TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 25
Psalm 85:1-13
Revelation 20:6

To God be the glory!

PAST DELIVERANCE, PRESENT AFFLICTION, FUTURE GLORIFICATION

Modern commentators would date Psalm 85 after the return from the Babylonian exile because the word “captivity” is mentioned (Ps 85:1). Spurgeon argues against it because “captivity” need not refer to exile from one’s country inasmuch as Job’s “captivity” did not remove him out of his. Besides the captivity of Jacob (which applies to all Israel) is mentioned and not more properly Judah, for the captivity to Babylon concerned only the Jews (the people of Judah).

Spurgeon thinks this Psalm’s author is David. If David is the author, he can be seen here writing of the past deliverance of Israel from the Philistines. Saul was the first to shake the Philistine yoke from off the neck of Israel. David who killed Goliath finally subdued the Philistines. He ascribes it all to God. When you have achieved anything at all, do not pride yourself in your achievement. Give glory to God as David here has done (Ps 85:1-4). Affliction is David’s experience in some part of his forty-year reign (Ps 85:5-9). At any time when trouble comes to us, let us look up to God in supplication. We can be confident that He will hear us. Let us learn the lesson: “not turn again to folly.” The cause of our troubles is often traced to some sin, some offence against God’s Law.

The third portion of this Psalm (Ps 85:10-13) is David’s looking to the future of his kingdom which is the golden age after him in Solomon’s reign. But it surely adumbrates what will flourish in the golden rule of a thousand years of David’s greater Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. We who go through the world in the end times beset with many afflictions need very much to pray to God. We who look up to God can rest assured the age of golden rule and peace of a thousand years on earth will come very soon to pass. In our dark afflictions we can see the silver lining of brighter days to come. Even so come Lord Jesus. Amen.

THOUGHT: (Read Psalm 85:8.)
PRAYER: (Use Psalm 85:2 to thank God.)