[1] Lord, You have been favorable to Your land; You have brought back the captivity of Jacob.
[2] You have forgiven the iniquity of Your people; You have covered all their sin. Selah
[3] You have taken away all Your wrath; You have turned from the fierceness of Your anger.
[4] Restore us, O God of our salvation, And cause Your anger toward us to cease.
[5] Will You be angry with us forever? Will You prolong Your anger to all generations?
[6] Will You not revive us again, That Your people may rejoice in You?
[7] Show us Your mercy, Lord, And grant us Your salvation.
[8] I will hear what God the Lord will speak, For He will speak peace To His people and to His saints; But let them not turn back to folly.
[9] Surely His salvation is near to those who fear Him, That glory may dwell in our land.
[10] Mercy and truth have met together; Righteousness and peace have kissed.
[11] Truth shall spring out of the earth, And righteousness shall look down from heaven.
[12] Yes, the Lord will give what is good; And our land will yield its increase.
[13] Righteousness will go before him, And shall make His footsteps our pathway.
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Kohath was the son of Levi whose descendants God appointed as temple priests and servants. The Sons of Korah were descendants of Kohath who were appointed by King David to serve in the temple. Heman was their leader in the days of David.
Most scholars believe Psalm 85 was written after Judah was released from captivity and were allowed by Persian King Cyrus to return to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple. Persia had taken control of the Babylonian Empire, and God placed it upon King Cyrus's heart to rebuild the temple. About 50,000 Jews returned home to rebuild the temple. Referred to as "the captivity of Jacob" by the psalmist, the remnant of Israel praised God and rejoiced for showing favor to them and being faithful to His promise of bringing them back to their land.
However, Israel was again facing challenges and suffering at the hands of her neighbors who "feared the political and religious implications of a rebuilt temple in a thriving Jewish state. They therefore opposed the project vigorously and managed to halt work until 520, after Darius the Great became king of Persia in 522."
Darius was interested in the religions of his empire and supported Israel. However, Israel was more to blame for the work stoppage on the temple than their opponents were. Therefore God sent the prophets Haggai and Zechariah to preach in an attempt to "arouse them from their lethargy". By God's motivation and King Darius's support, the temple was completed and dedicated in 516. (NIV Study Bible: Introduction to Haggai: Background).
The psalmist recalls what the Lord had done for them when He released them from Babylon's captivity:
• He showed favor to His land;
• He fulfilled the fortunes of Jacob
(Israel);
• He forgave the iniquity of His people and
covered all their sins;
• He set aside all His wrath and turned
from His fierce anger.
In verse 4, he begins crying out to the Lord because of the suffering Israel was now experiencing at the hands of the surrounding nations who opposed their rebuilding of the temple. His prayer is directed at "God our Savior and Lord", indicating at the very least that the writer viewed God as his Savior and Lord, but more likely that the people as a whole were turning to God to deliver them.
The psalmist saw Israel's need to be restored back to God once again, and contributed their suffering to God's displeasure and anger towards them:
• "Restore us again, put away your
displeasure towards 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, O Lord, and
grant us your salvation".
The psalmist says that he will listen to what God the Lord will say - He who promises peace to His people, His saints - "but do not let them return to their folly."
God promises peace to His people if they do not return to their foolishness. The Proverbs uses the terms, "as a dog returns to its vomit" or "as a dog returns to its vomit, so fools repeat their folly." God is always faithful, however we have the tendency not to be and to return to our own vomit and foolishness.
"Surely His salvation is near those who fear Him", as opposed to those who do not. If His people return to their folly and no longer fear Him, they will not only experience lack of peace, but they also will not receive His salvation. The purpose of His salvation being near to those who fear Him, is so that "His glory may dwell in our land". We receive the benefits of salvation, but the ultimate purpose is for God's glory.
Israel was a distinct people from the other kingdoms because God's glory dwelt among them in their land. They were His people and He was their God. He chose them to be His people through whom the Messiah would come, justice and righteousness would be administered, and the world would be evangelized and enter the Kingdom of God. God's plan was that Israel would yield and multiply fruits of righteousness, peace, truth, and mercy for His glory. These character traits would distinguish His Kingdom of people from the others. His plan for Israel and the land was that they would be the Kingdom of God whose pathway was the footsteps of Righteousness who went ahead of them.
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