Psalms 85:13

Righteousness shall go before him; and shall set us in the way of his steps. RIGHTEOUSNESS SHALL GO BEFORE HIM AND SHALL SET (US) IN THE WAY OF HIS STEPS - rather, 'and shall set in the (righteous) way His step' (Isaiah 11:3) etc.; or else, 'Righteousness shall go before Him, and set its steps in the way' (so the Chaldaic, Vulgate, Septuagint, and Arabic) - i:e., shall freely pursue its way. Contrast the opposite state ()....

13._Righteousness shall go before him. _The word _righteousness _is taken by some for _a righteous person; _but this is unnatural. Viewed in this light, the passage, indeed, contains the useful and important truth, That the righteous man will walk before God, and will make it his object to regulate all his actions according to the principles of moral rectitude. But there being no necessity for wresting the word _righteousness _so violently, it will be better to adopt the more correct and simple view, which is, that under the reign of Christ order will be so well established, that righteousness will walk before God, and occupy every path. The prophet seems thus to call back the attention of the faithful to what constitutes the chief elements of blessedness; for although God may grant to his servants an abundant supply of sustenance for the body, it is unbecoming for them to have their hea...

8-13 Sooner or later, God will speak peace to his people. If he do not command outward peace, yet he will suggest inward peace; speaking to their hearts by his Spirit. Peace is spoken only to those who turn from sin. All sin is folly, especially backsliding; it is the greatest folly to return to sin. Surely God's salvation is nigh, whatever our difficulties and distresses are. Also, his honour is secured, that glory may dwell in our land. And the truth of the promises is shown by the Divine mercy in sending the Redeemer. The Divine justice is now satisfied by the great atonement. Christ, the way, truth, and life, sprang out of the earth when he took our nature upon him, and Divine justice looked upon him well pleased and satisfied. For his sake all good things, especially his Holy Spirit, are given to those who ask him. Through Christ, the pardoned sinner becomes fruitful in good works,...

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 out God's _method of justifying_ or _saving_ _mankind_. And this, in the preaching of the pure Gospel, is ever _going before_ to point out the Lord Jesus, and the redemption that is in his blood. And thus going before him, the sinner, who feels his need of salvation, is _Set - in the way of his steps_; as Bartimeus sat by the way-side begging, by which way Jesus walked; and when he came where he was, heard his prayer, and restored him his sight. Or, _righteousness _- the pure and hol...

RIGHTEOUSNESS SHALL GO BEFORE HIM - Shall anticipate his coming, and prepare his way. The idea seems to be, that in order to his appearing, there would be a proclamation of righteousness, and a preparation for his advent by the diffusion of righteousness among the people; in other words, the nation, in the prospect of his coming, would turn from sin, and would seek to be prepared for his appearing. Thus John proclaimed the coining of the Redeemer, “Repent ye, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Matthew 3:2. So also “The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.” Matthew 3:3. AND SHALL SET US IN THE WAY OF HIS STEPS - This might be rendered, “and set its steps for a way;” that is, the st

EXPOSITION THIS is a psalm written after a signal display of God's mercy towards Israel, but when there was still much wanting to make the condition of the people altogether satisfactory. It consists of a thanksgiving for the deliverance vouchsafed (Psalms 85:1); a prayer for further and more complete restoration to favour (Psalms 85:4); and a joyful anticipation of the granting of the prayer, and of the bestowal on Israel, ultimately, of all temporal and spiritual blessings (Psalms 85:8). There are no such distinct and definite allusions in the psalm as to tie it down to any particular date; but, on the whole, it would seem to suit best either the time of Zerubbabel ...

RIGHTEOUSNESS SHALL GO BEFORE HIM,.... The incarnate Saviour, the increase of our land, and fruit of the virgin's womb; and righteousness may be put for a righteous person, as Aben Ezra interprets it; and may design John the Baptist, a holy and just man, Mark 6:20, who was the forerunner and harbinger of Christ, went before him, and prepared the way for him, Luke 1:76 AND SHALL SET US IN THE WAY OF HIS STEPS; the business of John the Baptist being not only to prepare the way of Christ by his doctrine and baptism, but to guide the feet of his people into the way of peace; or to direct them to believe in Christ, and to be followers of him, the Lamb of God, whithersoever he went; who has left an example of grace and duty, that we should tread in his steps,...

In my brief comments upon this Psalm, I shall not feel bound to keep to the immediate occasion for which it was written, but shall seek to find a use for it in the present circumstances of God's saints. Psalms 85:1. _Lord, thou hast been favourable unto the land: thou hast brought back the captivity of Jacob._ Whenever you are in a low state of mind or heart, remember God's past lovingkindnesses. Recall the record of what he has done for his people in ages long gone by, for he is the same God for ever and ever, and, therefore, what he has done in the past, he will do in the future. As the wise man said, «The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the Sun.» It is certainly so concerning God's dealings «Lord thou hast been favorable unto thy land,» even when it was stoned with ‘si

Psalms 85 All Promised Blessings Realized _ 1. What grace has done (Psalms 85:1)_ 2. Prayer for the fulfilment (Psalms 85:4) 3. Righteousness and peace (Psalms 85:10) What will come to Israel when Christ returns to be their King is blessedly made known in the opening verses of this other Korah Psalm. Favour will rest upon the land; the captivity of Jacob is brought back, their iniquity is forgiven and their sin covered; His wrath is turned away. Hence they pray that all this may speedily be accomplished as it surely will in the days when heaven will send Him back. Then He will speak peace to His people and Hi

LXXXV. PRAYER FOR THE COMPLETION OF ISRAEL'S RESTORATION. The Ps. falls clearly into two halves. Psalms 85:1 is a prayer to God. It begins (Psalms 85:1) by commemorating God's mercy. He had restored His people (see on Psalms 14:7) and forgiven their sin, but the expectation of Jewish saints remained unfulfilled (Psalms 85:4). The reference may be to the hopes raised by the Second Isaiah (Isaiah 40-55). Israel did return under Cyrus (pp. 77f.), but the hopes of coming glory were disappointed. The second half, on the contrary (Psalms 85:8), is not a prayer