Psalms 85:0 ¶ To the chief Musician, A Psalm for the sons of Korah.
The term “Maschil” indicates an instructive poem. The “sons of Korah” is a reference to the temple singers and musicians.
After reading several commentators, I liked Spurgeon’s remarks: “It is the prayer of a patriot for his afflicted country, in which he pleads the Lord's former mercies, and by faith foresees brighter days….The present psalm has of course been referred to the Captivity, the critics could not resist the temptation to do that, though, for our part we see no need to do so: it is true a captivity is mentioned, but that does not necessitate the nation's having been carried away into exile, since Job's captivity was turned, and yet he had never left his native land: moreover, the text speaks of the captivity of Jacob as brought back, but had it referred to the Babylonian emigration, it would have spoken of Judah; for Jacob or Israel, as such, did not return.”
And from the New Bible Commentary: “Life’s troubles do not always indicate God’s disapproval, but our reaction should always include self–examination lest there is sin to be confessed and wrong to be righted. Such was the occasion of this psalm. God’s favour was only a memory (1-3); the present was full of his anger (4-7)….The psalm is a prophetic meditation on the theme of revival/renewal (6).”
Psalms 85:1 ¶ Lord, thou hast been favourable unto thy land: thou hast brought back the captivity of Jacob.
Psalms 85:2 Thou hast forgiven the iniquity of thy people, thou hast covered all their sin. Selah.
The psalmist opens by noting that God had restored His people to the land and shown favor to “His” land in the process. The Hebrew indicates that God’s favor is evidence of His affection. He acknowledges that God has forgiven the people of their sin.
I believe forgiveness and covering of sin in the Old Testament are the same in that they are both predicated on the future sacrifice of Jesus to effectively declare the sinner righteous before God.
Galatians 4:4–5 “But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.”
1 Timothy 2:5–6 “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.”
Hebrews 2:9–10 “But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man. For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.”
Hebrews 9:23–26 “these. For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us: Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others; For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.”
1 John 2:1–2 “My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.”
Selah – A pause, an opportunity for meditation.
Psalms 85:3 Thou hast taken away all thy wrath: thou hast turned thyself from the fierceness of thine anger.
Psalms 85:4 Turn us, O God of our salvation, and cause thine anger toward us to cease.
Psalms 85:5 Wilt thou be angry with us for ever? wilt thou draw out thine anger to all generations?
The writer knows that God turning His anger away from His people is not the same as no longer being angry. His prayer is for God to stop being angry. He wonders if God is determined to be angry with His people forever.
Note that he addresses God as the “God of our salvation,” the source of their liberty, safety and prosperity (from the Hebrew). He knows that it is in response to God’s great love and mercy that men are turned from their sin, effectively taking away God’s anger..
I liked the way Spurgeon worded it: “It is not that God needs turning from his anger so much as that we need turning from our sin; here is the hinge of the whole matter. Our trials frequently arise out of our sins, they will not go till the sins go. We need to be turned from our sins, but only God can turn us….”
Psalms 85:6 Wilt thou not revive us again: that thy people may rejoice in thee?
Psalms 85:7 Shew us thy mercy, O Lord, and grant us thy salvation.
The psalmist prays for revival, for a time in which His people can once again rejoice in God’s favor. He knows they don’t deserve His saving provision and makes his request in light of God’s mercy. I believe he was cognizant of the truth recorded by Jeremiah.
Lamentations 3:22–23 “It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.”
I liked this application Guzik used from Boice in connection with the church as God’s people: “We think of revivals as being a movement of God in the world so that unchurched unbelievers come to Christ. But revivals do not start in the world. They start in the church, since it is the church that needs to live again.”
Psalms 85:8 ¶ 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.
I liked the CJB translation for this verse: “I am listening. What will God, ADONAI, say? For he will speak peace to his people, to his holy ones — but only if they don’t relapse into folly.”
The psalmist is confident of a positive response from God if His people will seek to obey Him. This is a principle that applies to God’s people of all times because He never changes.
Malachi 3:6 “For I am the LORD, I change not….”
Psalms 85:9 Surely his salvation is nigh them that fear him; that glory may dwell in our land.
The writer is confident that God’s salvation is at hand for those that fear Him. If the people as a whole will fear Him and serve Him, His glory will be reflected throughout their land.
Good application from the New Bible Commentary: “Those who desire revival/renewal must wait upon God’s word. But this imposes demands: (i) to respond to his love: saints (8, ‘the objects of his committed love who are committed to love him back’); (ii) to forsake the follies of the past (8). (iii) to live in the fear of God.”
Psalms 85:10 Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other.
Psalms 85:11 Truth shall spring out of the earth; and righteousness shall look down from heaven.
Psalms 85:12 Yea, the Lord shall give that which is good; and our land shall yield her increase.
Psalms 85:13 Righteousness shall go before him; and shall set us in the way of his steps.
The psalmist seems to be saying that mercy/lovingkindness and truth/faithfulness go hand-in-hand, as do righteousness/justice and peace/prosperity.
I think verse 11 is saying that if God’s people are faithful, they can count on a just response from heaven. In fact, the LORD will bless them with goodness and the land will be fruitful. His righteousness precedes His provision for those that walk in obedience before Him.
Psalms 86:0 ¶ A Prayer of David.
This title is self-explanatory. It is a prayer of praise as well as a petition for mercy and protection.
Psalms 86:1 ¶ Bow down thine ear, O Lord, hear me: for I am poor and needy.
David begins his prayer by asking the LORD (YHWH) to “bow down” to listen to him—a statement of his humble position before God. He admits that he is poor (depressed, afflicted) and needy (destitute, beggar).
Psalms 86:2 Preserve my soul; for I am holy: O thou my God, save thy servant that trusteth in thee.
He asks for God to protect his soul, his life, because he is trying to live as a godly man. It sounds like David fears for his life. He identifies as God’s faithful servant. His confidence and hope are in God.
Psalms 86:3 Be merciful unto me, O Lord: for I cry unto thee daily.
David approaches God by asking for His mercy, admitting that he is constantly seeking His help. He knew from the scripture and from the Holy Spirit’s inspiration that God’s mercy is great.
Numbers 14:18 “The LORD is longsuffering, and of great mercy….”
Psalms 103:11 “For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.”
It is natural for one whose hope is in God and is His servant to talk to Him daily in light of his/her needs. Jesus taught that very principle and scripture affirms it.
Matthew 6:9–11 “After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread.”
Philippians 4:6 “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.”
1 Thessalonians 5:17–18 “Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”
Psalms 86:4 Rejoice the soul of thy servant: for unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul.
Psalms 86:5 For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee.
David pleads with the Lord to fill him with joy as he yields (from Hebrew for “lift up”) his life to Him. He is confident in the truth that God is good and ready to forgive and respond in mercy to all that call upon Him.
I think David is making that statement on behalf of those, like him, who are servants of God and have placed their trust in Him. He states that truth more explicitly in another of his psalms, and it is affirmed in other scripture.
Psalms 145:18–19 “The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth. He will fulfil the desire of them that fear him: he also will hear their cry, and will save them.”
2 Chronicles 16:9 “For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him.”
James 5:16 “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”
Psalms 86:6 Give ear, O Lord, unto my prayer; and attend to the voice of my supplications.
Psalms 86:7 In the day of my trouble I will call upon thee: for thou wilt answer me.
Again, David pleads with the LORD to pay careful attention to his prayer. He is confident that when he calls out for the LORD’s help in time of trouble, He will answer him with the provision that is needed.
As I identify with David, I am always amazed at the confidence I have that God hears me in light of the fact that there are millions more approaching Him in prayer every day.
Psalms 86:8 ¶ Among the gods there is none like unto thee, O Lord; neither are there any works like unto thy works.
Psalms 86:9 All nations whom thou hast made shall come and worship before thee, O Lord; and shall glorify thy name.
David groups the LORD among the gods of the nations though he is acutely aware that the LORD is not anything like them. None of them can do the works that He can do. He recognizes the LORD as the Creator of all men. He knows that the day will come when all people of His creation will be made to worship before Him and glorify His name.
Isaiah 45:22–23 “Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else. I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear.”
Romans 14:11 “For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.”
Philippians 2:9–11 “Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
Psalms 86:10 For thou art great, and doest wondrous things: thou art God alone.
David continues to praise God for His greatness and His proven ability to do miracles. He knows that no other “god” is true. There is only one true God; all others are just false pretenders that exist only in the minds of men that have been deceived by Satan and his minions. They all find their being in the spiritual forces of evil with which we are continually at war.
Ephesians 6:12 “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”
I liked the words of Spurgeon: “Our God is not to be worshipped as one among many good and true beings, but as God alone; and his gospel is not to be preached as one of several saving systems, but as the one sole way of salvation. Lies can face each other beneath one common dome; but in the temple of truth the worship is one and indivisible.”
Psalms 86:11 Teach me thy way, O Lord; I will walk in thy truth: unite my heart to fear thy name.
David is ever desirous for the LORD to teach him to walk in truth (faithfulness) and fear (reverence) before Him. He knows that he cannot please God with a divided heart and recognizes that this is the more important need in his life.
I liked this comment from Clarke: “Indecision of mind and division of affections mar any work. The heart must be one, that the work may be one. If this be wanting, all is wrong. This is a prayer which becomes the mouth of every Christian.”
Psalms 86:12 I will praise thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart: and I will glorify thy name for evermore.
David is committed to praising the “Lord my God” with his whole heart as he seeks to glorify God’s name forever. This is another statement identifying David as God’s servant. David always evidences a personal relationship with the LORD. His whole heart is a reference to his whole being—heart, soul, mind and strength.
Mark 12:29–30 “And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.”
Psalms 86:13 For great is thy mercy toward me: and thou hast delivered my soul from the lowest hell.
David acknowledges that he has experienced God’s mercy and his life saved because of it. This could be referencing many different times in David’s life—when he was on the run from Saul, from Absalom, from the consequences of his sin with Bathsheba, etc.
Psalms 86:14 O God, the proud are risen against me, and the assemblies of violent men have sought after my soul; and have not set thee before them.
This is the closest we get to identifying the reason behind David’s prayer. It was prompted by the threat of proud ungodly men that are determined to kill him.
Psalms 86:15 But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth.
In spite of the danger he faces, his confidence is in the LORD as a God that is compassionate, kind, slow to anger, merciful and faithful (from the Hebrew). I think he is remembering the words of Moses.
Exodus 34:6–7 “And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin….”
Psalms 86:16 O turn unto me, and have mercy upon me; give thy strength unto thy servant, and save the son of thine handmaid.
Psalms 86:17 Shew me a token for good; that they which hate me may see it, and be ashamed: because thou, Lord, hast holpen me, and comforted me.
David closes his prayer by again pleading with the LORD to look upon him with mercy and give him strength and save his life. He asks God to make a public show of His hand of protection upon him that his enemies will recognize and fear.
I thought it was interesting to note that David identified his mother, whom we hear nothing else about in scripture, as God’s handmaid, one who served God as her Lord.