Slices
Prepare
Put yourself in the shoes of those who returned to the land of Judah from exile (see Ezra and Nehemiah). How would you feel? What would you say?
Bible passage
For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. A psalm.
1 You, Lord, showed favour to your land;
you restored the fortunes of Jacob.
2 You forgave the iniquity of your people
and covered all their sins.
3 You set aside all your wrath
and turned from your fierce anger.
4 Restore us again, God our Saviour,
and put away your displeasure towards us.
5 Will you be angry with us for ever?
Will you prolong your anger through all generations?
6 Will you not revive us again,
that your people may rejoice in you?
7 Show us your unfailing love, Lord,
and grant us your salvation.
8 I will listen to what God the Lord says;
he promises peace to his people, his faithful servants –
but let them not turn to folly.
9 Surely his salvation is near those who fear him,
that his glory may dwell in our land.
10 Love and faithfulness meet together;
righteousness and peace kiss each other.
11 Faithfulness springs forth from the earth,
and righteousness looks down from heaven.
12 The Lord will indeed give what is good,
and our land will yield its harvest.
13 Righteousness goes before him
and prepares the way for his steps.
Explore
Verses 1–3 probably refer to the restoration after exile. Just think about Jeremiah’s prophecies and think of this psalm as a winding of the clock forward a hundred years. Judah has been exiled but is now restored by God.
This psalm is first a recalling of past mercies from God (vs 1–3) and then a plea for God to be merciful again (vs 4–9).
It’s not good to hark back to golden ages (they never really exist) but many countries have rich Christian traditions that blessed whole societies. Just think about the Christian influence in the UK on the creation of schools and hospitals.
This isn’t a plea for mere social work; instead it is a plea for God to dwell with us (v 9) and for the transforming power of his presence among his people to change churches and societies.
That work, that blessing, will be complete when God’s presence with us is totally unencumbered (Revelation 21:1– 4), when we will truly be his people and he our God (a theme throughout Jeremiah).
The fruit of restoration now and ultimately in the new creation will be love, faithfulness, righteousness and peace (v 10).
Respond
Pray for your church now that God will restore and revive it, so that you will rejoice, be a blessing to your community and be a sign of the things to come.
Bible in a year
Read the Bible in a year: 2 Samuel 11,12; Psalm 51
Pray for Scripture Union
Pray for SU Serbia’s ongoing ministry in the Roma settlement in Deliblato, for the children and their parents, and for the family they serve alongside. Pray that God’s love and truth will reach deeply into this community, bringing hope, growth and lasting transformation.
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