his nation, Israel. There is an idea that this Psalm was written early after the Hebrews returned from Babylonian exile. Israel was able to return after God allowed them to come back to the Promised Land. The Bible recounts how after the fall of the Neo-Babylonian Empire the exiled Hebrews were permitted by the Persians to return to Judah. According to the biblical Book of Ezra, construction of the Second Temple in Jerusalem began. The Psalmist wanted his nation to be safe, secure, and at peace.

READ: Psalm 85

I like Christmas. The decorations, the carols, and the joy that seems to surround the whole season. It’s like that during the darkest time of the year, we have an opportunity to rejoice! When good things happen after a lot of bad things we usually want others to realize just how wonderful it is to be experiencing the good after the bad. This is why the Psalmist would sing:

You, LORD, showed favor to your land; you restored the fortunes of Jacob. You forgave the iniquity of your people and covered all their sins. You set aside all your wrath and turned from your fierce anger. Restore us again, God our Savior, and put away your displeasure toward us. Will you be angry with us forever? Will you prolong your anger through all generations? Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you? (Psalms 85:1-6 NIV)

I.  Peace comes when we are restored to God! (vv. 1-6)

  1. On this day of advent, we celebrate the peace of God through Jesus. The Psalmist practically reminds the Lord that he “showed favor” to his promised land, he had “restored the fortunes of Jacob”, and that he “forgave the iniquity of your people and covered all their sins.” If he did all of this by bringing them back from exile, could he not fully restore his people? Of course, the answer is “YES”! So, he continues by relating, “Restore us again, God our Savior, and put away your displeasure toward us. Will you be angry with us forever? Will you prolong your anger through all generations? Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you?” He did it once, can he do it again, and would he do it again? What the Psalmist could only hope, we experience today because of Jesus Christ! The Bible teaches us that revival comes when we experience the peace of God in our lives, when we no longer feel his anger or wrath. Israel had been held in captivity for so long and now they were able to return to their own land, make their own nation again, and worship God the way he desired! After paying the price, God forgave them and restored them! I know I rejoiced when my parents forgave me for many of the dumb things I did.

I remember a time when my brother and I were particularly onery one winter afternoon. It was cold and snowy outside, Christmas was near, and we were suffering from “cabin fever”. We both knew our mom had reached her limit, yet neither of us were willing to quit. I know this shocks you that we were onery as kids. Closed quarters do not make siblings grow fonder. After spending the morning terrorizing one another, we were surprised when our mom told us both to “come and get a hug.” She wrapped us in her arms and just hugged the daylights out of us. We didn’t deserve it, we had not earned it, but yet she was willing to do it. She reminded us that it was close to Christmas, and that we needed to behave better. In that moment, we experienced her love and because of it, we separated and went off and were quiet for the rest of the day. In that moment we were taught about peace, at least for a minute. Peace comes when we are restored to God!

Some folks desire and long for the presence of God in their lives because they know the peace that comes with such a relationship. There are others who do not desire it nor do they think they need it. Few truly understand the wrath of God against their sin. In his great love for us, he hates sin. In the third verse of Joy to the World we sing: “No more let sins and sorrows grow, nor thorns infest the ground; He comes to make His blessings flow far as the curse is found, far as the curse is found, far as, far as the curse is found.” This is why the Psalmist would sing:

Show us your unfailing love, LORD, and grant us your salvation. I will listen to what God the LORD says; he promises peace to his people, his faithful servants— but let them not turn to folly. Surely his salvation is near those who fear him, that his glory may dwell in our land. (Psalms 85:7-9 NIV)

II. Peace comes when we listen to the Lord! (vv. 7-9)

  1. We want others to love us, this is why we seek someone special in our lives to experience that love. It is a reflection of who God is, after all, God is love. The Psalmist understood this in his life and his people’s relationship with God. This is why he would declare, “Show us your unfailing love, LORD”. But notice, he goes on to further the notion that God’s love is expressed in him granting us his “salvation”! Jesus’ being named Emmanuel meant “God with us” because he is God, and Christmas is the celebration of God coming and being with us! When someone does something for you totally because they love you, how does that make you feel? If you want a lasting, close, and loving relationship you have to be willing to serve the other person in your life. This means you put your wants, your desires, and your material possessions aside for that person or persons you love. Jesus told his followers, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” (John 13:34 NIV) When we are loved we feel safe, when we love others, they feel safe, and when God loves us, we are saved! Remember God “promises peace to his people, his faithful servants”. That’s his love. Therefore, we know that “Surely his salvation is near those who fear him, that his glory may dwell in our land.” Let us “not turn to folly” but instead know that peace comes when we listen to the Lord!

Why is there hope in times of hopelessness? Because God has given us the answer to the world’s problems in the presence and Person of His Son. On that first Christmas, the Word took on flesh and made His dwelling among us (John 1:14). In the old Burl Ives Christmas song I Heard the Bells, he sings of “peace on earth, good will to men.” It’s from Luke 2:14. In Jesus we find all we need. God’s provision is full and complete. The Psalmist could not fully understand what God would provide, but he knew God cared for his people. This is why he would sing:

Love and faithfulness meet together; righteousness and peace kiss each other. Faithfulness springs forth from the earth, and righteousness looks down from heaven. The LORD will indeed give what is good, and our land will yield its harvest. Righteousness goes before him and prepares the way for his steps. (Psalms 85:10-13 NIV)

III. Peace and righteousness are ours in Jesus! (vv. 10-13)

  1. Do you know what is better than one scoop of ice cream? Two scoops of ice cream, of course! This is why the Psalmist would sing that both “love and faithfulness meet together”. They’re better than bacon and eggs or ham and cheese! They meet together in the presence and character of God in Jesus Christ! God is both loving and faithful towards us! He continues this pairing by relating that also “righteousness and peace kiss each other”! This intimate and special because the righteousness of God “looks down from heaven” and our “faithfulness springs forth from the earth.” This could refer to us and our relationship with God! Actually, all of these things, these wonderful gracious attributes of God, his righteousness, his love, his faithfulness, work together to give us peace! Paul would write: “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility”. (Ephesians 2:13-14 NIV) This is why we long for and sing about the birth of the One who gave us our righteousness because of our faith in him, to bring about a new and wonderful relationship with God that the Psalmist could only long for and sing about! Peace and righteousness are ours in Jesus!

This Advent we can know for sure that the wrath of God has been appeased by the love of God, and we have the peace and righteousness of God because of Jesus! I like some candies, and one of them is Reeses Peanut Butter Cups. They are one of the most popular candies sold in America, and not just during Halloween but even now at Christmas! Do you know why? And, no it isn’t because of marketing. It’s because they are both chocolate and peanut butter joined together. Remember those old commercials where someone would drop their chocolate bar into someone else’s jar of peanut butter? I do. These are two things that go well together. Even better is the fact that peace and righteousness are ours in Jesus!

Conclusion:

Peace comes when we are restored to God!  Peace comes when we listen to the Lord! Peace and righteousness are ours in Jesus!

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This article is copyrighted © 2024 by Lee Hemen and is the sole property of Lee Hemen and may not be used unless you quote the entire article and have my permission.