Psalm 85

You, Lord, showed favor to your land;
    you restored the fortunes of Jacob.
You forgave the iniquity of your people
    and covered all their sins.
You set aside all your wrath
    and turned from your fierce anger.
Restore us again, God our Savior,
    and put away your displeasure toward us.
Will you be angry with us forever?
    Will you prolong your anger through all generations?
Will you not revive us again,
    that your people may rejoice in you?
Show us your unfailing love, Lord,
    and grant us your salvation.
I will listen to what God the Lord says;
    he promises peace to his people, his faithful servants—
    but let them not turn to folly.
Surely his salvation is near those who fear him,
    that his glory may dwell in our land.
Love and faithfulness meet together;
    righteousness and peace kiss each other.
Faithfulness springs forth from the earth,
    and righteousness looks down from heaven.
The Lord will indeed give what is good,
    and our land will yield its harvest.
Righteousness goes before him
    and prepares the way for his steps.

• Psalm 85:1-13

Type of Psalm

Psalms of thanksgiving for God’s goodness to Israel:  Giving God thanks as noted.

Matthew Henry’s Summary

“Interpreters are generally of the opinion that this psalm was penned after the return of the Jews out of their captivity in Babylon, when they still remained under some tokens of God’s displeasure, which they here pray for the removal of. And nothing appears to the contrary, but that it might be penned then, as well as Ps. 137:1-9. They are the public interests that lie near the psalmist’s heart here, and the psalm is penned for the great congregation. The church was here in a deluge; above were clouds, below were waves; every thing was dark and dismal. The church is like Noah in the ark, between life and death, between hope and fear; being so, I. Here is the dove sent forth in prayer. The petitions are against sin and wrath (ver. 4) and for mercy and grace, ver. 7. The pleas are taken from former favours (ver. 1-3) and present distresses, ver. 5, 6. II. Here is the dove returning with an olive branch of peace and good tidings; the psalmist expects her return (ver. 8) and then recounts the favours to God’s Israel which by the spirit of prophecy he gave assurance of to others, and by the spirit of faith he took the assurance of to himself, ver. 9-13. In singing this psalm we may be assisted in our prayers to God both for his church in general and for the land of our nativity in particular. The former part will be of use to direct our desires, the latter to encourage our faith and hope in those prayers.”

• Matthew Henry, Matthew Henry’s Commentary

Noted Biblical Scholars, Teachers, and Preachers Comments

Psalm 85:8 “Equipped with the right tools, we can learn to listen to God. What are those tools?  Here are the ones I have found helpful.
“A regular time and place.  Select a slot on your schedule and a corner of your world, and claim it for God.  For some it may be the best to do this in the morning … Others prefer the evening…
“A second tool you need [is] an open Bible. God speaks to us through his Word. The first step in reading the Bible is to ask God to help you understand it … Don’t go to Scripture looking for your own idea; go searching for God’s …
“There is a third tool … Not only do we need a regular time and an open Bible, we also need a listening heart … If you want to be just like Jesus, let God have you. Spend time listening for him until you receive your lesson for the day-then apply it.”

• Max Lucado, Just Like Jesus

My Thoughts

The psalmist praises the Lord for the restoration of Judah.  This includes confession of sin.

Then in verse 4, He begs God to turn His wrath away.

But this lament quickly changes to praise for God an His unfailing love.

There are reminders for God’s people to be faithful, but the rest of the psalm focuses on the faithfulness of God and the promises God made to His people.

God will indeed give what is good.

Psalm 86

Hear me, Lord, and answer me,
    for I am poor and needy.
Guard my life, for I am faithful to you;
    save your servant who trusts in you.
You are my God; have mercy on me, Lord,
    for I call to you all day long.
Bring joy to your servant, Lord,
    for I put my trust in you.
You, Lord, are forgiving and good,
    abounding in love to all who call to you.
Hear my prayer, Lord;
    listen to my cry for mercy.
When I am in distress, I call to you,
    because you answer me.
Among the gods there is none like you, Lord;
    no deeds can compare with yours.
All the nations you have made
    will come and worship before you, Lord;
    they will bring glory to your name.
For you are great and do marvelous deeds;
    you alone are God.
Teach me your way, Lord,
    that I may rely on your faithfulness;
give me an undivided heart,
    that I may fear your name.
I will praise you, Lord my God, with all my heart;
    I will glorify your name forever.
For great is your love toward me;
    you have delivered me from the depths,
    from the realm of the dead.
Arrogant foes are attacking me, O God;
    ruthless people are trying to kill me—
    they have no regard for you.
But you, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God,
    slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.
Turn to me and have mercy on me;
    show your strength in behalf of your servant;
save me, because I serve you
    just as my mother did.
Give me a sign of your goodness,
    that my enemies may see it and be put to shame,
    for you, Lord, have helped me and comforted me.

• Psalm 86:1-17

Type of Psalm

Psalms of Affliction: Psalms where the psalmist is crying out in pain or distress, asking God where He is in the psalmist’s time of need.  But no matter how dire the circumstances or how long the lament, there seems to always be a word of praise.  Otherwise, why do we go to God in such times, other than to recognize Him as the only one who can help us?

Matthew Henry’s Summary

“This psalm is entitled ‘a prayer of David;’ probably it was not penned upon any particular occasion, but was a prayer he often used himself, and recommended to others for their use, especially in a day of affliction. Many think that David penned this prayer as a type of Christ, ‘who in the days of his flesh offered up strong cries,’ Heb. 5:7. David, in this prayer (according to the nature of that duty), I. Gives glory to God, ver. 8-10, 12, 13. II. Seeks for grace and favour from God, that God would hear his prayers (ver. 1, 6, 7), preserve and save him, and be merciful to him (ver. 2, 3, 16), that he would give him joy, and grace, and strength, and put honour upon him, ver. 4. 11. 17. He pleads God’s goodness (ver. 5, 15) and the malice of his enemies, ver. 14. In singing this we must, as David did, lift up our souls to God with application.”

• Matthew Henry, Matthew Henry’s Commentary

Noted Biblical Scholars, Teachers, and Preachers Comments

Psalm 86:15 ”Our love depends on the receiver of the love. Let a thousand people pass before us, and we will not feel the same about each. Our love will be regulated by their appearance, by their personalities. Even when we find a few people we like, our feelings will fluctuate. How they treat us will affect how we love them. The receiver regulates our love.
“Not so with the love of God. We have no thermostatic impact on his love for us. The love of God is born from within him, not from what he finds in us. His love is uncaused and spontaneous …
“Does he love us because of our goodness? Because of our kindness? Because of our great faith? No, he loves us because of his goodness, kindness, and great faith.”

• Max Lucado, A Love Worth Giving

My Thoughts

This psalm is listed as a psalm of affliction.  It starts out that way, but in most laments, there is an element of praise.

The confession is not specific, but the psalmist calls for mercy.

Then the psalmist praises God, for there is no other like Him.  The God who created all the nations on earth will have those nations worship Him.

God created all things, and the governments of earth may seem to be man-made, but God ordained that nation to exist.  But all nations worshipping God is more of an End Times, millennium reign, prophecy.

There is a call for God to give the psalmist an undivided heart.  Oh, Lord, could we all have that.  To worship God with no distractions.  The psalmist wants to know God’s way.

But then the psalm reverts back to the psalm of affliction.  The enemy is closing in.  Again the plea for mercy.

And then, a semi-imprecatory verse ends the psalm.  The psalmist calls for a sign that the enemy will see and be put to shame, for mighty is the God of Israel.

Psalm 87

He has founded his city on the holy mountain.
The Lord loves the gates of Zion
    more than all the other dwellings of Jacob.
Glorious things are said of you,
    city of God:
“I will record Rahab and Babylon
    among those who acknowledge me—
Philistia too, and Tyre, along with Cush—
    and will say, ‘This one was born in Zion.’”
Indeed, of Zion it will be said,
    “This one and that one were born in her,
    and the Most High himself will establish her.”
The Lord will write in the register of the peoples:
    “This one was born in Zion.”
As they make music they will sing,
    “All my fountains are in you.”

• Psalm 87:1-7

Type of Psalm

Prophetic psalms: Prophetic psalms are those psalms containing prophecy that is not specifically Messianic prophecy.

Matthew Henry’s Summary

“The foregoing psalm was very plain and easy, but in this are things dark and hard to be understood. It is an encomium of Zion, as a type and figure of the gospel-church, to which what is here spoken is very applicable. Zion, for the temple’s sake, is here preferred, I. Before the rest of the land of Canaan, as being crowned with special tokens of God’s favour, ver. 1-3. II. Before any other place or country whatsoever, as being replenished with more eminent men and with a greater plenty of divine blessings, ver. 4-7. Some think it was penned to express the joy of God’s people when Zion was in a flourishing state; others think it was penned to encourage their faith and hope when Zion was in ruins and was to be rebuilt after the captivity. Though no man cared for her (Jer. 30:17; ‘This is Zion whom no man seeketh after’), yet God had done great things for her, and spoken glorious things of her, which should all have their perfection and accomplishment in the gospel-church; to that therefore we must have an eye in singing this psalm.”

• Matthew Henry, Matthew Henry’s Commentary

Noted Biblical Scholars, Teachers, and Preachers Comments

Psalm 87:2 “’Glorious things are spoken of you, 0 city of God!’ This is true of Jerusalem. Her history, which is the story of the nation of which she is the capital, is full of glorious incidents, and her use and end as the abode of the true God and of His worship was preeminently glorious. Glorious things were taught in the streets and seen in her temples. Glorious things were foretold of her, and she was the type of the most glorious things of all. This is yet more true of the church: she is founded in grace, but her pinnacles glow with glory. People may glory in her without being braggarts-she has a luster about her brow that none can rival. Whatever glorious things the saints may say of the church in their eulogies, they cannot exceed what prophets have foretold, what angels have sung, or what God Himself has declared. Happy are the tongues that learn to occupy themselves with so excellent a subject: may they be found around our firesides, in our marketplaces, and in all the spots where people most congregate.”

• Charles H. Spurgeon, Spurgeon and the Psalms

My Thoughts

This psalm is short and has one focus, God’s Holy City of Zion, Jerusalem.

Other nations know of the wonders of this city.

People will be proud to have been born in the city.

The people will sing the praises of Zion.

Some Serendipitous Reflections

Psalm 85

“1. How can ‘believing backward’ help you ‘believe forward’?
“2. Are you disappointed that something didn’t turn out the way you hoped it would? How might this psalm help you?
“3. What are some ‘national laments’ of today? Does God show favor to certain nations? Why or why not? How can we express our corporate laments?
“4. What pattern of faith unfolds in this psalm? In your life?
“5. What does it mean to let God’s glory dwell in your life?”

• Lyman Coleman, et al, The NIV Serendipity Bible for Study Groups

Psalm 86

“1. Does God answer all your prayers? What would you say is the biggest reason God should answer them?
“2. On a scale of 1 to 10, how do you rate on self-esteem: ‘I am a worm’ (=1) to ‘I am God’s gift to the world’ (=10)? How would you complete the phrase, ‘I am …”? How would you rate the attitude in this psalm?
“3. Can God’s character really be separated from God’s action? What action does not reflect character? What character trait exists but is not embodied in action?
“4. How is God the Lord of modern day affairs? Of your life? What personal demands does God’s lordship make on you?
“5. Do you have an undivided heart? What divides it? How many ‘pieces’ of heart do you carry inside? What can restore your internal unity?”

• Lyman Coleman, et al, The NIV Serendipity Bible for Study Groups

Psalm 87

“1. Even Jesus sometimes overlooked pagans in his thinking (see Mt 15:21-28). How inclusive or exclusive do you think God’s kingdom is? Who will be left out? Who are the ‘dogs’ in your life?”

• Lyman Coleman, et al, The NIV Serendipity Bible for Study Groups

There is one set of questions for each of these psalms.

Substitute whatever group for any reference to a small group or ask who could come to your aid.

Soli Deo Gloria.  Only to God be the Glory.