Psalms 85
Restore Us Again, O God Our Savior
Overview
The Sons of Korah remember past restoration while crying out for present renewal. This psalm beautifully portrays how love, faithfulness, righteousness, and peace meet when God revives His people.
Introduction
Psalm 85 moves through three phases: remembering past restoration, pleading for present revival, and receiving divine promise. Perhaps written after the return from Babylonian exile, it captures the tension between gratitude for deliverance and longing for complete renewal. Its climactic vision of love and faithfulness meeting has inspired Christians for centuries.
Remembering Past Favor
[1-3] "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." Past tense celebration of what God has done—restoration, forgiveness, mercy.
- Showed favor to land [1]: Divine blessing on territory
- Restored Jacob's fortunes [1]: Reversed captivity or decline
- Forgave iniquity [2]: Guilt removed
- Covered sins [2]: Offenses hidden from view
- Set aside wrath [3]: Anger withdrawn
- Turned from fierce anger [3]: Divine disposition changed
Plea for Present Renewal
[4-7] "Restore us again, God our Savior, and put away your displeasure toward us." Despite past deliverance, present circumstances suggest ongoing divine displeasure. "Will you be angry with us forever?" The cry intensifies: "Revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you."
- Restore us again [4]: Renewal needed repeatedly
- God our Savior [4]: Identity as deliverer claimed
- Put away displeasure [4]: End the sense of alienation
- Angry forever? [5]: Anguished question about duration
- Prolong anger? [5]: Fear of extended judgment
- Revive us again [6]: Central plea—bring life back
- People rejoice [6]: Restoration produces joy
- Show unfailing love [7]: Display covenant faithfulness
- Grant salvation [7]: Deliver as only God can
Listening for God's Answer
[8] "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." The psalmist pauses to receive divine response. God promises peace (shalom—wholeness, wellbeing), but with a warning: don't return to foolish ways.
- I will listen [8]: Posture of receptivity
- God the LORD says [8]: Divine speech anticipated
- Promises peace [8]: Shalom offered to His people
- His faithful servants [8]: Those loyal to covenant
- Not turn to folly [8]: Warning against repeating past mistakes
The Beautiful Meeting
[9-11] "Surely his salvation is near those who fear him, that his glory may dwell in our land." Then comes the psalm's climactic vision: "Love and faithfulness meet together; righteousness and peace kiss each other. Faithfulness springs forth from the earth, and righteousness looks down from heaven."
- Salvation near [9]: Deliverance imminent for the reverent
- Glory dwell in land [9]: Divine presence returning
- Love and faithfulness meet [10]: Divine attributes embracing
- Righteousness and peace kiss [10]: Justice and wellbeing united
- Faithfulness from earth [11]: Human fidelity rising up
- Righteousness from heaven [11]: Divine standard looking down
Complete Restoration
[12-13] "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." The psalm ends with confidence: God will provide; the land will flourish; righteousness will herald His coming.
- LORD will give [12]: Divine provision assured
- What is good [12]: God's gifts are beneficial
- Land yields harvest [12]: Agricultural prosperity
- Righteousness goes before [13]: Justice prepares His path
- Prepares the way [13]: Herald before the King
Key Takeaways
- Remember past faithfulness [1-3]: What God has done grounds present hope
- Revival is needed repeatedly [6]: We continually need God to revive us
- God's attributes unite [10]: Love, faithfulness, righteousness, and peace meet in Him
- Renewal has conditions [8]: Don't return to folly
Reflection Questions
- What past deliverances can you recall that should ground your present hope?
- Where do you need God to "revive you again"?
- How do love and righteousness, faithfulness and peace, meet in Christ?
Pause and Reflect
"Love and faithfulness meet together; righteousness and peace kiss each other." — Psalm 85:10
Take 5 minutes to contemplate this beautiful image. At the cross, God's love for sinners and His faithfulness to justice met. His righteousness in judging sin and His gift of peace to the guilty kissed. Let this vision of divine attributes embracing fill you with wonder at the gospel's beauty.
This Bible study was written by Claude AI to help you engage with God's Word while our team prepares in-depth studies.