"Prayer of a Patriot"

“Prayer of a Patriot”

Psalm 85

Psalm 85 is used many times for revival services, but what we miss is that Psalm 85 is actually a prayer of a patriot.

The passage this morning is a prayer from a patriot who is praying for his country. He is praying for revival.

I don’t believe there is anything wrong with being a Christian and proud of his nation. I know it’s a divisive topic nowadays. But the man in Psalm 85 was proud of his heritage; he was proud of his nation.

I too am proud of our nation. I am not proud of all our nation does, I am not proud of all the decisions it makes; but I am proud to be an American. This is not to say that I am better than anyone else.

This prayer for revival is desperately what we need in America in 2023. WE NEED REVIVAL.

I heard of a TV reporter that came up to a man and said “Do you know what America’s two greatest problems are?” The man replied “I don’t know and I don’t care.” The reporter said “There you have it.”

Those are two of our major problems in the USA: ignorance and apathy. We just don’t care anymore.

I believe this was similar to the situation of the people of Israel during the writing of Psalm 85.

From a study of Psalm 85 we can see that some type of major calamity was happening to Israel - not sure what it is. Major calamity is happening today - have you turned on the news?

I want us to notice 3 parts of the Psalmist’s prayer for his nation:

1. The psalmist remembers God’s faithfulness to his country in the past. (vv. 1-3)

Notice all the words that are in the PAST tense.

The Psalmist remembers that even in the midst of calamity now; God has been faithful to this nation in the past.

Think of all the things Israel had seen. Think of God’s promise to bring them to Canaan Land. They were there and settled.

Look at again what he says in vv. 1 - “You have been favorable to your land.”

One of the things the Psalmist focuses on in vv. 2-3 is God’s forgiveness of their past sins.

God had restored the nation of Israel after their disobedience. Our God is in the restoring business.

But why did he restore them? He restored them because they truly repented.

When we undergo calamity in the present; it is always good to look back at the hand of God in the past.

This country is entering a new era. We are entering a new age. A new calamity. Maybe we should focus on all the things God has done in the past.

As in vv. 1, God has been very favorable to our land.

We should not be free today - we should have lost the Revolutionary War.

This country should have never survived, let alone thrive.

God has sent mighty revivals across this country in the past.

God has been gracious to us in the past.

2. The psalmist prays for God’s mercy to his country in the present. (vv. 4-7)

The psalmist uses four verb phrases ended by the word “us” in vv. 4-7 about what he is praying God will do for his nation.

Return to us

“Turn us from ourselves and our sin and back to you”

Our self centeredness is killing our nation.

This prayer from David is completely GOD CENTERED. We need a God centered country.

Revive us

Bring us back to life

Picture of a spring flower coming back to life after a cold winter

We aren’t dead, but we are dying

There was a great revival in Wales early in the 20th century. “Revival came,” one man said, “like an unexpected tornado.” So great was the power of God hovering over that land, fishermen coming ashore in their boats would fall under conviction as they drew near to land. Multitudes were swept into the kingdom of God. Jail doors were left unlocked because there were no prisoners. Old debts were paid. Alcoholics were made sober. Criminals were reformed. Wales was changed and set aglow for Jesus Christ.

Can you imagine that happening in America?

You know where this needs to start? The church needs to wake up and be revived!

“I believe in the non-binary God whose pronouns are plural. I believe in Jesus Christ, their child, who wore a fabulous tunic and had two dads and saw everyone as a sibling-child of God. I believe in the rainbow Spirit, who shatters our image of one white light and refracts it into a rainbow of gorgeous diversity. I believe in the church of everyday saints as numerous, creative, and resilient as patches on the AIDS quilt, whose feet are grounded in mud and whose eyes gaze at the stars in wonder. I belive in the calling to each of us that love is love is love, so beloved, let us love. I believe, glorious God. Help my unbelief. Amen.”

Show us (your love and mercy)

How? Return to Him!

Give us (your salvation)

Free us from the bondage we have placed on ourselves.

These are the same things I pray for the USA!

3. The psalmist is confident of the faithfulness of God in the future. (vv. 8-13)

The psalmist then changes and ends with a reminder for us on the Faithfulness of God.

The Psalmist is convinced that no matter what happens with his nation, God will remain faithful.

God’s PAST doings are are prophetic of what he WILL do.

Dr. Phil - “The only predictor of future behavior is past behavior.”

Look at God’s past behavior. Look at His faithfulness. That will predict His future behavior.

God has not given up on America and God will not give up on America.

America has changed (explain); God has never changed. He will never change. Our hope is in Him!

During the Revolutionary War, a loyalist spy appeared at the headquarters of a British colonel, carrying an urgent message. General George Washington and his Continental army had secretly crossed the Delaware River that morning and were advancing on Trenton, New Jersey where that troop of British soldiers were encamped.

The spy was denied an audience with the commander and instead wrote his message on a piece of paper. A porter took the note to the colonel, but because the colonel was involved in a card game he stuffed the unread note into his pocket.

When the guards at the camp began firing their muskets in a futile attempt to stop Washington’s army, the colonel was still playing cards.

Without time to organize, the army was captured. The battle occured the day after Christmas, 1776, giving the colonists a late present – their first major victory of the war. The British colonel ignored the warning, and was captured.

The commander had the word, but he failed to listen to it.

We must see the warning message for this country . We can not ignore it. We must pray for our nation. We must pray fervently for the Lord to do what only He can do.