Psalms 85:2

2 Thou didst forgive the iniquity of thy people; thou didst pardon all their sin. [Selah]

Psalms 85:2 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 85:2

Thou hast forgiven the iniquity of thy people
Took it from them, and laid it on Christ, who has bore it, and took it away, so as it shall never return more to their destruction; and by the application of his blood it is taken away from their own consciences; for this denotes the manifestation and discovery of forgiveness to themselves; it is a branch of redemption, and is in consequence of it; and is a fruit of the free favour and good will of God through Christ; and it only belongs to the Lord's special people, the people he has taken into covenant with him, and for whose iniquity Christ was stricken:

thou hast covered all their sin;
this is but another phrase for forgiveness, see ( Psalms 32:1 ) , and this is done by the blood and righteousness, and propitiatory sacrifice of Christ, the antitypical mercy seat, the covering of the law and its transgressions, and the people of God from its curse and condemnation; whose sins are so covered by Christ, as not to be seen by the eye of avenging justice, even all of them, not one remains uncovered.

Selah. (See Gill on Psalms 3:2).

Psalms 85:2 In-Context

1 To the choirmaster. A Psalm of the Sons of Korah. LORD, thou wast favorable to thy land; thou didst restore the fortunes of Jacob.
2 Thou didst forgive the iniquity of thy people; thou didst pardon all their sin. [Selah]
3 Thou didst withdraw all thy wrath; thou didst turn from thy hot anger.
4 Restore us again, O God of our salvation, and put away thy indignation toward us!
5 Wilt thou be angry with us for ever? Wilt thou prolong thy anger to all generations?
Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1952 [2nd edition, 1971] by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.