Psalm 85

1Yahweh, you have been favorable to your land. You have restored the fortunes of Jacob. 2You have forgiven the iniquity of your people. You have covered all their sin. Selah. 3You have taken away all your wrath. You have turned from the fierceness of your anger. 4Turn us, God of our salvation, and cause your indignation toward us to cease. 5Will you be angry with us forever? Will you draw out your anger to all generations? 6Won’t you revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you? 7Show us your loving kindness, Yahweh. Grant us your salvation. 8I will hear what God, Yahweh, will speak, for he will speak peace to his people, his saints; but let them not turn again to folly. 9Surely his salvation is near those who fear him, that glory may dwell in our land. 10Mercy and truth meet together. Righteousness and peace have kissed each other. 11Truth springs out of the earth. Righteousness has looked down from heaven. 12Yes, Yahweh will give that which is good. Our land will yield its increase. 13Righteousness goes before him, and prepares the way for his steps.

Interpreters are generally of the opinion that this psalm was penned after the return of the Jews out of their captivity in Babylon, when they still remained under some tokens of God's displeasure, which they here pray for the removal of. And nothing appears to the contrary, but that it might be penned then, as well as Psa 137:1-9. They are the public interests that lie near the psalmist's heart here, and the psalm is penned for the great congregation. The church was here in a deluge; above were clouds, below were waves; every thing was dark and dismal. The church is like Noah in the ark, between life and death, between hope and fear; being so, I. Here is the dove sent forth in prayer. The petitions are against sin and wrath (Psa 85:4) and for mercy and grace (Psa 85:7). The pleas are taken from former favours (Psa 85:1-3) and present distresses (Psa 85:5, Psa 85:6). II. Here is the dove returning with an olive branch of peace and good tidings; the psalmist expects her return (Psa 85:8) and then recounts the favours to God's Israel which by the spirit of prophecy he gave assurance of to others, and by the spirit of faith he took the assurance of to himself (Psa 85:9-13). In singing this psalm we may be assisted in our prayers to God both for his church in general and for the land of our nativity in particular. The former part will be of use to direct our desires, the latter to encourage our faith and hope in those prayers.

To the chief musician. A psalm for the sons of Korah.

Cross-references: Ps 137:1 · Ps 85:4 · Ps 85:7 · Ps 85:1 · Ps 85:5 · Ps 85:6 · Ps 85:8 · Ps 85:9

Introduction