Psalm 85 & 102 - Restore Us Again

LINK: Psalm 85 & 102

BACKGROUND

Psalm 85

This was written by '"the 'sons of Korah,' who formed a leading part of the Kohathite singers (2 Chr. 20:19), were entrusted with the arranging and singing of Ps. 42, 44–49, 84, 85, 87, and 88" (Easton's Bible Dictionary, Psalms)

I put this psalm here because it could have been right after the destruction of Jerusalem since they were begging God by saying, "Revive us again." But some scholars think this was written after the people of Israel returned to the land after seventy years of captivity in Babylon (Jeremiah 29) because of its emphasis on the land (85:1, 9, and 12). It also speaks of God's anger against His people (85:3-5). They went to praise and to pray for revival that will lead to peace and His glory dwelling in the land.  Others think the "captivity" could have referred to "any great evil (Ps 14:7)" (A Commentary, Critical and Explanatory, on the Old and New Testaments, Ps 85:1). 

Psalm 102

This is both a penitential psalm (see 6) and a Messianic psalm (vv. 25–27 = Heb. 1:10–12). The anonymous author probably wrote it long after the destruction of Jerusalem (vv. 8, 14, 16), about the time he thought Jeremiah’s prophecy of the seventy-year captivity was about to be fulfilled (v. 13; Jer. 25:11–12; 29:10; see Dan. 9:2). According to the title, the psalmist was afflicted and faint (61:2; 77:3; 142:3; 143:4) and burdened to present his complaint (“lament,” NIV).to the Lord. He was groaning in distress (vv. 2, 5) and weeping over the ruins of Jerusalem (v. 9). His opening prayer in verses 1–2 draws from a number of other psalms, giving us an example of what it means to pray the Word of God (See 18:16; 27:9; 31:2; 37:20; 59:16; 69:17; 88:2.). (Wiersbe, W. W. Be Exultant, p. 44)

REFLECTION/APPLICATION/PRAYER

There is nothing more fun than praying Scripture. Pray through Psalm 102 as your application and prayer today! (How to Pray the Psalms is helpful if this is new for you.)