SEPTEMBER 24, 2026 – PEACE

READ: Ps. 85:1–13: … Surely His salvation is near to those who fear Him …

In this psalm we hear thanksgiving for undeserved deliverance and God’s forgiving grace. God has turned away His righteous wrath from His people, brought them back from exile into their own land, and taken away their sins. In the Old Testament the LORD forgave the sins of His people, without any merit on their part, when they sincerely confessed them, on the basis of Christ’s sacrifice on the cross, which at that time still had to be accomplished (cf. Rom. 3:25).

Here we see how great the power of that sacrifice already was. At the same time we see how great God’s faithfulness was, also for the sake of the Christ who was yet to come. This was also the LORD’s answer to Solomon’s prayer in 1 Kin. 8:46–50.

Thus a time of relief came for God’s people. They were again permitted to live in the land of Canaan, which God had promised and given to them.

The question, however, is whether the people learned to continue serving the LORD with a devoted heart according to His Word. Sadly, this was not the case. Immediately after the exile there was already sluggishness in the service of the LORD and selfishness (see the book of Haggai). The LORD punished this with failed harvests and other hardships. He called them to repentance of heart—not a repentance that is only once for all, but one that continues throughout life. We too, as God’s children, must confess our sins daily and turn away from them.

From verse 4 onward the psalmist offers an earnest prayer for God’s lovingkindness. He desires to listen to the LORD in order to walk in His ways of peace. At the same time he warns the people not to return to the folly of unfaithfulness (v.8). God’s salvation and His blessed peace belong only to those who sincerely fear Him (v.9). These are searching words that also apply today. It is possible to be outwardly religious while the heart is not directed toward the LORD.

At the same time these are words of rich comfort. Where true faith is found, there is first of all salvation from the LORD: deliverance from the misery caused by sin. In addition, there is God’s lovingkindness—His covenant faithfulness, covenant love, and covenant care. Along with this comes peace with Him and His peace within us.

What is the ‘peace’ spoken of in verse 10 (cf. Rom. 5:1; Phil. 4:7)?

Sing: Ps. 85:3,4