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Many Bible students think that Psalm 85 comes from about 520 BC. BC means "years Before Christ came to the earth". This was just after the Jews came back from their exile in Babylon.
This Psalm can be divided into 2 bits:
#1-7 Is about asking for help: The favour of God is the fountain
of happiness to nations, as well as to particular persons.
#8-13 is God's answer: Sooner or later, God will speak peace to his people.
The part about peace parallels with what Jesus said, "My peace I give to you". (John 14:27)
Psalm 85: A national lament. Prayers for the continuance of former mercies. (1-7) Trust in God's goodness. (8-13) As usual, behind the desire for physical blessings is the more profound desire to experience the love, faithfulness, righteousness, and peace of a relationship with God (85:10-11). In 85:9-13 the psalmist described the millennial kingdom, during which God’s “glory” will be exhibited in Israel in the person of Christ.
Psa 85:1 To the chief Musician, A Psalm for the sons of Korah. LORD, thou hast been favourable unto thy land: thou hast brought back the captivity of Jacob. The sense of present afflictions should not do away the remembrance of former mercies. The favour of God is the fountain of happiness to nations, as well as to particular persons. The land was God’s, given as an inheritance to God’s people by the covenant. brought back the captivity—perhaps the Babylonian, but fitting any of Israel’s national calamities (Psalms 14:7).
Psa 85:2 Thou hast forgiven the iniquity of thy people, thou hast covered all their sin. Selah. When God forgives sin, he covers it; and when he covers the sin of his people, he covers it all. See what the pardon of sin is. forgiven—lit. “lifted up” and removed.
Psa 85:3 Thou hast taken away all thy wrath: thou hast turned thyself from the fierceness of thine anger. He shows mercy to those to whom he grants salvation; for salvation is of mercy and grace.
Psa 85:4 Turn us, O God of our salvation, and cause thine anger toward us to cease. "turn us" in verse 4 is where the psalm makes its first change. They thought that God was angry again, so they ask God to turn them. Sometimes when people become Christians, we say that they become "converted". This is a word that means "turned". They turn from doing what they want to do and do what God wants them to do. That is what this verse means. Having experienced deliverance, the present situation calls forth yet another quenching of God’s anger and restoration of his people. This may refer to the disappointments of the postexilic period (Haggai 1:5-11). Such a return of life forces will result in the renewal of praise.
Psa 85:5 Wilt thou be angry with us for ever? wilt thou draw out thine anger to all generations? He shows mercy to those to whom he grants salvation; for salvation is of mercy and grace.
Psa 85:6 Wilt thou not revive us again: that thy people may rejoice in thee? The Lord's people may expect sharp and tedious afflictions when they commit sin; but when they return to him with humble prayer, he will make them again to rejoice in him.
Psa 85:7 Shew us thy mercy, O LORD, and grant us thy salvation.
Psa 85:8 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. Sooner or later, God will speak peace to his people. If He does not command outward peace, yet He will suggest inward peace; speaking to their hearts by his Spirit. Peace is spoken only to those who turn from sin. All sin is folly, especially backsliding; A prophet or priest now gives an oracular response from God. He is confident God will favor his penitent people (Psa 51;17; 80:18). peace—i.e., harmony. saints—those faithful to his covenant.
Psa 85:9 Surely his salvation is nigh them that fear him; that glory may dwell in our land. Surely God's salvation is near, whatever our difficulties and distresses are. Those who revere God, keep his covenant, and abhor evil (Job 1:1). glory— His glory is manifest in his saving acts manifested on behalf of his people or in the return of the shekinah glory to Mount Zion.
Psa 85:10 Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other. Attributes of God are personified as actively meeting and expressing their essence. Mercy—steadfast covenantal loyalty. "Peace" means more than "not fighting" or "no war". It translates to the Hebrew word "shalom". It is a peace that only God can give. With this peace, you know that you are friends with God and it makes you very, very happy. Bible students think that when goodness kisses peace it means this: people that accept the peace of God become good (or righteous).
Psa 85:11 Truth shall spring out of the earth; and righteousness shall look down from heaven.
Psa 85:12 Yea, the LORD shall give that which is good; and our land shall yield her increase. The land itself responds as a reflection of Israel’s harmonious relationship with God (Isaiah 45:8).
Psa 85:13 Righteousness shall go before him; and shall set us in the way of his steps. Doubtless, in this description of God’s returning favor, the writer had in view that more glorious period when Christ shall establish his government based on God’s justice and abounding mercy.
This Psalm can be divided into 2 bits:
#1-7 Is about asking for help: The favour of God is the fountain
of happiness to nations, as well as to particular persons.
#8-13 is God's answer: Sooner or later, God will speak peace to his people.
The part about peace parallels with what Jesus said, "My peace I give to you". (John 14:27)
Psalm 85: A national lament. Prayers for the continuance of former mercies. (1-7) Trust in God's goodness. (8-13) As usual, behind the desire for physical blessings is the more profound desire to experience the love, faithfulness, righteousness, and peace of a relationship with God (85:10-11). In 85:9-13 the psalmist described the millennial kingdom, during which God’s “glory” will be exhibited in Israel in the person of Christ.
Psa 85:1 To the chief Musician, A Psalm for the sons of Korah. LORD, thou hast been favourable unto thy land: thou hast brought back the captivity of Jacob. The sense of present afflictions should not do away the remembrance of former mercies. The favour of God is the fountain of happiness to nations, as well as to particular persons. The land was God’s, given as an inheritance to God’s people by the covenant. brought back the captivity—perhaps the Babylonian, but fitting any of Israel’s national calamities (Psalms 14:7).
Psa 85:2 Thou hast forgiven the iniquity of thy people, thou hast covered all their sin. Selah. When God forgives sin, he covers it; and when he covers the sin of his people, he covers it all. See what the pardon of sin is. forgiven—lit. “lifted up” and removed.
Psa 85:3 Thou hast taken away all thy wrath: thou hast turned thyself from the fierceness of thine anger. He shows mercy to those to whom he grants salvation; for salvation is of mercy and grace.
Psa 85:4 Turn us, O God of our salvation, and cause thine anger toward us to cease. "turn us" in verse 4 is where the psalm makes its first change. They thought that God was angry again, so they ask God to turn them. Sometimes when people become Christians, we say that they become "converted". This is a word that means "turned". They turn from doing what they want to do and do what God wants them to do. That is what this verse means. Having experienced deliverance, the present situation calls forth yet another quenching of God’s anger and restoration of his people. This may refer to the disappointments of the postexilic period (Haggai 1:5-11). Such a return of life forces will result in the renewal of praise.
Psa 85:5 Wilt thou be angry with us for ever? wilt thou draw out thine anger to all generations? He shows mercy to those to whom he grants salvation; for salvation is of mercy and grace.
Psa 85:6 Wilt thou not revive us again: that thy people may rejoice in thee? The Lord's people may expect sharp and tedious afflictions when they commit sin; but when they return to him with humble prayer, he will make them again to rejoice in him.
Psa 85:7 Shew us thy mercy, O LORD, and grant us thy salvation.
Psa 85:8 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. Sooner or later, God will speak peace to his people. If He does not command outward peace, yet He will suggest inward peace; speaking to their hearts by his Spirit. Peace is spoken only to those who turn from sin. All sin is folly, especially backsliding; A prophet or priest now gives an oracular response from God. He is confident God will favor his penitent people (Psa 51;17; 80:18). peace—i.e., harmony. saints—those faithful to his covenant.
Psa 85:9 Surely his salvation is nigh them that fear him; that glory may dwell in our land. Surely God's salvation is near, whatever our difficulties and distresses are. Those who revere God, keep his covenant, and abhor evil (Job 1:1). glory— His glory is manifest in his saving acts manifested on behalf of his people or in the return of the shekinah glory to Mount Zion.
Psa 85:10 Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other. Attributes of God are personified as actively meeting and expressing their essence. Mercy—steadfast covenantal loyalty. "Peace" means more than "not fighting" or "no war". It translates to the Hebrew word "shalom". It is a peace that only God can give. With this peace, you know that you are friends with God and it makes you very, very happy. Bible students think that when goodness kisses peace it means this: people that accept the peace of God become good (or righteous).
Psa 85:11 Truth shall spring out of the earth; and righteousness shall look down from heaven.
Psa 85:12 Yea, the LORD shall give that which is good; and our land shall yield her increase. The land itself responds as a reflection of Israel’s harmonious relationship with God (Isaiah 45:8).
Psa 85:13 Righteousness shall go before him; and shall set us in the way of his steps. Doubtless, in this description of God’s returning favor, the writer had in view that more glorious period when Christ shall establish his government based on God’s justice and abounding mercy.