John Calvin Commentary Psalms 85:4

"Turn us, O God of our salvation, And cause thine indignation toward us to cease." — Psalms 85:4 (ASV)

Turn us, O God of our salvation! The faithful now make a practical application to themselves, in their present circumstances, of what they had previously stated concerning God’s fatherly tenderness towards His people whom He had redeemed. And they attribute to Him, by whom they desire to be restored to their former state, the title O God of our salvation! to encourage themselves, even in the most desperate circumstances, in the hope of being delivered by the power of God.

Although to natural perception and reason there may be no apparent basis for hoping our condition will improve, we ought to believe that our salvation rests secure in His hand. We should also trust that, whenever He pleases, He can easily and readily find the means to bring salvation to us.

God’s anger being the cause and origin of all calamities, the faithful implore Him to remove it. This order demands our special attention; for we are so lacking in fortitude and so faint-hearted in bearing adversity that no sooner does God begin to strike us with His little finger, than we entreat Him, with groaning and sorrowful cries, to spare us.

But we forget to plead for what should primarily occupy our thoughts: that He would deliver us from guilt and condemnation. And we forget this because we are reluctant to descend into our own hearts and to examine ourselves.