To the chief musician, a psalm for the sons of Korah
85:Title See note at Psalm 42. This psalm divides naturally into three parts. In the first 3 verses the author remembers God’s favor shown at a previous time. In vs 4-7 he pleads for God to act again in the same way. In vs 8-13 he gives the message he has received from God.⚜
85
📚LORD, you have been favourableto your land.
You have brought Jacob back
from captivity 📖.
85:1 We do not know what specific time the writer had in mind. He may be referring to several different events such as are recorded in the book of Judges.⚜
2 📚You have forgiven the wickedness
of your people.
You have covered all their sin. Selah
3 📚You have removed
all your wrath.
You have turned away from
the fierceness of your anger.
85:3 See Ps 78:38; 106:23. Sin is what brings the anger of God. When sin is forgiven and covered the anger of God departs. Notes on God’s anger at Ps 90:7-11; Num 25:3.⚜
4 📚Restore us, O God of
our salvation,
and cause your anger toward us
to cease.
85:4 If God had already restored them and withdrawn His anger why this prayer that He would do so? Evidently the people had once again fallen into sin. Compare Jud 2:11-19; Ezra 9:5-10.⚜
5 📚Will you be angry with us
forever?
Will you prolong your anger
to all generations?
6 📚Will you not revive us again,
that your people may rejoice
in you?
7 📚Show us your mercy, O LORD,
and grant us your salvation.
85:6-7 There is no real joy without spiritual life and an experience of God’s grace and salvation. Since God wants His people to forsake their sins and be happy this is a prayer based on the solid foundation of the will of God.⚜
8 📚I will hear what God the LORD
will speak;
for he will speak peace
to his people, and to his saints.
But let them not turn back to folly.
85:8 It is not enough to speak to God. We must also let Him speak to us. If we listen to what He says to us He will listen to what we say to Him. And if we do not stop praying before He answers but look forward in faith, He will surely answer. Here the psalmist has received a message of peace and righteousness. Righteousness is used three times in the remaining verses and so is a key word. God’s people will quickly lose God’s peace if they turn back to foolish, sinful ways.⚜
9 📚Surely his salvation is
near those who fear him,
so that glory may dwell
in our land.
85:9 God’s glory dwelt in Jerusalem because there were still some in the land who feared God. It departed from the temple in Ezekiel’s time – Ezek 10:18-19; 11:23. With the coming of Christ God’s glory came again to Israel in a deeper, fuller way (John 1:14). Notes on the fear of God at Ps 34:11-14; 111:10; Job 28:28; Gen 20:11; Prov 1:7.⚜
10 📚Mercy and truth have met
together;
righteousness and peace have kissed
each other.
85:10 These four great attributes of God meet and embrace in the Lord Jesus Christ. Especially at the cross of Jesus we see these all combined. At Calvary there was the greatest display of God’s grace and mercy it is possible to conceive. There the truth of man’s nature, Christ’s nature, and God the Father’s nature brilliantly shines forth. There the righteousness of God which demands punishment for man’s sin is fulfilled and peace between a holy God and sinful man flows forth (Rom 3:21-26; 2 Cor 5:18-19; Col 1:19-20). Peace must be based on righteousness (Isa 32:17). Peace not based on righteousness is no real peace at all.⚜
11 📚Truth will spring out
of the earth,
and righteousness will look down
from heaven.
85:11 Isa 45:8. Through the work of Christ on the cross it is as though the seed of truth was planted in the earth, which will continue to spring up and produce an abundant harvest. Righteousness will look peacefully, smilingly down from heaven. The earth still waits the complete fulfillment of this verse.⚜
12 📚Yes, the LORD will give what
is good,
and our land will yield its crops.
13 📚Righteousness will go before
him,
and will set us in the way
of his steps.
85:13 See Ps 89:14. Where God goes righteousness will always go too and where righteousness goes grace and truth will follow. When we follow after God all these will be ours.⚜