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Psalms 85

1

Lord, thou hast been favourable unto thy land: thou hast brought back the captivity of Jacob.

2

Thou hast forgiven the iniquity of thy people, thou hast covered all their sin. Selah.

3

Thou hast taken away all thy wrath: thou hast turned thyself from the fierceness of thine anger.

4

Turn us, O God of our salvation, and cause thine anger toward us to cease.

5

Wilt thou be angry with us for ever? wilt thou draw out thine anger to all generations?

6

Wilt thou not revive us again: that thy people may rejoice in thee?

7

Shew us thy mercy, O Lord, and grant us thy salvation.

8

I will hear what God the Lord will speak: for he will speak peace unto his people, and to his saints: but let them not turn again to folly.

9

Surely his salvation is nigh them that fear him; that glory may dwell in our land.

10

Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other.

1
11

Truth shall spring out of the earth; and righteousness shall look down from heaven.

12

Yea, the Lord shall give that which is good; and our land shall yield her increase.

13

Righteousness shall go before him; and shall set us in the way of his steps.

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Psalms 85

Psalm 85 is a communal prayer petitioning God for continued favor and blessing after period of divine anger and judgment, exemplifying the theological concerns of Book 3. The psalmist employs vivid imagery and direct address to God, establishing the intimate dialogue between worshiper and the divine that characterizes the psalmic tradition. The theological assertions center on God's character as both judge and redeemer, creating a comprehensive vision of divine justice and mercy integrated with human experience. The psalm reflects on both personal circumstance and communal identity, suggesting that individual faith finds validation through shared experience with the covenant community. The liturgical context indicates this psalm's function in worship where personal piety integrates with communal celebration of God's acts and attributes. The concluding movement typically affirms confidence in God's faithfulness, exemplifying the psalmic pattern of transformation through prayer and remembrance of divine acts throughout history.

Psalms 85:1

Psalm 85 opens with thanksgiving for God's past restoration: "LORD, you were favorable to your land; you restored the fortunes of Jacob." The reference to God being favorable and to restoration of fortunes suggests that the psalm addresses a situation where Israel has experienced divine judgment and is now beginning recovery. The mention of Jacob (the people) becoming the object of restored fortune marks a turning point in the covenant relationship.

Psalms 85:2

The people acknowledge their forgiveness: "You forgave the iniquity of your people; you pardoned all their sin." The dual acknowledgment of forgiven iniquity and pardoned sin suggests a comprehensive release from guilt and its consequences. The divine action of forgiveness becomes the foundation for the restored relationship.

Psalms 85:3

The withdrawal of anger is affirmed: "You withdrew all your wrath; you turned from your hot anger." The temporal nature of God's anger is emphasized: what had been kindled is now extinguished. The turning away from hot anger suggests that the period of divine punishment has concluded.

Psalms 85:4

The prayer for full restoration: "Restore us again, O God of our salvation, and put away your indignation toward us." The plea shifts from thanksgiving for past restoration to prayer for complete present renewal. The phrase "restore us again" suggests that additional restoration is needed despite past recovery.

Psalms 85:5

A question seeks reassurance: "Will you be angry with us forever? Will you prolong your anger to all generations?" The question expresses concern that God's wrath might continue indefinitely or pass from generation to generation. The implication is that such permanent anger would be incompatible with covenant steadfast love.

Psalms 85:6

A plea for renewed life: "Will you not revive us again, so that your people may rejoice in you?" The request for revival and renewed rejoicing suggests that the people's capacity for joy has been diminished by judgment. The hope is that restoration will restore not merely external circumstances but internal capacity for celebration.

Psalms 85:7

The prayer requests divine display of covenant loyalty: "Show us your steadfast love, O LORD, and grant us your salvation." The request to show hesed (steadfast love, covenant loyalty) and salvation becomes the culminating petition. These twin gifts represent God's restoration of the covenant relationship.

Psalms 85:8

A prophetic voice emerges: "Let me hear what God the LORD will speak, for he will speak peace to his people, to his faithful, to those who turn their hearts to him." The psalm shifts to attestation that God's word—directed toward the covenant people and faithful ones—will be a word of peace. The condition "to those who turn their hearts to him" suggests that peace requires human reorientation toward God.

Psalms 85:9

The promise of deliverance: "Surely his salvation is at hand for those who fear him, that his glory may dwell in our land." The salvation promised is described as near at hand for those who fear God. The ultimate purpose is that God's glory will dwell in the land—the visible manifestation of divine presence will be restored.

Psalms 85:10

A vision of virtues meeting: "Steadfast love and faithfulness will meet; righteousness and peace will kiss each other." The poetic personification of covenant virtues suggests a reconciliation: hesed (steadfast love), emeth (faithfulness/truth), tsedaqah (righteousness), and shalom (peace) become unified. This image represents the restoration of cosmic and social harmony through covenant renewal.

Psalms 85:11

The virtues arise from the earth: "Faithfulness will spring up from the ground, and righteousness will look down from the sky." The metaphor of virtues sprouting from earth and descending from heaven suggests a reunion of heaven and earth. Divine righteousness (from heaven) meets human faithfulness (from earth).

Psalms 85:12

The final blessing: "The LORD will give what is good, and our land will yield its increase." The concrete result of covenant restoration is divine provision and agricultural abundance. The land's fruitfulness becomes a sign of restored covenantal blessing.

Psalms 85:13

The conclusion affirms God's path: "Righteousness will go before him, and will make a path for his steps." Righteousness—understood both as God's righteous character and as the righteous behavior rewarded by covenant—prepares God's way into the land. The image suggests that divine action will be preceded and accompanied by justice.