Battered, bruised, embraced ∙∙
Will you stay mad at us forever? Will you remain angry throughout future generations? – Psalms 85:5
Psalms 85:1-11
1 LORD, you poured out blessings on your land! You restored the fortunes of Israel.
2 You forgave the guilt of your people – yes, you covered all their sins.
3 You held back your fury. You kept back your blazing anger.
4 Now restore us again, O God of our salvation. Put aside your anger against us once more.
5 Will you always be angry with us? Will you prolong your wrath to all generations?
6 Won’t you revive us again so your people can rejoice in you?
7 Show us your unfailing love, O LORD, and grant us your salvation.
10 Unfailing love and truth have met together. Righteousness and peace have kissed!
11 Truth springs up from the earth, and righteousness smiles down from heaven.
The tale of the feud between the Hatfields and the McCoys, two clans occupying territories in Kentucky and West Virginia, is a colorful and spirited chapter in American history. It has become firmly embedded in the country’s folklore. The saga was filled with claims and counterclaims and divided loyalties during the Civil War, leading eventually to violence and death.
And how did this long-lasting feud begin? It involved a dispute about the ownership of a pig. It’s hard to believe that generations fought and died over a pig. Floyd Hatfield found himself in possession of the hog in 1878. However, Randolph McCoy simultaneously insisted the swine was his. Back then, pigs were identified in a manner akin to cattle. But instead of branding them, unique notches were made on their ears. McCoy claimed that the markings on this specific pig were the work of a McCoy, not a Hatfield.
The pig ownership dispute was taken to Anderson “Preacher Anse” Hatfield, a local Justice of the Peace. Guess what? The judge ruled in favor of the Hatfields based on Bill Staton’s testimony. In June 1880, Staton was murdered by two McCoy brothers. They were later tried and acquitted on grounds of self-defense. Over time, the antagonism settled down.
In a surprising twist, in 1979, the feuding families came together for a special edition of the popular game show Family Feud. They competed for a cash prize and a pig, which was showcased on stage throughout the games.
It appears that discord and feuding have been woven into human DNA since the Fall. We often find ourselves in conflict with each other, our family members, our friends, and most tragically, with the Father. How often, if we dare to admit it, are we angry with the Father, and we keep our distance? More importantly, we often feel that He is angry with us. Despite our efforts, it feels like we can’t mend the relationship and make things right. We usually find ourselves bruised and in need of healing and restoration.
Regrettably, most of the time, these feelings are nothing more than our imagination, fears, dread, and anxieties playing themselves out. However, there were instances in the Old Testament when the Father was genuinely disappointed with the Nation of Israel. Psalms 85 reflects on such a time. It’s a communal lament written during a period when the Father was truly upset with His people’s lack of faithfulness.
The children of Israel were in desperate need of reconciliation with the Father. Psalms 85 outlines a roadmap for us to follow when we seek to mend our relationship with Him. Propitiously, these same steps can also be applied to human relationships.
The Israelis needed a redo. They were in dire need of a fresh start, a new beginning. As noted by Scottish preacher George H. Morrison, “The victorious Christian life is a series of new beginnings,” and he is right. His words still ring true. While it is sinful to stumble and disobey the Father, it’s equally sinful to remain downcast and depressed. We should always strive for a fresh start, and Psalms 85 offers guidance that we can follow after times of failure and chastening (Wiersbe).
REFLECT & PRAY
Perfect love drives out fear (1 John 4:18), and because of this truth, we no longer have to be afraid or keep our distance from the Father. The feud has ended, and He now longs for a deep and personal relationship with each of His children.
Father, there are times when I feel broken, exhausted, and in desperate need of renewal. Remind me in those moments that it is Your joy to restore and heal me. Give me the strength to see my mistakes clearly, to confess them, and to find my way back into Your loving arms.
INSIGHT
No matter how we might feel, no walls are separating the children of the King from their Father. Through the sacrificial death of the Lord Jesus Christ on the cross, reconciliation was accomplished once and for all. The moment we accepted Him as our Savior, the divide was bridged forever. Any sense of distance or estrangement comes solely from us, often when sin clouds our hearts and minds (Stanley).
The Father possesses and lavishes us with an unwavering and steadfast love. He doesn’t simply offer salvation; He delights in our redemption and rushes to our side in times of need. Even in the face of our sin, He graciously prepared a way for forgiveness and willingly extended His pardon. He takes great joy in restoring what was broken, relishing the act of healing the divide between us.
Psalms 85:10 beautifully captures this divine love through poetic imagery: “Lovingkindness and truth have met together; Righteousness and peace have kissed each other.”
What is the Father like as a person? He is characterized by faithful love, unwavering truth, perfect righteousness, and profound peace. These qualities, often abstract, are tenderly brought to life in Psalms 85.
Through the psalmist’s poetic touch, we see these attributes personified, joining together in a moment of intimacy and harmony. Loyal love (hesed) and truth are no longer in conflict but are united as companions. Righteousness and peace meet; warmly embrace and kiss. This divine imagery reflects the depth of the Father’s relationship with us—a bond rooted in love and tenderness.
A Hebrew translation conveys this beautifully. It could be translated as: “Faithful Love and Loyalty join together, Saving Justice and Peace embrace” (NJB). These words paint a picture of a Father who goes beyond mere restoration. He eagerly approaches us, rushing to meet us where we are. He doesn’t hesitate; He takes us in His arms, embraces us, and kisses us with unreserved affection.
Jesus Himself emphasizes this in Luke 5:31-32: “31 It is not those who are well who need a physician, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.”
Could there be anything more profound, more comforting, than this display of divine love?
Our role in this relationship is simple yet vital. It begins with recognition—an honest acknowledgment of our actions and their consequences. Repentance means more than regret; it’s about changing our minds and the direction of our lives, stepping away from sin, and walking toward Him.
His constant, unwavering faithfulness accompanies this invitation to turn back to Him. Our part involves recognition and acknowledgment. We come face-to-face with our actions, coming to terms with what we have done. We choose to change course.
Spiritual renewal means returning to a place where we can fully experience the Father’s presence and rejoice in His unending goodness, love, and mercy. We can approach Him with confidence, knowing He is always ready to welcome us back, to heal, and to renew.
Thomas O. Chisholm’s hymn, “Great Is Thy Faithfulness,” written in 1923, beautifully captures this truth. It celebrates the Father’s endless reliability; His mercies renewed each morning, and His steadfast compassion across every season of life. His faithfulness isn’t dependent on our circumstances or failures—it’s immutable, a constant source of hope and reassurance.
The Father’s love is not distant or conditional. It is intimate, personal, and enduring, inviting all His children to find solace and renewal in His eternal, unchanging presence.
Great is thy faithfulness!
Great is thy faithfulness, O God my father
There is no shadow of turning with thee
Thou changest not, thy compassions they fail not
As thou hast been, thou forever wilt be
And great is thy faithfulness
Great is thy faithfulness
Morning by morning, new mercies I see
All I have needed thy hand hath provided
Great is thy faithfulness, Lord unto me!
¯_(ツ)_/¯12-15-2
© Dr. H 2025
Dr H Reflections 