Let Us Come Together Before God: Psalm 85


Psalm 85

 

To the choirmaster. A Psalm of the Sons of Korah.

1 Lord, you were favorable to your land;
    you restored the fortunes of Jacob.
2 You forgave the iniquity of your people;
    you covered all their sin. Selah
3 You withdrew all your wrath;
    you turned from your hot anger.

4 Restore us again, O God of our salvation,
    and put away your indignation toward us!
5 Will you be angry with us forever?
    Will you prolong your anger to all generations?
6 Will you not revive us again,
    that your people may rejoice in you?

7 Show us your steadfast love, O Lord,
    and grant us your salvation.

8 Let me hear what God the Lord will speak,
    for he will speak peace to his people, to his saints;
    but let them not turn back to folly.
9 Surely his salvation is near to those who fear him,
    that glory may dwell in our land.

10 Steadfast love and faithfulness meet;
    righteousness and peace kiss each other.
11 Faithfulness springs up from the ground,
    and righteousness looks down from the sky.
12 Yes, the Lord will give what is good,
    and our land will yield its increase.
13 Righteousness will go before him
    and make his footsteps a way.

  

A Community Psalm

Psalm 85 is a psalm to be sung in community. God’s people, the Israelites, sang this to God after they returned from captivity. In the midst of countless difficult circumstances, it expressed their heartfelt anticipation of meeting with the Lord.

The psalm opens with a description of God’s salvation, and recounts his forgiving grace and salvation. (vv. 1-3) Although the Israelites had sinned against God and were punished by his righteous anger, in love and faithfulness he forgave them and brought them back from captivity.

>
“Thanks be to Jesus Christ, who brought us to the throne of God’s grace with his life. Because of his name, we can give thanks, cry out, and express praise before God. What a grace and blessing!

Then, the psalmist stands in the midst of present hardships and prays to God to cease from wrath. He asks God to again forgive and save his people from their present misery, so they may see his love and salvation. (vv. 4-7) The psalmist is certain God will answer; he believes God will grant peace to and draw near to a repentant people, revealing his glory. (vv. 8-9)

Finally, the psalmist praises God. (vv. 10-13) He sings of the wonderful prospect of God’s communion with humanity as the Lord’s love and righteousness descend from heaven, and the earth is filled with peace and honesty. (vv. 10-11) God will bestow his grace on his people, and righteousness will be accomplished wherever he goes. (vv. 12-13)

Thanks Be To Jesus

Meditating on this psalm, my heart is greatly moved. In his mournful prayer. I deeply feel the psalmist’s desire to meet with God. In the psalmist’s praise, I feel God’s heart of delight in meeting with his people. God created us to have fellowship with him, to understand his heart, and to enjoy his goodness. However, because of the rebellion of our ancestors, we fell into iniquity and suffered the wrath of God’s justice. We are unable to have fellowship with him. Because of this, we became wanderers in this world. However, the loving Father did not want us to be separated from him forever, so he sent His only begotten Son to earth to be our Savior. Jesus Christ, who took on our sins, bore all of God’s wrath on the cross, and offered his life as a redeeming sacrifice. He opened the way for us to return to God.

Jesus said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” In the Old Testament, God’s people had fellowship with him through the blood of the lamb offered on the altar. Today we have fellowship with God forever through the blood of Jesus Christ. Fellowship with God is the deepest longing of our souls and the deepest joy of our lives!
When I think about this, gratitude rises up in my heart. Thanks be to Jesus Christ, who brought us to the throne of God’s grace with his life. Because of his name, we can give thanks, cry out, and express praise before God. What a grace and blessing! We are still weak, and we often offend God. We stray from his ways, and suffer his wrath and chastisement. However, when we are pressed by God to come to him in our sorrow and cry out to him in repentance, he comes near and appears to us.

Jeremiah sings in Lamentations, “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.” God never rejects a heart that sincerely desires to see him. He delights to be gracious, to forgive, to give grace, and he delights in our walk with him!

Praise In Unison

Dear brothers and sisters, are you anxious in the face of the government’s crackdown on faith, the mandatory control of the pandemic, and soaring prices? Are you sad? Please follow the footsteps of the psalmist. Come to God to pray, listen to his voice, and enjoy fellowship with him. Peace and joy will come as expected. God’s love and justice will fill your heart, and you will see God walking in your life. The ultimate cause of our sorrow and grief is not our circumstances, but because we are far from God and have lost our fellowship with him. Jeremiah said, “The LORD is the true God, he is the living God and the everlasting King!” This true and living God, who reigns forever, delights in fellowship with us.

>
“In the midst of the double hardship of persecution and isolation, protect our gatherings in your presence. Forgive us our sins.

Let us come before God. Let thanksgiving fill your mouth, supplication fill your lips, and praise fill your voice. You will see his love and righteousness, and the LORD God will be your deepest peace and joy!

Let us come together before God, repent, cry out, and praise. God will grant us his goodness to enrich the church so she may witness for his glory!

Let us come together before God and praise in unison: for Christ, the King of kings, will walk in the land of China!

Hai Lin-en (a pseudonym) lives in Hunan Province, where she has been serving the church full-time for more than 20 years. She has one daughter, who is also a Christian.

 

PRAYER

Our heavenly Father, I praise and thank you. How great is your grace. You are full of grace, forgiveness, and salvation. No matter how much we have sinned against you, if we turn to you, you save us and come close to us.

Dear heavenly Father, I come to offer myself in prayer. In this desperate and scary time, turn my steps toward you. Take away my fearful and troubled heart so I may see your love, stand on the rock of Christ’s salvation, and receive your peace and joy. Grant that my heart may adore you as a deer pants for water.

Dear Heavenly Father, I come before you to offer up a prayer for the church in China. In the midst of the double hardship of persecution and isolation, protect our gatherings in your presence. Forgive us our sins: our apathy toward you, our lust for worldly benefits, our compromises with the world, even our pursuit of the values of this world. Withdraw your anger, so we may turn back to and worship you alone. In this hour of darkness, lead your church to gather before your throne of grace. May we cry out, praise, experience more deeply your love and faithfulness. Give us faith and courage to testify to this land about your righteousness and power. May the gospel of the salvation of the cross be preached in China. May Christ’s name be exalted in this land, and may Christ’s kingdom increase without ceasing in this land!

In the holy name of Christ we pray. Amen!

   


We are using the Psalms to guide our prayers for China

In 2022, our prayer movement is turning to the scriptural prayers found in the Psalms as we pray for the Chinese church. When you join our prayer movement, you will receive weekly prayer emails and a monthly newsletter so that you too can pray for our brothers and sisters in China.

  

Share This Story

Further Reading

engin-akyurt-FQzGa9FLgE0-unsplash
When Will the Soldiers Return?
Read More
wei-zhao-H3x7NCFI2Yo-unsplash
Xiamen: Beautiful, Coastal... and Expensive
Read More
robert-bye-XiQvWmj37MM-unsplash
Guangzhou: Raising Gospel Soldiers
Read More

LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT IN CHINA

With rising pressure and persecution in China, there are two challenges imperative for church leaders. The first challenge is for current leaders to love Christ above all else, and not to stray into legalism or love of the world. The second challenge is to raise up the next generation of leaders, who will humbly model Jesus even if current leaders are arrested.

WILL YOU JOIN US IN PRAYING FOR LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT IN CHINA? PRAY FOR:

  1. Current leaders to grow in their daily walks with Christ
  2. Current leaders to shepherd and raise up new leaders
  3. New leaders who love Christ and will model him to the world
  4. New leaders to love and care for the church

Videos

ABOUT LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT

About Shenyang

Shenyang is a city located in northeastern China and is the capital of Liaoning Province. It is known for its rich history and cultural heritage, including the Shenyang Imperial Palace, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Shenyang is also a hub for China’s heavy industry, with companies such as the China First Automobile Group and the Shenyang Aircraft Corporation having their headquarters in the city.

Videos

Stories from Shenyang

About Qingdao

Qingdao is a city located in eastern China and is famous for its beaches, beer, and seafood. The city is home to several landmarks, including the Zhanqiao Pier and the Badaguan Scenic Area. Qingdao is also a major port and has a thriving economy, with industries such as electronics, petrochemicals, and machinery.

Videos

Stories from Qingdao

About Xiamen

Xiamen is a city located in southeastern China and is a popular tourist destination known for its beautiful coastal scenery, including Gulangyu Island, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The city is also a hub for China’s high-tech industry, with companies such as Huawei and ZTE having research and development centers in Xiamen.

Videos

Stories from Xiamen

About Chongqing

Chongqing is a city located in southwestern China and is a major economic center in the region. The city is known for its spicy cuisine, especially its hot pot dishes, and is also famous for the Three Gorges Dam, the world’s largest hydroelectric dam. Chongqing is also home to several historic sites, including the Dazu Rock Carvings, which are UNESCO World Heritage sites.

Videos

Stories from Chongqing

About Nanjing

Nanjing is a city located in eastern China and is the capital of Jiangsu Province. It is one of China’s ancient capitals and has a rich cultural history, including the Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum, the Nanjing City Wall, and the Confucius Temple. Nanjing is also a modern city with a thriving economy and is home to several universities, including Nanjing University and Southeast University.

Videos

Stories from Nanjing

About Changchun

Changchun is a city located in northeastern China and is the capital of Jilin Province. It is known for its rich cultural heritage and is home to several historical landmarks such as the Puppet Emperor’s Palace and the Jingyuetan National Forest Park. Changchun is also a hub for China’s automotive industry, with several major automobile manufacturers having their headquarters in the city.

Videos

Stories from Changchun

About Guangzhou

Guangzhou, also known as Canton, is a city located in southern China and is the capital of Guangdong Province. It is one of the country’s largest and most prosperous cities, serving as a major transportation and trading hub for the region. Guangzhou is renowned for its modern architecture, including the Canton Tower and the Guangzhou Opera House, as well as its Cantonese cuisine, which is famous for its variety and bold flavors. The city also has a rich history, with landmarks such as the Chen Clan Ancestral Hall, the Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall, and the Temple of the Six Banyan Trees. Additionally, Guangzhou hosts the annual Canton Fair, the largest trade fair in China.

Videos

Stories from Guangzhou

About Kunming

Kunming is a city located in southwest China and is the capital of Yunnan Province. Known as the “City of Eternal Spring” for its mild climate, Kunming is a popular tourist destination due to its natural beauty and cultural diversity. The city is home to several scenic spots, including the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Stone Forest, Dian Lake, and the Western Hills. Kunming is also famous for its unique cuisine, which features a mix of Han, Yi, and Bai ethnic flavors. The city has a rich cultural history, with ancient temples and shrines like the Yuantong Temple and the Golden Temple, and it’s also a hub for Yunnan’s ethnic minority cultures, such as the Yi and Bai peoples.

Videos

Stories from Kunming

About Shenzhen

Shenzhen is a city located in southeastern China and is one of the country’s fastest-growing metropolises. The city is renowned for its thriving tech industry, with companies such as Huawei, Tencent, and DJI having their headquarters in Shenzhen. The city also has a vibrant cultural scene, with numerous museums, art galleries, and parks. Shenzhen is also known for its modern architecture, such as the Ping An Finance Center and the Shenzhen Bay Sports Center. Despite its modernization, Shenzhen also has a rich history and cultural heritage, with landmarks such as the Dapeng Fortress and the Chiwan Tin Hau Temple.

Videos

Stories from Shenzhen

About Chengdu

Chengdu is a city located in the southwestern region of China, and the capital of Sichuan province. It has a population of over 18 million people, and it is famous for its spicy Sichuan cuisine, laid-back lifestyle, and its cute and cuddly residents – the giant pandas. Chengdu is home to the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, where visitors can observe these adorable creatures in their natural habitat. The city also boasts a rich cultural heritage, with numerous temples, museums, and historical sites scattered throughout its boundaries. Chengdu is a city of contrasts, with ancient traditions coexisting alongside modern developments, making it an intriguing and fascinating destination for visitors to China. 

Videos

Stories from Chengdu

About Beijing

Beijing is the capital city of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of over 21 million people. The city has a rich history that spans over 3,000 years, and it has served as the capital of various dynasties throughout China’s history. Beijing is home to some of the most iconic landmarks in China, including the Great Wall, the Forbidden City, and the Temple of Heaven. The city is also a hub for political, cultural, and educational activities, with numerous universities and research institutions located within its boundaries. Beijing is renowned for its traditional architecture, rich cuisine, and vibrant cultural scene, making it a must-visit destination for travelers to China.

Videos

Stories from Beijing

About Shanghai

Shanghai is a vibrant and dynamic city located on the eastern coast of China. It is the largest city in China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of over 24 million people. Shanghai is a global financial hub and a major center for international trade, with a rich history and culture that spans over 1,000 years. The city is famous for its iconic skyline, which features towering skyscrapers such as the Oriental Pearl Tower and the Shanghai Tower. Shanghai is also home to a diverse culinary scene, world-class museums and art galleries, and numerous shopping districts. It is a city that is constantly evolving and reinventing itself, making it a fascinating destination for visitors from around the world.

Videos

Stories from Shanghai

give

A short message about partnering with us.