Concordia Lutheran Church
March 23, 2025

For the Joy Set Before Us…
Restoration/Revival Is Set Before Us
Psalm 85

† In Jesus Name †

May the grace of God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ revive and renew you–as promised!

• You did it once, could you please…

A long time ago, an apprentice asked his mentor about how to deal with repetitive betrayals. How to deal with being made fun of and being backstabbed, not to mention all the gossip being spread about him by this horrible wretch…who was as close as a brother.

The apprentice was tired of it all and wanted to know if there was a point that would be crossed when mercy was no longer beneficial, were it needed to stop, because the continual sacrifice was being taken advantage of, and the pain was unbearable.

After a moment’s thought, the apprentice was given an answer he didn’t like, as the limit of mercy seemed, well beyond anything humanly possible, never mind acceptable.

I mean, it wasn’t like his brother Andrew was a complete stranger. He also was an apprentice… of Jesus…

Seven times Seventy?  Really?

I can imagine, Jesus smiling with a great deal of… amazement… knowing how many times he forgave both of them, and the cost he would pay, so that the Father would see them as forgiven. 7×70 and Peter, you are  getting close to 70×70,000!                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    I I can almost picture Jesus saying to himself, “Simon Peter, if you only knew the truth…but you will!

Which is what our Psalm 85 discusses this morning.

God’s incredible mercy… His incredible, patient, long-suffering mercy.

That restores and revives us, as we learn to look forward to eternity with great joy!

• The track record qualifies

The Psalmist starts by noting that incredible mercy! Here it is again,

“LORD, you poured out blessings on your land! You restored the fortunes of Israel. ²  You forgave the guilt of your people— yes, you covered all their sins. Interlude ³  You held back your fury. You kept back your blazing anger.

This is an amazing level of grace that the psalmist recounts, a track record of God’s love for His people, What a description of the love of God—a love that covered every sin, every one of them, from the Abraham lying to Kings about Sarah being his sister, to all the sins during the Exodus, during the times of the Judges and the time of King Sault into David’s reign as King

And boy, could those people sin!

Yet He restored and revived them!

They were experts in idolatry, and in using God’s name in vain, they were known for dishonoring parents, and for their hatred, mocking and murder of others, they were held up as examples of sexual immorality, having gone farther than their heathen neighbors, and they gossiped and schemed to get what they want that others had…

And God forgave, restored and revived them!

Which leads the psalmist to humbly beg, “

Now restore us again, O God of our salvation. Put aside your anger against us once more. ⁵  Will you be angry with us always? Will you prolong your wrath to all generations? ⁶  Won’t you revive us again, so your people can rejoice in you? ⁷  Show us your unfailing love, O LORD, and grant us your salvation!

For some reason, these people whose ancestors and even they had known such forgiveness, fell back into sin. The temptations were too hard, they ended up getting distracted from spending time with God, both individually and as a people, and they didn’t have the strength to be holy on their own…

And they started to be oppressed by sin again.

Sound familiar?

It should, it happens to all of us.

It might even be where we are this morning, as you sit there, wondering how to deal with whatever temptations you face.

And perhaps feeling guilty or ashamed at how you fell back under the spell of that sin.

• Ther Nature of holiness

While this should not be an excuse, I do believe that a portion of the problem is that we define holiness as a measurement based on behavior and not relationship.

We even talk about it that way, when we think of Spiritual disciplines or the spiritual exercises – as if they make us stronger, rather than building the relationship—building our trust and dependence on the Spirit’s guidance, and on the grace revealed in Christ.

That is what the Psalmist is asking God to restore and revive- not just the adherence to a set of rules, but a deep strong relationship and communication that has as a benefit the change of our behaviors.

Hear again Him speak of it, ⁸  I listen carefully to what God the LORD is saying, for he speaks peace to his faithful people. But let them not return to their foolish ways. ⁹  Surely his salvation is near to those who fear him, so our land will be filled with his glory.

That is holiness, that moment when you know God’s unfailing love and truth have declared you as cleansed, and His. That moment when we realize He is lifting the burden of every sin we have ever committed.

He speaks peace to His people…

His salvation is near…

• Go and Sin no more!

One last thing to deal with in this passage In the middle of that news of the gospel, there is a phrase, “let them not return to their foolish ways.” It brings to mind the words of Jesus to the lady caught in adultery who heard, “Your sins are forgiven, go and sin no more.”

That sounds like more law –- a command not to break and more of God’s commands, with the underlying threat of hell. If it is law, then we are going to have a problem, because we all struggle with sin, and we all struggle with falling back into old sinful thoughts and sinful habits.

But this is a statement of freedom—to help us realize the power of sin is shattered, that we are free to not sin—that we are free to live life – a holy life, separated to God. This is an encouragement to rejoice in this revival and renewal of our lives, and to live in the truth of the gospel.

My friends, the power of sin had over you is broken, you have been restored, and revived from the death it causes,  so stay away from it! Live in these blessings, live in this peace. AMEN!