I will read a portion of the word of God contained in the 85th Psalm:
"Lord thou hast been favorable unto thy land; thou hast brought back the captivity of Jacob.
"Thou hast forgiven the iniquity of thy people; thou hast covered all their sin. Selah.
"Thou hast taken away all thy wrath; thou hast turned thyself from the fierceness of thine anger.
"Turn us, O God of our salvation, and cause thine anger towards us to cease.
"Wilt thou be angry with us forever? will thou draw out thine anger to all generations?
"Wilt thou not revive us again, that thy people may rejoice in thee?
"Shew us thy mercy, O Lord, and grant us thy salvation.
"I will hear what God the Lord will speak; for he will speak peace unto his people and to his Saints; but let them not turn again to folly.
"Surely his salvation is nigh them that fear him; that glory may dwell in our land.
"Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other.
"Truth shall spring out of the earth; and righteousness shall look down from heaven.
"Yea, the Lord shall give that which is good; and our land shall yield her increase.
'"Righteousness shall go before him; and shall set us in the way of his steps."
This was a prayer and prophecy uttered by the ancient Psalmist in relation to the house of Israel. These psalms were written by the inspiration of the Holy Ghost, and most of them were prophetic in their nature. David was a man especially inspired of the Lord, not only to reign as king over the house of Israel, but to utter forth many predictions in the form of psalms to be sung in the congregations of Israel. He clearly spoke concerning the coming of the Messiah; his death, and the afflictions that should come upon him as the Redeemer of the world, and of many events in connection with his coming, all of which were fulfilled. He also spoke in many psalms in regard to the preaching of the servants of God in all nations, declaring the wonderful works of God. He also spoke concerning the second coming of this Messiah, the great glory that would be revealed on that grand occasion; he also spoke by the spirit of prophecy concerning the downfall of the twelve tribes of Israel and the great affliction that would come upon them; also, that the Lord would remember them in the latter times, and bring them to a knowledge of the truth.
This psalm which I have just read contains a prayer, uttered by this inspired man, for the redemption of the covenant people of the Lord. That he would not be angry with them forever, that his anger might not be drawn out towards them to all generations; that he would turn himself from the fierceness of his wrath and show mercy unto his people again.
The Lord saw proper, in answer to that prayer, to inspire the Psalmist to utter these words—"Mercy and truth are met together, righteousness and peace have kissed each other. Truth shall spring out of the earth and righteousness shall look down from heaven. Yea, the Lord shall give that which is good and our land shall yield her increase. Righteousness shall go before him and shall set us in the way of his steps."
The Lord did not leave David in uncertainty about the blessings that should come upon his covenant people; he was informed, in the words which I have repeated, that the Lord intended again to bestow his blessings after he had sufficiently punished Israel; that he intended to bring them back to their own land; that he intended to bless that land which was given to them as an inheritance, and, that that land should again yield its increase to his people. But before he would do this he promised that truth should spring out of the earth, and that at the same time righteousness should look down from heaven; that truth should go before his face and set his people in the way of his steps.