Psalms 85

Prayer for God's Mercy upon the Nation.

1 O LORD, You showed ¹favor to Your land; You ²restored the captivity of Jacob.

2 You ³forgave the iniquity of Your people; You ⁴covered all their sin. Selah.

3 You ⁵withdrew all Your fury; You ⁶turned away from Your burning anger.

4 ⁷Restore us, O God of our salvation, And ⁸cause Your indignation toward us to cease.

5 Will ⁹You be angry with us forever? Will You prolong Your anger to all generations?

6 Will You not Yourself ¹⁰revive us again, That Your people may ¹¹rejoice in You?

7 Show us Your lovingkindness, O LORD, And ¹²grant us Your salvation.

8 I will hear what God the LORD will say; For He will ¹³speak peace to His people, to His godly ones; But let them not ¹⁴turn back to folly.

9 Surely ¹⁵His salvation is near to those who fear Him, That ¹⁶glory may dwell in our land.

10 ¹⁷Lovingkindness and truth have met together; ¹⁸Righteousness and peace have kissed each other.

11 Truth ¹⁹springs from the earth, And righteousness looks down from heaven.

12 Indeed, ²⁰the LORD will give what is good, And our ²¹land will yield its produce.

13 ²²Righteousness will go before Him And will make His footsteps into a way.

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Psalms 85 Commentary

Chapter 85

Prayers for the continuance of former mercies. (1-7) Trust in God's goodness. (8-13)

Verses 1-7 The sense of present afflictions should not do away the remembrance of former mercies. The favour of God is the fountain of happiness to nations, as well as to particular persons. When God forgives sin, he covers it; and when he covers the sin of his people, he covers it all. See what the pardon of sin is. In compassion to us, when Christ our Intercessor has stood before thee, thou hast turned away thine anger. When we are reconciled to God, then, and not till then, we may expect the comfort of his being reconciled to us. He shows mercy to those to whom he grants salvation; for salvation is of mere mercy. The Lord's people may expect sharp and tedious afflictions when they commit sin; but when they return to him with humble prayer, he will make them again to rejoice in him.

Verses 8-13 Sooner or later, God will speak peace to his people. If he do not command outward peace, yet he will suggest inward peace; speaking to their hearts by his Spirit. Peace is spoken only to those who turn from sin. All sin is folly, especially backsliding; it is the greatest folly to return to sin. Surely God's salvation is nigh, whatever our difficulties and distresses are. Also, his honour is secured, that glory may dwell in our land. And the truth of the promises is shown by the Divine mercy in sending the Redeemer. The Divine justice is now satisfied by the great atonement. Christ, the way, truth, and life, sprang out of the earth when he took our nature upon him, and Divine justice looked upon him well pleased and satisfied. For his sake all good things, especially his Holy Spirit, are given to those who ask him. Through Christ, the pardoned sinner becomes fruitful in good works, and by looking to and trusting in the Saviour's righteousness, finds his feet set in the way of his steps. Righteousness is a sure guide, both in meeting God, and in following him

Taken from Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible (Concise)

Cross References 22

1. Psalms 77:7; Psalms 106:4
2. Ezra 1:11; Psalms 14:7; Psalms 126:1; Jeremiah 30:18; Ezekiel 39:25; Hosea 6:11; Joel 3:1
3. Numbers 14:19; 1 Kings 8:34; Psalms 78:38; Psalms 103:3; Jeremiah 31:34
4. Psalms 32:1
5. Psalms 78:38; Psalms 106:23
6. Exodus 32:12; Deuteronomy 13:17; Psalms 106:23; Jonah 3:9
7. Psalms 80:3,7
8. Daniel 9:16
9. Psalms 74:1; Psalms 79:5; Psalms 80:4
10. Psalms 71:20; Psalms 80:18
11. Psalms 33:1; Psalms 90:14; Psalms 149:2
12. Psalms 106:4
13. Psalms 29:11; Haggai 2:9; Zechariah 9:10
14. Psalms 78:57; 2 Peter 2:21
15. Psalms 34:18; Isaiah 46:13
16. Psalms 84:11; Haggai 2:7; Zechariah 2:5; John 1:14
17. Psalms 25:10; Psalms 89:14; Proverbs 3:3
18. Psalms 72:3; Isaiah 32:17
19. Isaiah 45:8
20. Psalms 84:11; James 1:17
21. Leviticus 26:4; Psalms 67:6; Ezekiel 34:27; Zechariah 8:12
22. Psalms 89:14

Footnotes 10

[a]. Or "restore the fortunes"
[b]. "Selah" may mean: "Pause, Crescendo" or "Musical interlude"
[c]. Lit "generation and generation"
[d]. Or "bring to life"
[e]. Or "Let me hear"
[f]. Lit "even to"
[g]. Or "stupidity"
[h]. Or "reverence"
[i]. Or "faithfulness"
[j]. Or "Faithfulness"

Chapter Summary

To the chief Musician, A Psalm for the sons of Korah. This psalm is generally thought to have been composed after the return of the Jews from their captivity in Babylon; and yet when they were in some distress from their neighbours, either in the times of Ezra and Nehemiah, or in the times of Antiochus; but then this deliverance from captivity must be considered as typical of redemption by Christ; for as the title of the Syriac version is, "it is a prophecy concerning Christ;" it speaks of his dwelling in the land, of his salvation being near, and of the glory of the divine perfections as displayed in it; and perhaps some parts of it may respect the conversion of the Jews in the latter day; and Aben Ezra and Kimchi say, it is concerning the captivity of Babylon, yet also of their present captivity.

Taken from John Gill's Exposition of the Bible