1 Lord, you were favorable to your land;
you restored the fortunes of Jacob.
2 You forgave the iniquity of your people;
you covered all their sin. Selah
3 You withdrew all your wrath;
you turned from your hot anger.
4 Restore us again, O God of our salvation,
and put away your indignation toward us!
5 Will you be angry with us forever?
Will you prolong your anger to all generations?
6 Will you not revive us again,
that your people may rejoice in you?
7 Show us your steadfast love, O Lord,
and grant us your salvation.
8 Let me hear what God the Lord will speak,
for he will speak peace to his people, to his saints;
but let them not turn back to folly.
9 Surely his salvation is near to those who fear him,
that glory may dwell in our land.
10 Steadfast love and faithfulness meet;
righteousness and peace kiss each other.
11 Faithfulness springs up from the ground,
and righteousness looks down from the sky.
12 Yes, the Lord will give what is good,
and our land will yield its increase.
13 Righteousness will go before him
and make his footsteps a way.
We pass by each other often when I am out for a walk, and we frequently stop to chat. He has a little dog he takes for a walk, but sometimes he is out there with his granddaughter who is visiting from Texas. She is adorable and about three years old now. Today when I asked how he was doing, the “OK” was different. It sounded more like, “Not OK.” I did not let it pass and pushed a little harder. Turns out he filed for divorce last week. His marriage had long been struggling and she moved out. I do not know the whole story. Don’t know what all happened there, but I could see a broken heart behind his brown eyes and forced smile.
We don’t know what event the psalmist has in mind here. That is intentional. We can apply these words anywhere. We can apply them to this man whom I know from a handful of conversations we have had on walks around my neighborhood. I don’t even know where he lives, to be honest.
The psalmist first remembers better times. They were the blessing of the Lord. Now he longs for them again, vss. 4-7. He longs that God would restore us again. I am sure that there are plenty of sins to go around in this marriage. Every marriage has plenty of sins. The better you know someone, the better you understand their need for forgiveness, and they understand your need for forgiveness. That is just the way of human relationships.
The psalmist waits for what God has to say (vss. 8-9). God’s word is good. God’s steadfast love and faithfulness meet, righteousness and peace kiss. Forgiveness is possible. Jesus has died for all the sins. Faithfulness springs up and righteousness rains down. I cannot tell exactly what this means for the man whom I meet on my walks. I gave him my card and told him to give me a call sometime. I have good news for him. The Lord will give what is good. Righteousness will go before him, and God will make his footsteps a way. I believe that God might use me for his blessing. I hope the phone rings.