Albert Barnes Commentary Psalms 85

Lord, thou hast been favorable unto thy land — Margin, “well pleased with.” The idea is that he had been kind or propitious to the nation; that is, on some former occasion. So Luther, (vormals) “formerly.” The reference is to some previous period in their history, when he had exercised his power in their behalf.

Thou hast brought back the captivity of Jacob — That is, at the time referred to. It is not necessary to suppose that the allusion is to the period immediately preceding the time when the psalm was composed, but it may have been any period in their history. Nor is it necessary to suppose that the people had been removed from their land at the time, for all that would be necessary to suppose in interpreting the language would be that the land had been invaded, even though the inhabitants still remained in it.

Thou hast forgiven the iniquity of thy people - That is, these calamities came upon them as a consequence of their sins, and you have dealt with them as if those sins were forgiven. The fact that the tokens of his anger had passed away, and that his judgments were withdrawn, seemed to prove that their sins had been forgiven. The same form of expression used here—with the same words in Hebrew—occurs in (Psalms 32:5). See the notes at that passage. The language suggests the idea of an atonement. Literally, “Thou hast lifted up - or borne - the iniquity of thy people.”

Thou hast covered all their sin - So that it is hidden; and therefore you do treat them as if they were righteous, or as if there were no sin. The idea of covering is that expressed in the Hebrew word, which is commonly rendered “atonement”—כפר kâphar—to cover; to cover over; then, to cover over sin; to forgive. The idea suggested in this verse is, that when God withdraws the tokens of his displeasure, we may hope that he has pardoned the sin which was the cause of his anger.

Thou hast taken away all thy wrath - That is, formerly; on the occasion referred to. You did so deal with your people as to make it evident that you cherished no anger or displeasure against them.

Thou hast turned thyself ... - Margin, “thine anger from waxing hot.” Literally, You did turn from the heat of your anger. His indignation was withdrawn, and he was again at peace with them. It is this fact, drawn from the former history of the people, which constitutes the basis of the appeal which follows.

Turn us, O God of our salvation - The God from whom salvation must come, and on whom we are dependent for it. The prayer here is, turn us; turn us from our sins; bring us to repentance; make us willing to forsake every evil way; and enable us to do it. This is the proper spirit always in prayer. The first thing is not that he would take away his wrath, but that he would dispose us to forsake our sins, and to turn to himself; that we may be led to abandon that which has brought his displeasure upon us, and then that he will cause his anger toward us to cease.

We have no authority for asking God to turn away his judgments unless we are willing to forsake our sins; and in all cases we can hope for the divine interposition and mercy, when the judgments of God are upon us, only as we are willing to turn from our iniquities.

And cause thine anger toward us to cease - The word used here, and rendered cause to cease - פרר pârar - means properly to break; then, to violate; and then, to annul, or to bring to an end. The idea here is, that if they were turned from sin, the cause of his anger would be removed, and would cease of course. .

Wilt thou be angry with us for ever? – Your anger has continued so long that it seems as if it will never cease.

Wilt thou draw out thine anger – Will you protract or prolong it? The idea is that of a determined purpose in retaining his anger, as if his wrath would necessarily cease unless there were such a direct exercise of will.

To all generations – literally, “from generation to generation.” That is, so that not merely the generation which has sinned and brought down these tokens of displeasure will suffer, but the next, and the next, and the next, forever. The plea is that the judgment might end and not reach coming generations.