Psalms 85 Study Notes: A Prayer for Renewed Mercy
The people recall how the LORD once forgave their sin and brought them back from captivity, and they ask Him to end His anger and revive them again. The psalmist then waits for God's word of peace and pictures loyal love, faithfulness, righteousness, and peace meeting as God blesses the land.
General
True or False: In 85:8 the psalmist says he will listen for God's reply, expecting a word of peace for God's people.
Answer: True
This is true. After praying, the psalmist waits for God's reply. He says he will wait to hear the LORD's reply, because God will give a word of peace to all who belong to Him, including His saints (His faithful, devoted ones), and He will keep them from turning back to folly (85:8). The answer to the prayer comes as God's own word of peace. Isaiah records the LORD offering peace to people both distant and close (Isaiah 57:19), Paul says Christ came announcing that same peace (Ephesians 2:17), and those justified by faith are reconciled to God through Christ (Romans 5:1).
- Psalm 85:8 (BSB)“I will listen to what God the LORD will say; for He will surely speak peace to His people and His saints; He will not let them return to folly.”The psalmist resolves to listen for God's answer and expects a word of peace for His people.
- Isaiah 57:19 (BSB)“bringing praise to their lips. Peace, peace to those far and near,” says the LORD, “and I will heal them.””The LORD speaks peace to those far and near and promises to heal them.
- Ephesians 2:17 (BSB)“He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near.”Paul says Christ came and preached peace to those far away and to those near.
- Romans 5:1 (BSB)“Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,”Paul teaches that those justified through faith have peace with God through Christ.
Theological
True or False: 85:8 turns from petition to expectant listening, anticipating a divine word of peace for the covenant people and the godly.
Answer: True
This is true. The psalmist moves from petition to attentive waiting: he will hear the LORD's answer, confident that God will announce peace for His covenant people and godly ones and keep them from returning to folly (85:8). The resolution of the lament comes by God's word. Isaiah 57:19 pairs a word of peace with healing, Ephesians 2:17 applies that proclamation of peace to Christ's work, and Romans 5:1 names the peace with God that belongs to those justified through faith.
- Psalm 85:8 (BSB)“I will listen to what God the LORD will say; for He will surely speak peace to His people and His saints; He will not let them return to folly.”The psalmist resolves to listen for God's answer and expects a word of peace for His people.
- Isaiah 57:19 (BSB)“bringing praise to their lips. Peace, peace to those far and near,” says the LORD, “and I will heal them.””The LORD speaks peace to those far and near and promises to heal them.
- Ephesians 2:17 (BSB)“He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near.”Paul says Christ came and preached peace to those far away and to those near.
- Romans 5:1 (BSB)“Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,”Paul teaches that those justified through faith have peace with God through Christ.
General
What does the psalmist recall the LORD doing for His people in 85:1-3?
Answer: Restoring them and forgiving and covering their sin
The psalm begins by looking back. The LORD had shown favor to His land, brought Jacob (another name for Israel) back from captivity, forgiven His people's iniquity, covered every one of their sins, and turned from His anger (85:1-3). Covering sin means God no longer holds it against the sinner. David uses the same picture of blessing for the forgiven person (Psalm 32:1), and Paul quotes that blessing to show that forgiveness is God's free gift, not something earned (Romans 4:7). The closing prayer of Micah likewise praises God because He pardons sin and does not keep His anger forever (Micah 7:18). This past mercy becomes the ground for the prayer that follows.
- Psalm 85:1-3 (BSB)“For the choirmaster. A Psalm of the sons of Korah. You showed favor to Your land, O LORD; You restored Jacob from captivity. You forgave the iniquity of Your people; You covered all their sin. Selah You withheld all Your fury; You turned from Your burning anger.”The psalm opens by recalling how the LORD restored His people, forgave them, and set aside His anger.
- Psalm 32:1 (BSB)“Of David. A Maskil. Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered.”David calls the person blessed whose sins are covered, the same picture of forgiveness used in 85:2.
- Romans 4:7 (BSB)““Blessed are they whose lawless acts are forgiven, whose sins are covered.”Paul quotes that blessing to show that God forgives and covers sin as a gift, apart from works.
- Micah 7:18 (BSB)“Who is a God like You, who pardons iniquity and passes over the transgression of the remnant of His inheritance—who does not retain His anger forever, because He delights in loving devotion?”The closing prayer of Micah praises God as the One who pardons iniquity and does not hold on to His anger forever.
Theological
Which past acts of the LORD does 85:1-3 rehearse as the ground for the psalm's petition?
Answer: Restoring them and forgiving and covering their sin
The opening strophe rehearses God's prior grace: favor to the land, the return of Jacob from captivity, pardon of iniquity, the covering of all sin, and the withdrawal of wrath (85:1-3). Covering is the language of non-imputation, the same idiom David uses in Psalm 32:1, which Paul cites in Romans 4:7 as the blessing of the one justified apart from works. Micah 7:18 likewise grounds hope in a God who forgives iniquity and will not hold on to wrath without end. The remembered mercy is the basis on which the psalm then pleads for present restoration.
- Psalm 85:1-3 (BSB)“For the choirmaster. A Psalm of the sons of Korah. You showed favor to Your land, O LORD; You restored Jacob from captivity. You forgave the iniquity of Your people; You covered all their sin. Selah You withheld all Your fury; You turned from Your burning anger.”The psalm opens by recalling how the LORD restored His people, forgave them, and set aside His anger.
- Psalm 32:1 (BSB)“Of David. A Maskil. Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered.”David calls the person blessed whose sins are covered, the same picture of forgiveness used in 85:2.
- Romans 4:7 (BSB)““Blessed are they whose lawless acts are forgiven, whose sins are covered.”Paul quotes that blessing to show that God forgives and covers sin as a gift, apart from works.
- Micah 7:18 (BSB)“Who is a God like You, who pardons iniquity and passes over the transgression of the remnant of His inheritance—who does not retain His anger forever, because He delights in loving devotion?”The closing prayer of Micah praises God as the One who pardons iniquity and does not hold on to His anger forever.
General
In 85:6, what purpose does the psalmist give for asking God to revive His people?
Answer: So that His people would find their joy in Him
After recalling God's past mercy, the psalm turns to a present need. The people ask God to restore them and put away His displeasure, and they ask whether His anger will last forever (85:4-5). Then they ask Him to revive them again so that they can find their joy in Him, and to show them His loving devotion, His loyal, covenant-keeping love (85:6-7). The goal is joy in God Himself, not national strength. Habakkuk prays in a similar way for God to revive His deeds and remember mercy in wrath (Habakkuk 3:2), Lamentations asks God to restore His people to Himself (Lamentations 5:21), and David rests on the truth that God's anger is brief while His favor lasts (Psalm 30:5).
- Psalm 85:4-7 (BSB)“Restore us, O God of our salvation, and put away Your displeasure toward us. Will You be angry with us forever? Will You draw out Your anger to all generations? Will You not revive us again, that Your people may rejoice in You? Show us Your loving devotion, O LORD, and grant us Your salvation.”Having recalled past mercy, the people pray for God to restore them again and show His loving devotion.
- Habakkuk 3:2 (BSB)“O LORD, I have heard the report of You; I stand in awe, O LORD, of Your deeds. Revive them in these years; make them known in these years. In Your wrath, remember mercy!”Habakkuk also asks God to renew His work and, in wrath, to remember mercy.
- Lamentations 5:21 (BSB)“Restore us to Yourself, O LORD, so we may return; renew our days as of old,”Lamentations asks the LORD to restore His people to Himself and renew their days.
- Psalm 30:5 (BSB)“For His anger is fleeting, but His favor lasts a lifetime. Weeping may stay the night, but joy comes in the morning.”David contrasts God's brief anger with His lasting favor, the same hope behind the questions of 85:5.
Theological
According to 85:6, what is the stated end of the renewal the people request?
Answer: So that His people would find their joy in Him
The petition (85:4-7) moves from a plea to be restored and relieved of God's displeasure, through questions about whether His anger will be prolonged to all generations, to a request for revival whose stated end is that God's people rejoice in Him. It closes by asking God to show His loving devotion and grant salvation. The aim is God-centered joy, not national prosperity. Habakkuk 3:2 makes the same appeal for renewal and mercy in wrath, Lamentations 5:21 asks God to restore His people to Himself, and Psalm 30:5 sets the brevity of God's anger against His enduring favor.
- Psalm 85:4-7 (BSB)“Restore us, O God of our salvation, and put away Your displeasure toward us. Will You be angry with us forever? Will You draw out Your anger to all generations? Will You not revive us again, that Your people may rejoice in You? Show us Your loving devotion, O LORD, and grant us Your salvation.”Having recalled past mercy, the people pray for God to restore them again and show His loving devotion.
- Habakkuk 3:2 (BSB)“O LORD, I have heard the report of You; I stand in awe, O LORD, of Your deeds. Revive them in these years; make them known in these years. In Your wrath, remember mercy!”Habakkuk also asks God to renew His work and, in wrath, to remember mercy.
- Lamentations 5:21 (BSB)“Restore us to Yourself, O LORD, so we may return; renew our days as of old,”Lamentations asks the LORD to restore His people to Himself and renew their days.
- Psalm 30:5 (BSB)“For His anger is fleeting, but His favor lasts a lifetime. Weeping may stay the night, but joy comes in the morning.”David contrasts God's brief anger with His lasting favor, the same hope behind the questions of 85:5.
General
According to 85:9, to whom is God's salvation near?
Answer: To the people who revere and fear Him
The psalmist is sure that God's salvation is close at hand for people who fear Him. These are those who honor and revere Him. The purpose is that God's glory, His visible presence, may live in their land (85:9). Isaiah records a similar promise that God's righteousness and salvation are close and will come without delay (Isaiah 46:13). Many Christians have also seen this hope of God's glory dwelling among His people reach its fullest meaning when the eternal Word took on human nature and lived among people, who saw His glory (John 1:14).
- Psalm 85:9 (BSB)“Surely His salvation is near to those who fear Him, that His glory may dwell in our land.”The psalmist is confident that salvation is close to those who fear God, so that His glory may live in the land.
- Isaiah 46:13 (BSB)“I am bringing My righteousness near; it is not far away, and My salvation will not be delayed. I will grant salvation to Zion and adorn Israel with My splendor.”The LORD says His righteousness and salvation are near and will not be delayed.
- John 1:14 (BSB)“The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.”John says the Word made His dwelling among people and they saw His glory.
Theological
According to 85:9, for whom is God's salvation close at hand?
Answer: To the people who revere and fear Him
85:9 locates the nearness of salvation with those who fear God, and gives its purpose: that the divine glory might reside in the land. Isaiah 46:13 likewise announces that God's righteousness and salvation are near and not delayed. Many Christians have seen this longing for God's glory to dwell among His people come to its fullest expression in the incarnation, when the Word came to live among people, who saw His glory (John 1:14).
- Psalm 85:9 (BSB)“Surely His salvation is near to those who fear Him, that His glory may dwell in our land.”The psalmist is confident that salvation is close to those who fear God, so that His glory may live in the land.
- Isaiah 46:13 (BSB)“I am bringing My righteousness near; it is not far away, and My salvation will not be delayed. I will grant salvation to Zion and adorn Israel with My splendor.”The LORD says His righteousness and salvation are near and will not be delayed.
- John 1:14 (BSB)“The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.”John says the Word made His dwelling among people and they saw His glory.
General
How does 85:10-11 picture the restoration God brings?
Answer: As God's qualities meeting and embracing like friends
The closing lines describe God's answer in vivid pictures. Loving devotion (God's loyal love) and faithfulness come together, and righteousness and peace greet each other with a kiss, like friends meeting (85:10). Faithfulness springs up from the ground while righteousness gazes from the sky (85:11), so heaven and earth join in blessing. The LORD gives what is good, the land produces its harvest, and righteousness goes ahead of Him to prepare His path (85:12-13). Another psalm likewise pictures these qualities attending God (Psalm 89:14), and Isaiah uses the same heaven-and-earth picture of righteousness and salvation (Isaiah 45:8). Many Christians have seen righteousness and peace meet most fully at the cross, where God is both just and the One who justifies believers (Romans 3:26).
- Psalm 85:10-13 (BSB)“Loving devotion and faithfulness have joined together; righteousness and peace have kissed. Faithfulness sprouts from the earth, and righteousness looks down from heaven. The LORD will indeed provide what is good, and our land will yield its increase. Righteousness will go before Him to prepare the way for His steps.”The psalm closes with a picture of God's qualities meeting, the land being blessed, and righteousness going before the LORD.
- Psalm 89:14 (BSB)“Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne; loving devotion and faithfulness go before You.”Another psalm likewise pictures loving devotion and faithfulness going before God, with righteousness at His throne.
- Isaiah 45:8 (BSB)“Drip down, O heavens, from above, and let the skies pour down righteousness. Let the earth open up that salvation may sprout and righteousness spring up with it; I, the LORD, have created it.”Isaiah pictures righteousness raining down from heaven and salvation springing up from the earth.
- Romans 3:26 (BSB)“He did this to demonstrate His righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and to justify the one who has faith in Jesus.”Paul says God shows His righteousness so as to be both just and the One who justifies those who believe in Jesus.
Theological
How does 85:10-11 portray the restoration God grants?
Answer: As God's qualities meeting and embracing like friends
85:10-11 personifies God's covenant attributes: faithfulness and loving devotion meet, righteousness and peace embrace, and faithfulness springs from below while righteousness gazes from above, joining the two realms in blessing. 85:12-13 adds material blessing (the land's produce) and pictures righteousness as a herald going before the LORD. Psalm 89:14 likewise gives these attributes a place attending God's throne, and Isaiah 45:8 uses the same heaven-and-earth imagery of righteousness and salvation. Many Christians have seen righteousness and peace reconciled supremely at the cross, where God is both just and the justifier of believers in Jesus (Romans 3:26).
- Psalm 85:10-13 (BSB)“Loving devotion and faithfulness have joined together; righteousness and peace have kissed. Faithfulness sprouts from the earth, and righteousness looks down from heaven. The LORD will indeed provide what is good, and our land will yield its increase. Righteousness will go before Him to prepare the way for His steps.”The psalm closes with a picture of God's qualities meeting, the land being blessed, and righteousness going before the LORD.
- Psalm 89:14 (BSB)“Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne; loving devotion and faithfulness go before You.”Another psalm likewise pictures loving devotion and faithfulness going before God, with righteousness at His throne.
- Isaiah 45:8 (BSB)“Drip down, O heavens, from above, and let the skies pour down righteousness. Let the earth open up that salvation may sprout and righteousness spring up with it; I, the LORD, have created it.”Isaiah pictures righteousness raining down from heaven and salvation springing up from the earth.
- Romans 3:26 (BSB)“He did this to demonstrate His righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and to justify the one who has faith in Jesus.”Paul says God shows His righteousness so as to be both just and the One who justifies those who believe in Jesus.