Restore Us Again

“Restore us again, O God our Savior, and put away your displeasure toward us.

Will you be angry with us forever? Will you prolong your anger through all generations?

Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you? Show us your unfailing

love, O Lord, and grant us your salvation.” Psalm 85:4-7 (NIV)



The sons of Korah plead with the Lord to restore the people of Israel. They ask some penetrating questions. Will God be angry with the nation forever? Will He prolong His displeasure for future lifetimes? Won’t God revive His people so they can rejoice in Him?

I heard a story that illustrates the life-giving freedom of God. A dear friend happened to see the father of one of her daughter’s old boyfriends. The father told my friend that his son was no longer incarcerated.

The son had been sentenced for multiple lifetimes for confinement and a statutory violation. The sentence was harsh. In recent years the judge has been removed from the bench. A lot of his decisions have been reconsidered; this case may have been one of those. This fairly young man’s mother never got to see her son’s release. The father joyfully shared the news with my friend.

When we seek God’s forgiveness, He erases His disappointment in us. When we ask Him to revive us, we seek peace with Him. When He restores us, He, once more, grants us His salvation. For this act of mercy, we should rejoice.