This is a prophetic psalm from which we can make present applications. It is a promise that Israel will return to the Promised Land. An event likely prompted the Holy Spirit to inspire the writer to write these words for the sons of Korah, who would sing them. It is a psalm of thanks for restoration and a plea for spiritual revival, which was still needed. The end of the psalm contains words of confidence as to the future. The writer was writing of past glories and past mercies from the Lord. Iniquities forgiven and sins covered are far more important than the glories of the past kingdom, which can be taken away in a short time.
The divine favor, forgiveness, restoration, and peace will be in the future. Looking forward to the kingdom age, a positive picture of Israel is given. Only a little over 50,000 people returned from Babylon. The minor prophets present a rather bleak picture of the return from exile. However, this psalm looks ahead to a time when the judgments are passed, Satan’s day will be over, and the tribulation will be at an end. By application, we believers in the church today know that our judgment has already been passed; mercy and truth have met together, and righteousness and peace have kissed each other. The cross-work of our Lord Jesus Christ has made that real to us.
God’s righteous anger against sin is turned away when repentance for sin is genuine. When that happens, and the people's hearts are prepared, revival can occur. It begins with the cleansing of the soul of each individual and can extend to everyone who has been repentant, cleansed, forgiven, and appreciates God's work in one’s soul. The unity of such persons can change an assembly of God’s people, which will happen to the nation of Israel in the future. Our need to repent can make the answer to the request in verses four through seven: “No!” Israel’s history has been one of sorrow and fear, but the revival of the nation will come. When revival comes, joy comes with it. God has not gone soft on sin; He hates and judges evil, but He offers mercy and salvation to those who turn to Him. The psalmist desired restoration, revival, reality, and relief.
In the prayer of verses four through seven, there is an acknowledgment that God was displeased because of Israel’s sin. There had been past revivals in Israel, pleading for God to revive His people again. Revival follows confession of sins, forgiveness of sins, and God’s righteous wrath being propitiated. Rejoicing and unconfessed sin do not go hand in hand. Instead of being far away from God as they are presently, the hearts of the Jews will be turned to the Lord and will draw near to Him. Times of judgment, including the tribulation, will come to an end following the unleashed horrors when humanity reaches its limit in evil. Suffering will cease. Revival will be genuine. Joy accompanies revival.
The answer to this prayer is from verse eight to the psalm's end. It is the assurance that God does desire to bless His people. The writer says he will listen to what the Lord says. When His people turn from “folly,” the Lord promises peace. How He does that is given in verses eight and nine. God gives His peace to those who obey Him and do not turn back to disobedience but fear the Lord with respect, reverence, and reality. The glory of the past will return in a day, yet it will also be present in the future. His glory is evident when His people respect the Lord and reverence Him. Love chastens, disciplines, corrects, and then restores. The revival results in deliverance from bondage, unhappiness, and a lack of power and uniting again in fellowship with the Lord and His people.
When divine judgment takes place, Israel will no longer turn to folly. Sin will not rule because peace will come to God's people. Peace can be ours, but only if we turn away from foolishness. There is no physical glory, but glory in the Lord. The glory had departed from Israel. For individuals, we come into the good of this because of the cross. "Mercy and truth" and "righteousness and peace" are not on speaking terms when it comes to nations. That will happen when Christ reigns. Our meeting place, personally, as God's people today, is at the cross. Mercy is a covenant love to which truth (faithfulness) responds. Faithfulness and divine help go together. Righteousness means we put things right. We can look into the future and see the restoration results.
God shows His mercy and grants salvation to those who turn to Him. At this present time, in all nations, regardless of race, nationality, creed, or degree of sin, God gives His answer of hope. When an individual comes to the foot of the cross in repentance and, by faith, puts personal trust in the Lord Jesus Christ, He does this. Some interesting connections from the Lord explain what happens when salvation is granted. The Lord is our Sun and Shield. He gives grace and glory. Mercy and truth unite. Righteousness and peace are joined.
Mercy and truth have yet to meet regarding the nation of Israel. Righteousness and peace are not yet in the world. At the cross where our Lord Jesus Christ died for us, that took place for us who believe “He is the preciousness.” It will happen in the world when our Lord Jesus reigns. Mercy comes from God’s heart of love to which truth responds. God’s covenant of mercy toward Israel is contingent on Israel’s faithfulness to God. Righteousness means that when things are put right, peace can come. Truth from human faithfulness on earth and righteousness from heaven, granted by God's salvation, go together. “Good” was the rain the earth needed to yield its bounty. “Our pathway” is the way of His steps – where He leads us. New growth comes from the land to restored people as God benevolently looks down from heaven, and righteousness leads the way to peace. The greater our obedience to God and righteousness, the clearer His blessings become to us.