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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width; initial-scale=1.0;"/><title>Psalm 85 Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/commentaries/expositors/psalms/85.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/5001com.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="../spec.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link media="handheld, only screen and (max-width: 4800px), only screen and (max-device-width: 4800px)" href="/4801.css" type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" /><link media="handheld, only screen and (max-width: 1550px), only screen and (max-device-width: 1550px)" href="/1551.css" type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" /><link media="handheld, only screen and (max-width: 1250px), only screen and (max-device-width: 1250px)" href="/1251.css" type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" /><link media="handheld, only screen and (max-width: 1050px), only screen and (max-device-width: 1050px)" href="/1051.css" type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" /><link media="handheld, only screen and (max-width: 900px), only screen and (max-device-width: 900px)" href="/901.css" type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" /><link media="handheld, only screen and (max-width: 800px), only screen and (max-device-width: 800px)" href="/801.css" type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" /><link media="handheld, only screen and (max-width: 575px), only screen and (max-device-width: 575px)" href="/501.css" type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" /><link media="handheld, only screen and (max-height: 450px), only screen and (max-device-height: 450px)" href="/h451.css" type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/print.css" type="text/css" media="Print" /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="../cmenus/psalms/85.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="//biblehu.com/bmcom/psalms/85-1.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="//biblehub.com">Bible</a> > <a href="/commentaries/">Commentary</a> > <a href="../">Ellicott</a> > <a href="../psalms/">Psalm</a></div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="../psalms/84.htm" title="Psalm 84">◄</a> Psalm 85 <a href="../psalms/86.htm" title="Psalm 86">►</a></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheading">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</div><div class="chap"><span class= "bld"> LXXXV.</span><p>There is more than the statement of its first verse (see Note) to connect this psalm with the post-exile period. Its whole tone belongs to that time. The attitude with regard to national sin explains itself only by this reference. The punishment had fallen, and in the glad return Israel had seen a proof that God had covered her guilt, and taken away her sin. But the bright prospect had quickly been overclouded. The troubles that succeeded the return perplexed those who had come back, as they felt purified and forgiven. Hence many such pathetic cries as those of this psalm. In this particular instance, the cry, as we gather from <a href="/psalms/85-12.htm" title="Yes, the LORD shall give that which is good; and our land shall yield her increase.">Psalm 85:12</a>, arose from the dread of famine, which was always regarded as a judgment on national sin. But, even as he utters his lament, the prophet (for the psalm has a true prophetic ring, and is in the highest sense Messianic) sees the clouds break, and hails the promise of abundant harvest, as he watches the sunshine of prosperity and peace once more strike across the land. The rhythm arrangement is uncertain.<p><span class= "ital">Title.</span>—See title, Psalms 4, 42<p> <div class="versenum"><a href="/psalms/85-1.htm">Psalm 85:1</a></div><div class="verse">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.</div>(1) <span class= "bld">Thou hast</span> <span class= "bld">brought back.</span>—See <a href="/psalms/14-7.htm" title="Oh that the salvation of Israel were come out of Zion! when the LORD brings back the captivity of his people, Jacob shall rejoice, and Israel shall be glad.">Psalm 14:7</a>; <a href="/psalms/68-18.htm" title="You have ascended on high, you have led captivity captive: you have received gifts for men; yes, for the rebellious also, that the LORD God might dwell among them.">Psalm 68:18</a>. The expression might only imply generally a return to a state of former prosperity, as in <a href="/job/42-10.htm" title="And the LORD turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before.">Job 42:10</a>, but the context directs us to refer especially to the return from exile. (See <span class= "ital">Introduction.</span>)<p> <div class="versenum"><a href="/psalms/85-2.htm">Psalm 85:2</a></div><div class="verse">Thou hast forgiven the iniquity of thy people, thou hast covered all their sin. Selah.</div>(2) <span class= "bld">Forgiven.</span>—Rather, <span class= "ital">taken away. </span>(See <a href="/psalms/32-1.htm" title="Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.">Psalm 32:1</a>.)<p> <div class="versenum"><a href="/psalms/85-4.htm">Psalm 85:4</a></div><div class="verse">Turn us, O God of our salvation, and cause thine anger toward us to cease.</div>(4) <span class= "bld">Turn us.</span>—Here equivalent to <span class= "ital">restore us once more. </span>If, the poet felt, the captivity had taught its lesson, why, on the restoration, did not complete freedom from misfortune ensue? It is this which supplies the motive of his song.<p> <div class="versenum"><a href="/psalms/85-8.htm">Psalm 85:8</a></div><div class="verse">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.</div>(8) <span class= "bld">Speak peace . . .</span>—This word “peace” comprehends all that the nation sighed for:<p>“Peace,<p>Dear nurse of arts, plenties, and joyful truth.”<p>To Christians the word has a higher meaning still, which directed the choice of this psalm for Christmas Day.<p><span class= "bld">Folly.</span>—See <a href="/psalms/14-1.htm" title="The fool has said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that does good.">Psalm 14:1</a>; <a href="/psalms/49-13.htm" title="This their way is their folly: yet their posterity approve their sayings. Selah.">Psalm 49:13</a>. Here it most probably implies <span class= "ital">idolatry.</span><p> <div class="versenum"><a href="/psalms/85-9.htm">Psalm 85:9</a></div><div class="verse">Surely his salvation <i>is</i> nigh them that fear him; that glory may dwell in our land.</div>(9-11) The exquisite personification of these verses is, it has been truly remarked, exactly in Isaiah’s manner. (See <a href="/isaiah/32-16.htm" title="Then judgment shall dwell in the wilderness, and righteousness remain in the fruitful field.">Isaiah 32:16</a> <span class= "ital">seq., </span><a href="/isaiah/45-8.htm" title="Drop down, you heavens, from above, and let the skies pour down righteousness: let the earth open, and let them bring forth salvation, and let righteousness spring up together; I the LORD have created it.">Isaiah 45:8</a>; <a href="/isaiah/59-14.htm" title="And judgment is turned away backward, and justice stands afar off: for truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter.">Isaiah 59:14</a>.) It is an allegory of completed national happiness, which, though presented in language peculiar to Hebrew thought, is none the less universal in its application. Nor does it stop at material blessings, but lends itself to the expression of the highest truths. The poet sees once more the <span class= "ital">glory </span>which had so long deserted the land come back—as its symbol, the ark, once came back—and take up its abode there. He sees the covenant <span class= "ital">favour </span>once more descend and meet the divine <span class= "ital">faithfulness </span>of which, lately, perplexed minds were doubting, but which the return of prosperity has now proved sure. Righteousness and peace, or prosperity, these inseparable brothers, kiss each other, and fall lovingly into each other’s arms.<p> <div class="versenum"><a href="/psalms/85-10.htm">Psalm 85:10</a></div><div class="verse">Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed <i>each other</i>.</div>(10) <span class= "bld">Met together.</span>—The word is used of those who should be friends, but whom circumstances have sundered (<a href="/proverbs/22-2.htm" title="The rich and poor meet together: the LORD is the maker of them all.">Proverbs 22:2</a>).<p> <div class="versenum"><a href="/psalms/85-11.htm">Psalm 85:11</a></div><div class="verse">Truth shall spring out of the earth; and righteousness shall look down from heaven.</div>(11) <span class= "bld">Truth, </span>or “faithfulness,” is here depicted as springing out of the earth, because the renewal of fertility has re-established the conviction of the faithfulness of Jehovah towards His people, which had been shaken.<p><span class= "bld">Look down.</span>—Used of bending forwards as from a window or battlement (<a href="/songs/6-10.htm" title="Who is she that looks forth as the morning, fair as the moon, clear as the sun, and terrible as an army with banners?">Song of Solomon 6:10</a>, Note).<p>This “righteousness” (here in direct parallelism with <span class= "ital">faithfulness</span>) had, as it were, been hidden like the sun behind a cloud, but now is seen showing its benign face once more in the skies.<p> <div class="versenum"><a href="/psalms/85-13.htm">Psalm 85:13</a></div><div class="verse">Righteousness shall go before him; and shall set <i>us</i> in the way of his steps.</div>(13) <span class= "bld">Righteousness shall . . .</span>—Better, <span class= "ital">Righteousness shall walk in front of Him, and follow in His steps.</span><p>Nothing is more instructive than the blending in <a href="/context/psalms/85-12.htm" title="Yes, the LORD shall give that which is good; and our land shall yield her increase.">Psalm 85:12-13</a> of material and moral blessings. They do go together, as experience, especially national testifies. In the same spirit is Wordsworth’s well-known <span class= "ital">Ode to Duty:</span><p>“Stern Law-giver! Yet thou dost wear<p>The Godhead’s most benignant grace,<p>Nor know we anything so fair<p>As is the smile upon thy face.<p>Flowers laugh before thee on their beds,<p>And fragrance in thy footing treads:<p>Thou dost preserve the stars from wrong,<p>And the most ancient heavens through Thee are<p>fresh and strong.”<p><div id="botbox"><div class="padbot"><div align="center">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers<br /><br />Text Courtesy of <a href="//biblesupport.com" target="_top">BibleSupport.com</a>. 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