(The study with Psalm 85 is available here)

This Psalm looks at how the LORD goes about being favourable to his people. We are blessed to see how the many types and shadows of Israel being taken out of captivity are symbolic of the life long process of God dragging us out of darkness and into the light of the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ (2Cor 4:4)

2Co 4:4  In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

In this study we touch on how God speaks of the things that are not as though they were and how especially true this is of sin in our members which is going to be completely conquered in His perfect time (Rom 4:17).

Rom 4:17  (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.

God’s wrath is upon our first man Adam and He will not be angry with us forever, but will use the many tribulations of this life that we are promised to get us comfortable in the fire (Act 14:22 , Isa 33:14)

Act 14:22  Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.

Isa 33:14  The sinners in Zion are afraid; fearfulness hath surprised the hypocrites. Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings?

God’s people will be revived again and again as we die daily and are granted to live by faith and not by sight (1Cor 15:31 , 2Cor 5:7). As His children we will hear His peace that passes all understanding and be healed of all our iniquities little by little as His salvation is near them that fear Him (Php 4:7 , Ex 23:30).

1Co 15:31  I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.

2Co 5:7  (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)

Php 4:7  And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Exo 23:30  By little and little I will drive them out from before thee, until thou be increased, and inherit the land.

We are called to be confident in this work of faith and to heed the admonition to not grow weary in well doing for in due season we will reap if we faint not (Heb 10:35 , Php 1:6 , Gal 6:9).

Heb 10:35  Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward.

Php 1:6  Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:

Gal 6:9  And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

God willing we will never turn away from heeding the counsel of God,  and be blessed to have His salvation near us that causes us to fear. It is that hope of glory that must dwell in our land, which we understand to mean the Lord in us who is bringing us unto perfection on the third day (Col 1:24 , Luk 13:32 , Rom 8:9).

Col 1:24  Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church:

Luk 13:32  And he said unto them, Go ye, and tell that fox, Behold, I cast out devils, and I do cures to day and to morrow, and the third day I shall be perfected.

Rom 8:9  But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

This Psalm concludes with great hope in the promises that God gives His people that shall spring out of the earth earth earth, via a process of increase that will come from God (Jer 22:29 , 1Cor 3:6). We are told that righteousness shall go before him, from the one who gives every good and perfect gift which comes from above (Jas 1:17).

Jer 22:29  O earth, earth, earth, hear the word of the LORD.

1Co 3:6  I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.

Jas 1:17  Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

This lifetime of overcoming by the grace and faith that is given to us of God is put another way in Ephesian 1:13 and we find many verses in this Psalm that connect this verse to the process of grace and faith that is working in the lives of God’s people today by way of “that holy Spirit of promise.”

Eph 1:13  In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise.

The webinar, mp3 recording and study notes for this studies can be viewed here