This Ps. looks back upon the mercy which God has shown to His people in bringing them back from captivity (Psalms 85:1-3), entreats Him to remove the displeasure that has again fallen on them, and to deliver them f6rom present troubles (Psalms 85:4-7), and ends with a hopeful picture of the blessings that will follow the answering of the prayer (Psalms 85:8-13). It evidently belongs to a time soon after the return from the Babylonian exile—either the days of discouragement before the building of the second Temple (Ezra 4:4-5; Ezra 4:24; Haggai 1 Zechariah 1:12-21), or the period of Nehemiah (Nehemiah 1:3). The Ps. is one of those for Christmas Day.
Psalms 85:1-13
1 LORD, thou hast been favourable unto thy land: thou hast brought back the captivity of Jacob.
2 Thou hast forgiven the iniquity of thy people, thou hast covered all their sin. Selah.
3 Thou hast taken away all thy wrath: thou hast turned thyself from the fierceness of thine anger.
4 Turn us, O God of our salvation, and cause thine anger toward us to cease.
5 Wilt thou be angry with us for ever? wilt thou draw out thine anger to all generations?
6 Wilt thou not revive us again: that thy people may rejoice in thee?
7 Shew us thy mercy, O LORD, and grant us thy salvation.
8 I will hear what God the LORD will speak: for he will speak peace unto his people, and to his saints: but let them not turn again to folly.
9 Surely his salvation is nigh them that fear him; that glory may dwell in our land.
10 Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other.
11 Truth shall spring out of the earth; and righteousness shall look down from heaven.
12 Yea, the LORD shall give that which is good; and our land shall yield her increase.
13 Righteousness shall go before him; and shall set us in the way of his steps.