Psalm 85:6

Main Thought: This is a plea by the Psalmist for God to return to His people in Israel and revive them once again. But even though this was written many centuries ago, it is certainly a plea that we as God’s people could make in this day. It seems we are surrounded by sin wherever we turn, and that the voices of the wicked are the loudest and most heard. However, it is during such times that we need to remember, as the Psalmist does, the lovingkindness and salvation of God. Prior to the Reformation, there was great spiritual darkness upon the continent of Europe and in England. However, we know that in the 16th Century, God began to move and that a great reviving of His truth, power, and salvation began. Within two centuries, Biblical Christianity was revived and many were saved. Eventually, that move of God crossed the oceans to this land and there was great preaching and a reverence for God. However, as happened in Israel so often, esteem for the truth of God and the worship of God in His majesty declined. The result over time was spiritual darkness that covered much of this world. However, as in past generations, as God’s remnant began to cry out for a reviving of the work of God in this land and throughout the world, we have begun to see a return of the truth of God to revive His people and certainly, we have been glad and revived to see it. While the work is certainly not complete, we can see that God is raising up pastors and churches across our world who are boldly proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ, raising up the banner of the holiness and glory of God, and encouraging the people of God to realize that God will accomplish His purpose of building the Church against which the devil, the demons and all the forces of hell will not prevail. We can be confident, along with the Psalmist, that “Surely His salvation is near to those who fear Him, that glory may dwell in our land” (Ps. 85:9). May we continue to call upon God to return, to revive us, and to have confidence that “righteousness will go before Him and will establish the way of His steps” (Ps. 85:13), and that we will once again know the power, presence and glory of God among us.