1 To the Overseer. -- By sons of Korah. A Psalm. Thou hast accepted, O Jehovah, Thy land, Thou hast turned `to' the captivity of Jacob.
2 Thou hast borne away the iniquity of Thy people, Thou hast covered all their sin. Selah.
3 Thou hast gathered up all Thy wrath, Thou hast turned back from the fierceness of Thine anger.
4 Turn back `to' us, O God of our salvation, And make void Thine anger with us.
5 To the age art Thou angry against us? Dost Thou draw out Thine anger To generation and generation?
6 Dost Thou not turn back? Thou revivest us, And Thy people do rejoice in Thee.
7 Show us, O Jehovah, thy kindness, And Thy salvation Thou dost give to us.
8 I hear what God Jehovah speaketh, For He speaketh peace unto His people, And unto His saints, and they turn not back to folly.
9 Only, near to those fearing Him `is' His salvation, That honour may dwell in our land.
10 Kindness and truth have met, Righteousness and peace have kissed,
11 Truth from the earth springeth up, And righteousness from heaven looketh out,
12 Jehovah also giveth that which is good, And our land doth give its increase.
13 Righteousness before Him goeth, And maketh His footsteps for a way!
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Psalms 85
Commentary on Psalms 85 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
PSALM 85
Ps 85:1-13. On the ground of former mercies, the Psalmist prays for renewed blessings, and, confidently expecting them, rejoices.
1. captivity—not necessarily the Babylonian, but any great evil (Ps 14:7).
2, 3. (Compare Ps 32:1-5).
3. To turn from the "fierceness," implies that He was reconcilable, though
4-7. having still occasion for the anger which is deprecated.
5. draw out—or, "prolong" (Ps 36:10).
8. He is confident God will favor His penitent people (Ps 51:17; 80:18).
saints—as in Ps 4:3, the "godly."
9. They are here termed "them that fear him"; and grace produces glory (Ps 84:11).
10. God's promises of "mercy" will be verified by His "truth" (compare Ps 25:10; 40:10); and the "work of righteousness" in His holy government shall be "peace" (Isa 32:17). There is an implied contrast with a dispensation under which God's truth sustains His threatened wrath, and His righteousness inflicts misery on the wicked.
11. Earth and heaven shall abound with the blessings of this government;
12, 13. and, under this, the deserted land shall be productive, and men be "set," or guided in God's holy ways. Doubtless, in this description of God's returning favor, the writer had in view that more glorious period, when Christ shall establish His government on God's reconciled justice and abounding mercy.