Psalm 85:13

Psalm 85:13

Righteous goes before Him

This is the last verse of what has been a Psalm full of surprises and delights. Verse 13 is no different. What can it mean? The imagery here is borrowed from the either the military or from processional occasions or maybe, the journey of a stranger in an unfamiliar place where a guide is needed. In each instance a someone goes before, be it as the vanguard of the army or the regal herald or the leader who shows the way. The Psalm is telling us that when God comes to His people, righteousness prepares the way. 

John the Baptist prepared the way for Jesus, “A voice of one calling in the wilderness. “Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him. Every valley shall be filled in, every mountain and hill made low. The crooked roads shall become straight, the rough ways smooth. And all people will see God’s salvation.”” Luke 3:4-6.

On the Day of Pentecost Peter preached to the crowds, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” Acts 2:38. The message could not have been clearer, could it? Repent of your sins, let righteousness prepare the way for the Spirit to come. 

We have perhaps forgotten that repentance and faith must precede the salvation of our God. Turning away from sin, confessing our faults, and seeking God’s forgiveness are required if the Spirit is to come. True repentance is a change of heart, a change of direction, a readiness to embrace the One who will come to us if we are willing to become righteous. And this is not a one-off event in our lives, it is an on-going journey of self-discovery and faith that leads to increasing dependence on the Lord and submission of ourselves to Him. Hallelujah!

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