Psalms 85

The psalmist looks back at God’s past mercy in bringing His people home and forgiving them. On that ground he prays for fresh revival, because trouble has returned. He then listens for God’s word of peace and sees a coming day when mercy, truth, righteousness and peace meet in the land.

Psalms 85:1

The prayer begins by remembering. God had been gracious to the land and brought Jacob’s people back from exile. Past rescue becomes the ground for present hope. What God has done before shows what He is willing to do again.

BSA: restored (“brought back, turned to”): God not only returned them to their land but turned toward them in kindness.

Hebrew: שַׁבְתָּ (shavta, H7725) — “You turned back, you brought back.” The Hebrew verb for turning is also used for restoring and returning. The same word is used again in verse 4, where the psalmist asks God to do it once more.

Psalms 85:2

God’s restoration began with forgiveness. He lifted away His people’s guilt and covered their sin. The word Selah invites a pause to let this sink in. Return to the land flows from a cleared account with God.

BSA: forgave (“took away, pardoned”): Sin is pictured as a burden that God lifts off and carries away. covered (“removed from sight, hid”): God puts their sin out of view so that it no longer stands against them.

See also: Psalm 32:1; Micah 7:18-19.

Psalms 85:3

God’s burning anger was real, but He drew it back. Having judged His people’s sin, He did not keep pouring out wrath. The verse shows that His anger has an end, and that mercy can follow judgment.

BSA: withheld (“gathered up, took back”): God pulls His wrath back to Himself, like drawing in a hand raised to strike.

Psalms 85:4

Now the prayer turns to the present. The people seem to be under God’s displeasure again, so they ask for a new turning. They call Him the God of our salvation, the only one who can save. Their hope rests on who He is.

BSA: Restore (“turn back, bring back to you”): The request is for hearts to be turned back to God, not only for circumstances to change.

Psalms 85:5

Two honest questions come out of hardship. Will God’s anger last forever? Will it stretch across all generations? The psalmist does not hide his fear. He brings it to God, who allows His people to ask such questions and who answers them with mercy.

See also: Psalm 79:5; Psalm 103:9.

Psalms 85:6

The psalmist asks for revival, a new breath of life for a weary people. The goal is joy in God Himself, not just relief from trouble. God’s people are most alive when they rejoice in Him.

BSA: revive (“quicken, give life to”): The request is for God to make His people truly alive again, not merely to improve their situation.

See also: Habakkuk 3:2.

Psalms 85:7

The prayer is brief and focused. It asks to see God’s loving devotion and to receive His salvation. The word for loving devotion means His steadfast, covenant love, which does not let go of His people.

BSA: loving devotion (“kindness, trustworthy love”): This is love that keeps its promises, not a passing feeling.

Hebrew: חֶסֶד (chesed, H2617) — “steadfast love, covenant loyalty.” The word describes love that is bound by promise and stays faithful when the other party has failed.

Psalms 85:8

After praying, the psalmist stops to listen. He is confident that God will speak peace to His faithful people. The promise carries a warning: they must not slide back into folly. God’s peace is meant to keep His people from returning to the very things that caused their trouble.

BSA: peace (“shalom, wholeness and well-being”): God’s peace means complete well-being, not just the end of conflict. saints (“the faithful, set apart ones”): God’s people are set apart for Him and are meant to be loyal to Him.

Hebrew: שָׁלוֹם (shalom, H7965) — “peace, wholeness, well-being.” The word covers health, safety and right relationships, and includes peace with God.

Psalms 85:9

God’s salvation is close to those who fear Him. To fear Him means to honor Him with reverent trust. The result is that His glory will dwell in the land again, as it did when God lived among His people.

BSA: near (“at hand, close”): God’s rescue is not far off, but close to those who trust Him. glory (“honor, splendor”): God’s glory means His weighty, shining presence among His people.

See also: John 1:14; Psalm 145:18.

Psalms 85:10

In a beautiful picture, four of God’s qualities meet like friends. Loving devotion meets faithfulness, and righteousness embraces peace. God does not have to give up one to have the other. Christians have long seen this fulfilled where mercy and justice meet at the cross.

BSA: kissed (“embraced, come together in love”): Righteousness and peace are pictured as greeting each other with warm affection.

See also: Romans 3:25-26.

Psalms 85:11

The picture has two movements. Faithfulness springs up from the earth as people respond to God in truth, and righteousness looks down from heaven as God gives it. Heaven and earth are joined in one work of restoration.

BSA: sprouts (“kindness, loving actions”): Faithfulness grows up among people like a plant, showing that God’s work takes root in human life.

Hebrew: תִּצְמָח (titsmach, H6779) — “springs up, sprouts.” This is the language of plants growing. Faithfulness is pictured as something that takes root and grows up out of the soil.

Psalms 85:12

The LORD gives what is good, and the land responds with harvest. Both the spiritual and the practical blessing come from His hand. Forgiveness and peace with God lead to a life that bears fruit. Everything good comes as a gift.

BSA: increase (“harvest, abundance”): The land’s yield is a visible sign of God’s restored favor.

See also: James 1:17; Leviticus 26:4.

Psalms 85:13

The psalm ends with righteousness walking ahead of the LORD, preparing the road for His steps. His coming is never careless or unjust. The psalm closes with God drawing near, and His people can follow where He leads.

BSA: prepare (“make ready, set in order”): Righteousness clears the path so that God’s arrival is fitting and right.

See also: Isaiah 40:3; Psalm 89:14.