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When Satan tempted Jesus
, he quoted scripture. There was nothing wrong with what he quoted. The problem was that he left out part and, after taking scripture out of context, he perverted the message of that scripture. Ungodly men follow the example of Satan. This is especially true about God's basic plan of salvation.
True Biblical salvation is: 'God's life in you'. All types of life start at conception but life does not end there. Life continues to move and grow until it dies. There are many popular errors taught about true Biblical salvation, which differ in details. Religious groups argue about these differences. However, those religious groups all avoid the common error or pervert it. That common error is that true Biblical salvation includes a God caused change in the life of the truly saved.
Different religious groups have different ways of denying this truth. Some claim there is no work by God after initial spiritual conception. (Their error s called 'Easy Believism'.) Others claim that it must be a man-caused change. (Their error s called 'Lordship Salvation'.) Regardless of the type of error, we are not going to discuss those errors but simply point out what this Psalm tells us is the message from God.
With that said, the most basic truth about this argument is handled by Ephesians 2:8-10 which says: For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
These three verses give us two sentences which start with the word for
and give us two reasons why the salvation defined in the beginning of Ephesians 2 is true. Preaching the message of Ephesians 2:8-9 without including Ephesians 2:10; or preaching the message of Ephesians 2:10 without Ephesians 2:8-9; is taking God's word out of context and following the way of Satan to pervert God's message. Ephesians 2:10 tells us about God working in and through the lives of the saved. Ephesians 2:8-9 tells us about our spiritual conception which has no works. Preaching works required for spiritual conception is a doctrine from devils. Likewise, preaching full salvation 'by grace alone', which denies works
after initial spiritual conception, is also a doctrine from devils. In order to have God's truth we must consider the true context of God's message.
With that basic concept presented, we will now look at the message of this Psalm. What follows is not a full interpretation of this Psalm but relies upon the true interpretation heavily in order to present this application.
The note at the start of the Psalm says: To the chief Musician, A Psalm for the sons of Korah.
This Psalm was intended to be sung as part of the worship service. It recognizes what God does for His people when he provides true salvation.
Psalms 85:1 says: LORD, thou hast been favourable unto thy land: thou hast brought back the captivity of Jacob.
God's promises to the Jews was different from the promises given to saved during the Church Age. The Jews were given physical promises, which is why much of their remembering God's promises centers on their land and especially on Jerusalem. While the first phrase of this verse does not apply to us today, the second phrase does. We were held captive
by sin and we were made free
with our initial spiritual conception (John 8:36; Romans 6:18; Romans 6:22). This verse speaks of the start of true Biblical salvation. Here we see the unearned grace which is the source of true Biblical salvation.
Psalms 85:2 says: Thou hast forgiven the iniquity of thy people, thou hast covered all their sin. Selah.
God can not abide sin. He forgives iniquity
('lifestyle sins') and hast covered all their sin
('with the blood of Jesus') so that he can adopt us and make us part of the family of God. (Romans 3:25). Yes, the saved still sin but those are dealt with in God's 'family court' (judgment seat of Christ
) and not God's 'criminal court' (great white throne judgment
). Here we see that we are forgiven even though we are
guilty of violating God's law.
Psalms 85:3 says: Thou hast taken away all thy wrath: thou hast turned thyself from the fierceness of thine anger.
Here we see that God removes the just punishment for sins done before initial salvation (sins that are past
[Romans 3:25]). Yes, we still sin after becoming a child of God but those are dealt with in God's 'family court' (judgment seat of Christ
) and, therefore, can not result in the saved going to Hell nor the saved going to the lake of fire
. Here we see that we receive mercy
, grace
, and unearned love
.
Psalms 85:4 says: Turn us, O God of our salvation, and cause thine anger toward us to cease.
Here we see the God-caused change in the life and spirit of the truly saved. This is true repentance
, which is not just a 'turn from sin' but must also include a 'turn towards God' if God will cause thine anger toward us to cease
. The children of wrath
(Ephesians 2:3) are God's children while the lost are not God's children. True repentance
is an ongoing requirement for the truly saved.
Psalms 85:5 says: Wilt thou be angry with us for ever? wilt thou draw out thine anger to all generations?
This verse follows the prior and provides more details to support the doctrine of the prior note. The Jews experienced having God draw out thine anger to all generations
when they refused to stop their sin but, instead, taught their children to also do the same sins. The saved of today can pass on their sins, and the consequences of those sins, to their descendants for many generations. The only way to avoid this is to truly Biblically repent
.
Psalms 85:6 says: Wilt thou not revive us again: that thy people may rejoice in thee?
The first phrase of this verse requests revival
, which is: 'restored spiritual life'. Obviously, we must have 'spiritual life' before it can be 'restored'. In addition, truly restored spiritual life shows the life of Christ more in the life of the saved person. Without this, they have not been truly Biblically revived
. Finally, our second phrase says: that thy people may rejoice in thee
. This is the desired result (that
). People who deny the ongoing work of God in and through the life of the saved are denying the reason to rejoice
. In addition, the word thee
means: 'you personally'. This is not a religious experience nor is it the result of religion. It is the result of God personally working in and through the life of a true Biblical believer.
Psalms 85:7 says: Shew us thy mercy, O LORD, and grant us thy salvation.
Please notice that this verse comes after initial salvation and even after true Biblical restoration
. Mercy
is: 'not getting the punishment which we deserved'. salvation
, in this verse, is speaking about an increase in 'God's life in us', which is spiritual growth. God has no reason to Shew us thy mercy
if we are not willing to receive spiritual growth. However, if the saved will confess and forsake their sin, then God gives mercy
for those sins and, after receiving mercy
, God's people increase their spiritual life as they praise and
than God for His mercy
. In addition, our verse uses the phrase O LORD
, which identifies the role of God which judges and displays God's power. When a righteous court grants mercy
, it is with the understanding that the person will not do any crime again with the condition that if they do another crime, they will receive the full punishment for the new crime along with the full punishment for the crime which, previously, received mercy
. This verse is an agreement to live a changed life which brings glory to God.
Psalms 85:8 says: I will hear what God the LORD will speak: for he will speak peace unto his people, and to his saints: but let them not turn again to folly.
Here we see an agreement to study and obey God's word (I will hear
). Our last phrase (but let them not turn again to folly
) speaks of obedience and a refusal to fulfill the lusts of the flesh an a refusal to follow the way of this world.
Psalms 85:9 says: Surely his salvation is nigh them that fear him; that glory may dwell in our land.
Here we see the Lord's rest
and peace
which is given to them that fear him (the Lord)
. The only way that glory may dwell in our land
is if God's people live righteously and receive God's blessings, which return glory
to God. However, we also see that the first thing which is required is that God's people fear him. This means that 'they are positive that God will hurt them more than they can imagine if they refuse to stop their sinning'.
Psalms 85:10 says: Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other.
While Mercy and truth are met together
, righteousness and peace
love each other (kissed each other
). God's people will not receive the peace of God
.nor the peace with God
.unless they first have righteousness
in their life. Sometimes God's people can receive mercy
even though they do not fully accept God's truth
(Mercy and truth are met together
) But they must eventually mature spiritually enough to fully accept God's truth
if they want to continue to receive God's mercy
.
Psalms 85:11 says: Truth shall spring out of the earth; and righteousness shall look down from heaven.
One application of the phrase Truth shall spring out of the earth
is 'God in human flesh', who is the truth
(John 10:10). Another application is God's people bring the message of God's truth
to this world. This is the requirement for God's people to be a messengers for God. When God's people do this, God (righteousness
) shall look down from heaven
and give God's blessings and God's righteousness
to God's people.
Psalms 85:12 says: Yea, the LORD shall give that which is good; and our land shall yield her increase.
The Biblical meaning of the word good
is: 'what comes from God'. God's people will have blessings from God in this life after they fulfill the requirements of this Psalm which come before this verse.
Psalms 85:13 says: Righteousness shall go before him; and shall set us in the way of his steps.
This verse tells us that Righteousness
is personified in Jesus Christ
and is one of His Minor Titles. Jesus Christ
goes before
God the Father as His Herald and primary messenger. God the Father shall set us (the truly Biblically saved) in the way of his steps
. This is the main purpose of God saving people and leaving them in this life after their initial spiritual conception.