Monday, November 30, 2020

December 1, 2020 - Tuesday prior to Advent 2

 



Psalm 85—This psalm was possibly written soon after the return of the exiles from Babylon (Vv.1-3). This psalm expresses the psalmist’s feeling of distress and exposure to anger as there was opposition to rebuilding Jerusalem’s walls after the return. See Nehemiah  4:16-23

The format of the Psalm is as follows:

Vv. 1-3             restoration
Vv. 4-7             a plea to restore again
Vv. 8-9             The LORD’s spoken word of peace
Vv.10-13          The LORD will give only what is good

 

This is yet another psalm asking God for restoration, Psalm 85 recounts the forgiveness of the Lord in the past, and prays that He might once again make known His steadfast love, and mercy.

With confidence, the psalmist can say, ‘Surely his salvation is near to those who fear him, that glory may dwell in our land.’ For the steadfast love and faithfulness of the Lord do meet in the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh; there, righteousness and peace kiss each other (verse 10).

As the LORD returned to His people what they lost in the Babylonian exile so much more He restores us in the coming of His Son Jesus who was born to return us back to the LORD.

Says St. Paul, “For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” -Colossians 1:13-14 In the coming of Jesus we are rescued, redeemed, restored and forgiven.

Collect for Psalm 85: God of love and faithfulness, you so loved the world that you gave your only Son to be our Savior. Help us to receive him as both Lord and brother and freely celebrate him as our gracious Redeemer now and forever. Amen[1]


[1] Collect for Psalm 85, For All the Saints, A Prayer Book for and By the Church Vol. III © 1995 The American Lutheran Publicity Bureau, Delhi, NY


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