PSALM LXXXV _Thanksgiving to God for restoration to the Divine favour_, 1-3; _prayer for farther mercies_, 4-7; _the psalmist waits for a gracious answer in full confidence of_ _receiving it_, 8. _He receives the assurance of the greatest blessings, and exults_ _in the prospect_, 9-13. NOTES... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 85:2. _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... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 85:3. _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.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 85:4. _TURN US, O GOD OF OUR SALVATION_] Thou hast turned our captivity; now convert our souls. And they find a _reason_ for their prayer in an attribute of their God; _the God of their salvation_. And as his work was to _save_, they beg that _his anger towards them_ _might cease_. The... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 85:5. _WILT THOU DRAW OUT THINE ANGER_] We have already suffered much and long; our fathers have suffered, and we have succeeded to their distresses. Draw not out thy anger against us from generation to generation.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 85:6. _WILT THOU NOT REVIVE US_] We have long had the sentence of death in ourselves; and have feared an utter extinction. Shall not our nation yet live before thee? Shall we not become once more numerous, pious, and powerful, that _THY PEOPLE MAY REJOICE IN THEE?_] As the Source of al... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 85:7. _SHOW US THY MERCY_] Blot out all our sins. _AND GRANT US THY SALVATION._] Give us such a complete deliverance as is worthy of thy _majesty_ and _mercy_ to bestow!... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 85:8. _I WILL HEAR WHAT GOD THE LORD WILL SPEAK_] The psalmist goes as a prophet to consult the Lord; and, having made his request, waits an answer from the spirit of prophecy. He is satisfied that the answer will be gracious; and having received it he relates it to the people. _HE WIL... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 85:9. _SURELY HIS SALVATION_ IS _NIGH_] To him who _fears_ God, and trembles at his word, his salvation is nigh at hand. _THAT GLORY MAY DWELL IN OUR LAND._] That thy worship may be restored, the temple rebuilt, and the Divine shechinah, or symbol of the presence of God, resume its pla... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 85:10. _MERCY AND TRUTH ARE MET TOGETHER_] It would be more simple to translate the original,- חסד ואמת נפגשו צדק ושלום נשקו Chesed veemeth niphgashu; Tsedek veshalom nashaku,-- "Mercy and truth have met on the way Righteousness and peace have embraced." This is a remarkable text... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 85:11. _TRUTH SHALL SPRING OUT OF THE EARTH_] In consequence of this wonderful _reconciliation_, the truth of God shall prevail among men. The _seeds_ of it shall be so plentifully sown by the preaching of Christ and his apostles that true religion shall be diffused over the world. _AN... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 85:12. _THE LORD SHALL GIVE - GOOD_] הטוב _hattob, THE GOOD_ _thing_-what is the supreme good, the _summum bonum_, for which man has searched in vain through all his generations. Those who are reconciled to him through the Son of his love shall enjoy the _favour_ of their God; to have w... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 85:13. _RIGHTEOUSNESS SHALL GO BEFORE HIM_] Perhaps this verse may receive its best solution from Romans 3:25: "Whom God hath set for a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his RIGHTEOUSNESS for the remission of sins that are past." This term the apostle uses to point ou... [ Continue Reading ]