Psalm 85 – A Detailed Explanation
Introduction
Psalm 85 is a communal prayer for revival and restoration. Attributed to the sons of Korah, this psalm beautifully intertwines themes of past mercy, present need, and future hope. It is a powerful blend of history, theology, and eschatological longing. It likely emerged after the return from Babylonian exile and reflects a community seeking the full restoration of God’s presence and favor.
Verses 1–3: Remembering God’s Favor
1 You, Lord, showed favor to your land; you restored the fortunes of Jacob.
2 You forgave the iniquity of your people and covered all their sins.
3 You set aside all your wrath and turned from your fierce anger.
Explanation:
The psalm opens with a tone of gratitude. The people recall a time when God acted graciously on their behalf—restoring their land and forgiving their sins. “Restored the fortunes of Jacob” could reference the end of the exile or a time of national renewal.
The three parallel actions—showed favor, forgave iniquity, and covered sins—emphasize God's mercy. “Covered” evokes the Day of Atonement imagery, where sin is symbolically covered through sacrifice.
God also set aside wrath. The Hebrew word for wrath here implies burning anger; its turning aside is an act of divine patience and mercy. The people celebrate this divine turning as a past event, but it sets up their plea for a renewed experience of that mercy.
Verses 4–7: A Plea for Restoration
4 Restore us again, God our Savior, and put away your displeasure toward us.
5 Will you be angry with us forever? Will you prolong your anger through all generations?
6 Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you?
7 Show us your unfailing love, Lord, and grant us your salvation.
Explanation:
Now the tone shifts from remembering to petitioning. Despite past deliverance, the community feels God’s continued displeasure. “Restore us again” indicates that though they experienced one restoration, it was not complete—or had been followed by hardship.
Verse 5 includes rhetorical questions, a poetic device common in Hebrew laments. They emphasize urgency and emotional appeal: “Will you be angry forever?” is not just a question, but a cry of desperation.
Verse 6 introduces the word “revive”, from which the idea of spiritual “revival” is derived. The prayer is not only for survival but for joyful spiritual renewal. The phrase “that your people may rejoice in you” indicates that restoration leads to worship—revival isn’t just for comfort but for glorifying God.
In verse 7, “unfailing love” (Hebrew chesed) is one of the most central terms in the Old Testament. It refers to God’s covenantal, loyal love. They’re not appealing to merit but to the character of God.
Verses 8–9: A Turning Point and Assurance
8 I will listen to what God the Lord says; he promises peace to his people, his faithful servants—
but let them not turn to folly.
9 Surely his salvation is near those who fear him,
that his glory may dwell in our land.
Explanation:
Here, the speaker turns from petition to expectant listening. “I will listen…” reflects both patience and faith. The word translated “peace” is shalom, which implies more than the absence of conflict—it means completeness, well-being, and harmony.
Verse 8 suggests a conditional aspect: peace is promised, but let them not return to folly. This implies that repentance and faithful living are necessary conditions for enjoying God’s blessings.
Verse 9 is hopeful: “Surely his salvation is near…”—there is confidence that deliverance is on the horizon. The ultimate goal is that “his glory may dwell in our land”. This could allude to the Shekinah glory, the manifest presence of God that once filled the tabernacle and temple.
Verses 10–13: A Prophetic Vision of Restoration
10 Love and faithfulness meet together;
righteousness and peace kiss each other.
11 Faithfulness springs forth from the earth,
and righteousness looks down from heaven.
12 The Lord will indeed give what is good,
and our land will yield its harvest.
13 Righteousness goes before him
and prepares the way for his steps.
Explanation:
These verses provide one of the most poetically profound visions of divine and human harmony in all of Scripture. The psalmist envisions a world where God’s qualities manifest in full and interact intimately.
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“Love and faithfulness meet” — This is a depiction of divine attributes harmonizing. Love (chesed) and faithfulness (emet) are often paired in covenant contexts.
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“Righteousness and peace kiss each other” — Another striking image: moral justice and societal peace aren’t in conflict but in intimate agreement. This verse has inspired Christian liturgy and theological reflection for centuries.
In verse 11, the earth responds to God’s action. Faithfulness springs from the ground—suggesting that when God revives his people, creation itself rejoices. It’s a cosmic restoration.
Verse 12 shows that God’s blessings are both spiritual and material. When the relationship with God is right, even the land flourishes. This reflects Deuteronomic theology, where obedience leads to blessing.
Finally, verse 13 returns to righteousness: it goes before God, preparing the way. Some see this as messianic imagery—a hint toward the coming of the Lord in righteousness, later echoed in prophetic and New Testament texts (e.g., John the Baptist’s role in Luke 3:4–6).
Theological Themes
1. Divine Mercy and Human Need
Psalm 85 underscores how God’s mercy is the foundation of hope. Despite sin, God’s people can turn to Him with confidence in His character. The pattern of confession → mercy → restoration is central to the covenantal relationship.
2. Revival and Joy
This psalm is often used in prayers for revival. It shows that revival is not about personal blessing alone but about restoring the joy of a community in the presence of God.
3. The Interplay of Justice and Peace
The striking image of righteousness and peace kissing is theologically rich. It reminds us that God’s justice does not cancel peace; in fact, true peace can’t exist without righteousness. This has echoes in the New Testament understanding of the gospel of peace (Ephesians 6:15) and justification (Romans 5:1).
4. Conditional Restoration
While salvation is God’s work, this psalm warns: “let them not turn to folly”. Restoration depends not only on divine willingness but also on human response. The balance between divine sovereignty and human responsibility is delicately held.
Historical and Liturgical Use
This psalm has been a key part of Jewish and Christian liturgies. In the Jewish tradition, it is associated with the Days of Awe, the period between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, as it speaks of forgiveness and mercy.
In Christian liturgical cycles, Psalm 85 is often read during Advent, anticipating the coming of Christ and God’s peace on earth. Its themes align with eschatological hope and the incarnation—God dwelling again with His people (John 1:14).
Messianic Foreshadowing
Many theologians and church fathers have seen Psalm 85 as prophetic of Christ. The imagery of divine attributes meeting harmoniously reflects the mystery of the cross, where God’s justice and mercy were fully expressed (cf. Romans 3:26).
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Verse 10 has been seen as fulfilled in Christ: in His life, love and faithfulness met; at the cross, righteousness and peace kissed.
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Verse 13 — “Righteousness goes before him” — is seen as fulfilled in the forerunner, John the Baptist, who prepared the way for the Messiah.
Reflections for Today
Psalm 85 remains deeply relevant in the modern world.
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For individuals, it speaks to the need for spiritual renewal. Many people remember times of closeness with God and long to return to that joy.
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For communities, especially in times of national or global crisis, it becomes a prayer for revival, healing, and justice.
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In a world divided by injustice and unrest, verse 10 provides a vision for society where moral truth and peace can coexist. This calls for action rooted in both compassion and righteousness.
Conclusion
Psalm 85 is more than a historical cry for help—it is a timeless song of hope, a vision of what life can look like when a people truly return to God. It reminds us that restoration is always possible, that revival begins with repentance, and that the deepest longings of humanity—peace, joy, and righteousness—are found in God's presence.
Whether read personally as a devotional prayer, or corporately in a call for national renewal, Psalm 85 invites us to listen, turn, hope, and believe that God is not done with us.
“Surely his salvation is near those who fear him, that his glory may dwell in our land.”
(Psalm 85:9)
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