In our study, we finished looking at Psalm 85, where the psalmist speaks of the mercy of God in forgiving the sins of His people and restoring their fortunes, (most likely referring to their return to their land, after the Babylonian captivity, v.1-3). Unfortunately, things did not go well for them, because of opposition from others and their own sinfulness and refusal to listen to their Lord. The psalmist must pray again that God would restore and revive His people and show them His steadfast love...
In our study, we finished looking at Psalm 85, where the psalmist speaks of the mercy of God in forgiving the sins of His people and restoring their fortunes, (most likely referring to their return to their land, after the Babylonian captivity, v.1-3). Unfortunately, things did not go well for them, because of opposition from others and their own sinfulness and refusal to listen to their Lord. The psalmist must pray again that God would restore and revive His people and show them His steadfast love and saving mercy (v.4-7).
The psalmist is confident, though, that the Lord will speak peace to His people, to His saints (those who continue to turn to their Lord in repentance and trust in His mercy, by faith, and don’t keep turning away from Him) (v.8). The gifts that people really need are the gifts given by Him alone, the good gifts that bless the people and help them in their land (v.12). (See also James 1:17-18 and the reminder and promises there. By His own will, God even brings us forth to the new and eternal life we all need.)
These gifts of God: steadfast love (mercy), faithfulness (being true and trustworthy), righteousness, and peace, are then personified by the psalmist, as if they are living beings, meeting and kissing one another and coming to us from outside of us, from the Lord (v. 10-11). Righteousness is even pictured as being with God and going before Him and providing a way for us, as we go in and with His footsteps (v.13). This is all the Lord’s doing, providing good things for us.
This psalm then predicts the future. The gifts are literally personified for us in the coming of God’s only Son, Jesus, Who lived out all of these gifts perfectly and provided them for us, by His grace. See John 1:14-17, where God the Son, the Word, became flesh, a real human being, bringing to us grace (undeserved love and favor from God) and truth (faithfulness). Jesus fulfilled all righteousness for us, in our place. (See Matthew 3:15 and ! Corinthians 1:28-31 and 2 Corinthians 5:21 and Romans 3:21-28 and 8:1-4 and Hebrews 2:14-18 and 4:14-16 and on and on, in the New Testament.) The New Testament also encourages to stay in the footsteps and the way of Jesus our Savior, even as the psalmist says (Psalm 85:13). See 1 Peter 2:21,24. Standing in the footsteps of the living Lord Jesus, we are always on firm ground! (See 1 Peter 5:12.)
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