Psalm 85: Edit history

Psalm 85 is a psalm of the sons of Korah in Book III of the Psalter (Psalms 73–89). The preceding psalm, Psalm 84, is a song of longing for the house of the Lord; in this psalm the whole community asks God for restoration.

Structure

• Verses 1–3 look back on past grace. The Lord brought back the captivity of Jacob, forgave iniquity, and took away His wrath. Verse 2 ends with Selah.
• Verses 4–7 are a plea concerning present distress. The psalmist asks God to cause His anger to cease, to revive His people again so that they may rejoice in Him, and to show His mercy and salvation.
• Verses 8–9 present the psalmist waiting to hear God's word. God will speak peace to His people, and they must not turn again to folly. His salvation is near to those who fear Him, and glory will dwell in the land.
• Verses 10–13 portray the restored state. Mercy and truth, righteousness and peace meet one another. The land yields its increase, and righteousness goes before the Lord to prepare the way.

Key Verses

• Psalm 85:6 "Wilt thou not revive us again: that thy people may rejoice in thee?" — frequently cited in prayers for revival.
• Psalm 85:10 "Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other." — the representative verse of the psalm, celebrating God's attributes joined together in harmony.

People and Places

• Sons of Korah: The group named in the superscription as the psalm's authors. They are known as a Levitical family descended from Korah who were responsible for praise in the temple.
• Jacob: Used in verse 1 as a name for the whole people of Israel.

Points for Reflection

• Background: Because of the expression "brought back the captivity" in verse 1, many interpreters regard this psalm as having been written after the return from the Babylonian exile. However, the Hebrew expression can also be rendered "restore the fortunes," so the date of composition remains uncertain.
• The same Hebrew word: The word rendered "mercy" in verse 7 ("Shew us thy mercy, O LORD") and in verse 10 ("Mercy and truth are met together") translates the same Hebrew word, hesed.
• Christian interpretive tradition: Christian tradition has read verse 10, together with verse 9 ("that glory may dwell in our land"), as the meeting of God's righteousness and mercy in Christ's incarnation and on the cross. The medieval allegory of the "Four Daughters of God" is thought to have arisen from verse 10. Such interpretations read the text in light of the New Testament and are not statements the psalm itself makes directly.

Liturgical and Devotional Use

• The Revised Common Lectionary (RCL) assigns this psalm to the Second Sunday of Advent in Year B. Churches that observe the church calendar with reference to this lectionary sometimes read the psalm during Advent.
• In Korean churches, verse 6 is also used as a text for seeking restoration and revival at revival meetings and special prayer gatherings.