Reviving A Nation

Psalm 85:1-7

For the choir director: A psalm of the descendants of Korah.

1LORD, you have poured out amazing blessings on your land!

You have restored the fortunes of Israel.

2You have forgiven the guilt of your people—

yes, you have covered all their sins.

Interlude

3You have withdrawn your fury.

You have ended your blazing anger.

4Now turn to us again, O God of our salvation.

Put aside your anger against us.

5Will you be angry with us always?

Will you prolong your wrath to distant generations?

6Won’t you revive us again,

so your people can rejoice in you?

7Show us your unfailing love, O LORD,

and grant us your salvation.

England had been in a nasty civil war for several decades when Oliver Cromwell took charge in 1653. As the head of the army, he seized power from Parliament and the king and ushered in a period of relative calm. Cromwell was a Puritan who emphasized personal faith over church establishment. He also loved the Psalms, often quoting them in public and urging others to read them.

In 1656 he opened his second parliamentary session by reading Psalm 85. He went on to talk about his vision for an England where God would be glorified. After the blight of civil war, the people were eager to think that God’s anger would be “put aside” and their fortunes restored.

We must be very careful about applying God’s promises to Israel to any modern nation. England had a time of peace during Cromwell’s reign, but there was more war ahead. England was not God’s special representative nation on earth any more than the United States is now. But we do find certain universal truths in God’s promises to Israel: Whenever God’s people—in any nation—humble themselves, repent, and worship God as it says in 2 Chronicles 7:14, their lives are changed, and that often has a ripple effect on the society around them.

Many mighty men are lost,

Daring not to stand,

Who for God had been a host

By joining Daniel’s band.

Dare to be a Daniel,

Dare to stand alone!

Dare to have a purpose firm;

Dare to make it known.

PHILIP P. BLISS

Bible Networking

When people repent of their sin, God’s anger is short-lived. See also Psalm 30:5.

Notable Quotable

“O God, when my faith gets overladen with dust, blow it clean with the wind of your Spirit. When my habits of obedience get stiff and rusty, anoint them with the oil of your Spirit. Restore the enthusiasm of my first love for you.”

EUGENE PETERSON