The Orthodox Study Bible: Psalm 85
My church asked me to read Psalm 85 this Sunday.
The Orthodox Study Bible, New Testament and Psalms, (1993) Saint Athanasius Orthodox Academy, Thomas Nelson Publishers, Nashville, Tennessee.
This bible uses the New King James Version (NKJV)
New King James Version (NJKV)
A Psalm of the sons of Korah.
85 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 [a]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.
Footnotes
Psalm 85:8 foolishness
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(Selah, may be an intended literary break)
In regards to Chapter 85, the Orthodox Bible here opines that 'God will forgive the sins of His people if they return to Him. He asks the Jewish people to confess their sins, so that they may find mercy through the Messiah, Lord Jesus Christ. This psalm is sung at Ninth Hour prayers. Verses 10-13 are seen as being fulfilled in the incarnation of the Son of God.' (704).
'13 Righteousness will go before Him, And shall make His footsteps our pathway.' Indeed, although I reason the Hebrew Bible should be interpreted in its original context, as well as prophetically, where overall biblical context allows. This does appear to describe Messianic work which was later fulfilled through the New Testament and God the Son, Jesus Christ.
My church has asked me to read the English Standard Version (ESV).
English Standard Version (ESV)
A Psalm of the Sons of Korah.
85 Lord, you were favorable to your land;
you restored the fortunes of Jacob.
2 You forgave the iniquity of your people;
you covered all their sin. Selah
3 You withdrew all your wrath;
you turned from your hot anger.
4 Restore us again, O God of our salvation,
and put away your indignation toward us!
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 steadfast love, O Lord,
and grant us your salvation.
8 Let me hear what God the Lord will speak,
for he will speak peace to his people, 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 Steadfast love and faithfulness meet;
righteousness and peace kiss each other.
11 Faithfulness springs up from the ground,
and righteousness looks down from the sky.
12 Yes, the Lord will give what is good,
and our land will yield its increase.
13 Righteousness will go before him
and make his footsteps a way.
Pastor Courson writes that Psalm 85 was likely written as the Jewish people returned from their captivity in Babylon. (107). As they had been taken away to Babylon by that empire and were in Babylon for seventy years. (107). Courson (my paraphrase) explains that even though many within the Hebrew society and religion 'rejected Him' (108), God has inexhaustible mercy and continued grace. (108). In other words, according to Courson, eventually many with in Judaism will ultimately accept the New Testament, gospel message (my paraphrase), as he cites Romans 11: 26, that 'all Israel will be saved' (ESV) (108). I view this as Israel and Judaism in general, and not necessarily ever single person in Israel or within Judaism, at a future date.
Leslie C. Allen describes Psalm 85 as occurring with 'perhaps the return from the Babylonian exile.' (615). It is explained that modern scholarship is not certain where this generation actually was. (615). So, not necessarily in agreement with Courson's view on time period. Allen writes that God shows faithfulness and unfailing love to the Hebrew people. (615). God in the New Testament gospel, would reveal himself to the Hebrew people through God the Son, Jesus Christ. (615).
COURSON, JON (2005) Application Commentary, Thomas Nelson, Nashville.
The Orthodox Study Bible, New Testament and Psalms, (1993) Saint Athanasius Orthodox Academy, Thomas Nelson Publishers, Nashville, Tennessee.
Romans 11: 26
Cited
πᾶς (pas)
all
Adj-NMS (Adjective, Nominative, Masculine, Singular)
Cited
Strong's Concordance
pas: all, every
Original Word: πᾶς, πᾶσα, πᾶν
Part of Speech: Adjective
Transliteration: pas
Phonetic Spelling: (pas)
Definition: all, every
Usage: all, the whole, every kind of.
