Psalm 85:5

5 (84-6) Wilt thou be angry with us for ever: or wilt thou extend thy wrath from generation to generation?

Psalm 85:5 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 85:5

Wilt thou be angry with us for ever?
&c.] God is angry with the wicked every day, their life being a continued series of sin, without repentance for it, or confession of it; and he will be so for ever, of which they will have a constant sense and feeling; and is the worm that never dies, and the fire that is inextinguishable; but he does not retain his anger for ever with his own people; though he is displeased with them, and chastises them for their sins, his anger endures but for a moment; he is pacified towards them and turns away his anger from them, by discovering his pardoning love, and withdrawing his afflicting hand:

wilt thou draw out thine anger to all generations?
out of his heart, where it is supposed to be conceived; and out of his treasury, where it is thought to be laid up: this has been drawn out to a great length of time upon the Jewish nation; it has been upon them for almost twenty centuries, or ages, and still remains, and will until the fulness of the Gentiles is brought in; but it will not be drawn out to "all" ages or generations; for they shall return to the Lord, and seek him; and he will come to them, and turn away iniquity from them, and so all Israel shall be saved.

Psalm 85:5 In-Context

3 (84-4) Thou hast mitigated all thy anger: thou hast turned away from the wrath of thy indignation.

4 (84-5) Convert us, O God our saviour: and turn off thy anger from us.

5 (84-6) Wilt thou be angry with us for ever: or wilt thou extend thy wrath from generation to generation?

6 (84-7) Thou wilt turn, O God, and bring us to life: and thy people shall rejoice in thee.

7 (84-8) Shew us, O Lord, thy mercy; and grant us thy salvation.