Psa 85:1-3 | Clarke | STEP | Thanksgiving to God for restoration to the Divine favor, ; prayer for farther mercies, ; the psalmist waits for a gracious answer in full confidence of receiving it, . He receives the assurance of the greatest blessings, and exults in the prospect, . The title of this Psalm we have seen before, : As to the time, it seems to have been written during, or even after, the return from the Babylonish captivity. In the three first verses the psalmist acknowledges the goodness of God in bringing the people back to their own land; he next prays to God to restore them to their ancient prosperity. In the spirit of prophecy, he waits on God, and hears him promise to do it; and then exults in the prospect of so great a good. The whole Psalm seems also to have a reference to the redemption of the world by Jesus Christ. Verse 1 Lord, thou hast been favorable - Literally, Thou hast been well pleased with thy land. Thou hast brought back the captivity - This seems to fix the time of the Psalm to be after the return of the Jews from Babylon.

Psalms 85:1-3

Introduction

Thanksgiving to God for restoration to the Divine favor, Psa 85:1-3; prayer for farther mercies, Psa 85:4-7; the psalmist waits for a gracious answer in full confidence of receiving it, Psa 85:8. He receives the assurance of the greatest blessings, and exults in the prospect, Psa 85:9-13.

The title of this Psalm we have seen before, Psa 42:1-11 : As to the time, it seems to have been written during, or even after, the return from the Babylonish captivity. In the three first verses the psalmist acknowledges the goodness of God in bringing the people back to their own land; he next prays to God to restore them to their ancient prosperity. In the spirit of prophecy, he waits on God, and hears him promise to do it; and then exults in the prospect of so great a good. The whole Psalm seems also to have a reference to the redemption of the world by Jesus Christ.

Verse 1

Lord, thou hast been favorable - Literally, Thou hast been well pleased with thy land.

Thou hast brought back the captivity - This seems to fix the time of the Psalm to be after the return of the Jews from Babylon. Verse 2

Thou hast forgiven the iniquity - נשאת עון nasatha avon, Thou hast borne, or carried away, the iniquity. An allusion to the ceremony of the scapegoat.

Thou hast covered all their sin - As thou hast freely forgiven it, its offensiveness and abominable nature no longer appear. The whole is put out of sight; and, as we are restored from our captivity, the consequences no longer appear.

Selah - This is true. Our return to our own land is the full proof. Verse 3

Thou hast taken away - אספת asaphta, "Thou hast gathered up all thy wrath." This carries on the metaphor in the second verse: "Thou hast collected all thy wrath, and carried it away with all our iniquities."