You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive, and abundant in mercy to all those who call upon You. (Psalm 86:5) After the sin of the Golden Calf, Moses went before God once again to receive the commandments of the Lord. During this exchange, the Creator described...

You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive, and abundant in mercy to all those who call upon You. (Psalm 86:5) In our culture, the word “good” can be used to describe a meal, an interesting book or any number of things that appeal to us. And while the same is true in...

Be merciful to me, O Lord, for I cry to You all day long. Rejoice the soul of Your servant, for to You, O Lord, I lift up my soul. (Psalm 86:3-4) Though obviously beloved of God, David did not consider himself to be deserving of God's mercy, but having the...

Bow down Your ear, O Lord, answer me; for I am poor and needy. Preserve my soul, for I am faithful; You are my God; save Your servant who trusts in You! (Psalm 86:1-2) The Bible tells us that shortly before Messiah's crucifixion, a woman of questionable character came...

Bow down Your ear, O Lord, answer me; for I am poor and needy. Preserve my soul, for I am faithful; You are my God; save Your servant who trusts in You! (Psalm 86:1-2) It is interesting that this psalm of David is inserted into the midst of psalms written by the sons...

Mercy and truth have met together; righteousness and peace have kissed. Truth shall spring out of the earth, and righteousness shall look down from heaven. (Psalm 85:10-11) If you will recall, the opening lines of this psalm allude to the redemption of God's people...

Let them not turn back to folly. Surely His salvation is near to those who fear Him, that glory may dwell in our land. (Psalm 85:8-9) According to Jewish tradition when God spoke to Israel at Sinai, the sound of His Voice purged the evil inclination from the people....

I will hear what God the Lord will speak, for He will speak peace to His people and to His saints. (Psalm 85:8) When Israel awoke in the morning on the third day after arriving at Mount Sinai, the Bible says that the mountain was engulfed in a thick dark cloud. The...

Will You not revive us again, that Your people may rejoice in You? Show us Your mercy, Lord, and grant us Your salvation. (Psalm 85:6-7) As we have been discussing, the Bible clearly connects the resurrection of the dead with the promised redemption of God's people....

Will You not revive us again, that Your people may rejoice in You? Show us Your mercy, Lord, and grant us Your salvation. (Psalm 85:6-7) As we discussed in the previous devotion, in Jewish thought exile from the land of Israel is akin to death because it is emblematic...

Will You not revive us again, that Your people may rejoice in You? Show us Your mercy, Lord, and grant us Your salvation. (Psalm 85:6-7) It is understood by Jewish commentators that the psalmist's question concerns Israel's exile and being scattered among the nations....

Lord, You have been favorable to Your land; You have brought back the captivity of Jacob. You have forgiven the iniquity of Your people; You have covered all their sin. Selah. (Psalm 85:1-2) There are several times in Scripture where the word “captivity” is used when...