1.
LORD, thou hast been favourable unto thy land: thou hast brought back the captivity of Jacob.
(1) Thou hast brought back.—See Psalms 14:7; Psalms 68:18. The expression might only imply generally a return to a state of former prosperity, as in Job 42:10, but the context directs us to refer especially to the return from exile. (See Introduction.)
2.
Thou hast forgiven the iniquity of thy people, thou hast covered all their sin. Selah.
(2) Forgiven.—Rather, taken away. (See Psalms 32:1.)
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.
(4) Turn us.—Here equivalent to restore us once more. If, the poet felt, the captivity had taught its lesson, why, on the restoration, did not complete freedom from misfortune ensue? It is this which supplies the motive of his song.
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.
(8) Speak peace . . .—This word “peace” comprehends all that the nation sighed for:
“Peace,
Dear nurse of arts, plenties, and joyful truth.”
To Christians the word has a higher meaning still, which directed the choice of this psalm for Christmas Day.
Folly.—See Psalms 14:1; Psalms 49:13. Here it most probably implies idolatry.
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.
(10) Met together.—The word is used of those who should be friends, but whom circumstances have sundered (Proverbs 22:2).
11.
Truth shall spring out of the earth; and righteousness shall look down from heaven.
(11) Truth, or “faithfulness,” is here depicted as springing out of the earth, because the renewal of fertility has re-established the conviction of the faithfulness of Jehovah towards His people, which had been shaken.
Look down.—Used of bending forwards as from a window or battlement (Song of Solomon 6:10, Note).
This “righteousness” (here in direct parallelism with faithfulness) had, as it were, been hidden like the sun behind a cloud, but now is seen showing its benign face once more in the skies.
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.
(13) Righteousness shall . . .—Better, Righteousness shall walk in front of Him, and follow in His steps.
Nothing is more instructive than the blending in Psalms 85:12-13 of material and moral blessings. They do go together, as experience, especially national testifies. In the same spirit is Wordsworth’s well-known Ode to Duty:
“Stern Law-giver! Yet thou dost wear
The Godhead’s most benignant grace,
Nor know we anything so fair
As is the smile upon thy face.
Flowers laugh before thee on their beds,
And fragrance in thy footing treads:
Thou dost preserve the stars from wrong,
And the most ancient heavens through Thee are
fresh and strong.”