How does Psalm 85:5 connect with God's mercy in Lamentations 3:22-23? Setting the Scene • Psalm 85 was penned after a season of national setback, most likely following exile. The psalmist celebrates past restoration (vv. 1–3), then pleads for renewed mercy (vv. 4–7). • Lamentations 3 rises from the ashes of Jerusalem’s destruction. Even in devastation, Jeremiah discovers an anchor in God’s unfailing covenant love. Examining Psalm 85:5 “Will You be angry with us forever? Will You draw out Your anger to all generations?” • Honest lament: the psalmist feels the weight of divine displeasure. • Implicit hope: asking the question assumes God’s anger is not limitless; He can turn and revive (v. 6). • Covenant backdrop: Israel knows the LORD revealed Himself as “abounding in loving devotion” (Exodus 34:6). Exploring Lamentations 3:22-23 “Because of the loving devotion of the LORD we are not consumed, for His mercies never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness!” • Mercy in the middle of ruin: judgment fell, yet God’s loyal love prevented total annihilation. • Daily renewal: mercy is not a one-time reprieve; it rises with each dawn. • Faithfulness affirmed: Jeremiah settles on God’s unchanging character, not fluctuating circumstances. Where the Two Passages Meet • Same God, same tension: righteous anger against sin meets steadfast covenant love. • Psalm 85:5 voices the question; Lamentations 3:22-23 supplies the answer. – Is God’s anger forever? No—His mercies “never fail.” – Will wrath stretch to “all generations”? No—each generation awakens to “new” compassion. • Movement from plea to assurance: 1. Petition: “Turn us, O God of our salvation” (Psalm 85:4). 2. Declaration: “Great is Your faithfulness” (Lamentations 3:23). • Underlying principle: God’s justice is real, but His mercy is greater and ultimately triumphant (Psalm 30:5; Micah 7:18). Living It Out Today • Face sin honestly—like the psalmist—without denying God’s right to discipline. • Cling to His revealed character—like Jeremiah—especially when consequences linger. • Expect fresh mercy every morning; yesterday’s repentance opens the door to today’s renewal. • Let assurance fuel intercession: because His anger is momentary and His mercy enduring, we pray confidently for personal and national revival (Psalm 85:6-7). Supporting Scriptures • Exodus 34:6-7 – foundational self-revelation of the LORD’s mercy and justice. • Psalm 103:8-10 – “He will not always accuse… nor repay us according to our iniquities.” • Isaiah 54:7-8 – brief wrath, everlasting compassion. • Hebrews 12:5-6 – loving discipline proves we are sons, not castaways. The psalmist’s cry and the prophet’s comfort merge into one clear message: God’s anger is real but temporary, His mercy is constant and endlessly renewing. |
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