mh_parser/vol_split/19 - Psalms/Chapter 85.xml

<div2 id="Ps.lxxxvi" n="lxxxvi" next="Ps.lxxxvii" prev="Ps.lxxxv" progress="51.32%" title="Chapter LXXXV">
<h2 id="Ps.lxxxvi-p0.1">P S A L M S</h2>
<h3 id="Ps.lxxxvi-p0.2">PSALM LXXXV.</h3>
<p class="intro" id="Ps.lxxxvi-p1">Interpreters are generally of the opinion that
this psalm was penned after the return of the Jews out of their
captivity in Babylon, when they still remained under some tokens of
God's displeasure, which they here pray for the removal of. And
nothing appears to the contrary, but that it might be penned then,
as well as <scripRef id="Ps.lxxxvi-p1.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.137.1-Ps.137.9" parsed="|Ps|137|1|137|9" passage="Ps 137:1-9">Ps. cxxxvii.</scripRef>
They are the public interests that lie near the psalmist's heart
here, and the psalm is penned for the great congregation. The
church was here in a deluge; above were clouds, below were waves;
every thing was dark and dismal. The church is like Noah in the
ark, between life and death, between hope and fear; being so, I.
Here is the dove sent forth in prayer. The petitions are against
sin and wrath (<scripRef id="Ps.lxxxvi-p1.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.85.4" parsed="|Ps|85|4|0|0" passage="Ps 85:4">ver. 4</scripRef>) and
for mercy and grace, <scripRef id="Ps.lxxxvi-p1.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.85.7" parsed="|Ps|85|7|0|0" passage="Ps 85:7">ver. 7</scripRef>.
The pleas are taken from former favours (<scripRef id="Ps.lxxxvi-p1.4" osisRef="Bible:Ps.85.1-Ps.85.3" parsed="|Ps|85|1|85|3" passage="Ps 85:1-3">ver. 1-3</scripRef>) and present distresses, <scripRef id="Ps.lxxxvi-p1.5" osisRef="Bible:Ps.85.5-Ps.85.6" parsed="|Ps|85|5|85|6" passage="Ps 85:5,6">ver. 5, 6</scripRef>. II. Here is the dove
returning with an olive branch of peace and good tidings; the
psalmist expects her return (<scripRef id="Ps.lxxxvi-p1.6" osisRef="Bible:Ps.85.8" parsed="|Ps|85|8|0|0" passage="Ps 85:8">ver.
8</scripRef>) and then recounts the favours to God's Israel which
by the spirit of prophecy he gave assurance of to others, and by
the spirit of faith he took the assurance of to himself, <scripRef id="Ps.lxxxvi-p1.7" osisRef="Bible:Ps.85.9-Ps.85.13" parsed="|Ps|85|9|85|13" passage="Ps 85:9-13">ver. 9-13</scripRef>. In singing this psalm we
may be assisted in our prayers to God both for his church in
general and for the land of our nativity in particular. The former
part will be of use to direct our desires, the latter to encourage
our faith and hope in those prayers.</p>
<scripCom id="Ps.lxxxvi-p1.8" osisRef="Bible:Ps.85" parsed="|Ps|85|0|0|0" passage="Ps 85" type="Commentary"/>
<scripCom id="Ps.lxxxvi-p1.9" osisRef="Bible:Ps.85.1-Ps.85.7" parsed="|Ps|85|1|85|7" passage="Ps 85:1-7" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Ps.85.1-Ps.85.7">
<h4 id="Ps.lxxxvi-p1.10">Prayer in Time of Trouble.</h4>
<div class="Center" id="Ps.lxxxvi-p1.11">
<p id="Ps.lxxxvi-p2">To the chief musician. A psalm for the sons of Korah.</p>
</div>
<p class="passage" id="Ps.lxxxvi-p3">1 <span class="smallcaps" id="Ps.lxxxvi-p3.1">Lord</span>, 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 <i>thyself</i> 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 show us thy mercy, <span class="smallcaps" id="Ps.lxxxvi-p3.2">O Lord</span>, and grant us thy salvation.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.lxxxvi-p4">The church, in affliction and distress, is
here, by direction from God, making her application to God. So
ready is God to hear and answer the prayers of his people that by
his Spirit in the word, and in the heart, he indites their
petitions and puts words into their mouths. The people of God, in a
very low and weak condition, are here taught how to address
themselves to God.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.lxxxvi-p5">I. They are to acknowledge with
thankfulness the great things God had done for them (<scripRef id="Ps.lxxxvi-p5.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.85.1-Ps.85.3" parsed="|Ps|85|1|85|3" passage="Ps 85:1-3"><i>v.</i> 1-3</scripRef>): "Thou has done so
and so for us and our fathers." Note, The sense of present
afflictions should not drown the remembrance of former mercies;
but, even when we are brought very low, we must call to remembrance
past experiences of God's goodness, which we must take notice of
with thankfulness, to his praise. They speak of it here with
pleasure, 1. That God had shown himself propitious to their land,
and had smiled upon it as his own: "<i>Thou hast been favourable to
thy land,</i> as thine, with distinguishing favours." Note, The
favour of God is the spring-head of all good, and the fountain of
happiness, to nations, as well as to particular persons. It was by
the favour of God that Israel got and kept possession of Canaan
(<scripRef id="Ps.lxxxvi-p5.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.44.3" parsed="|Ps|44|3|0|0" passage="Ps 44:3">Ps. xliv. 3</scripRef>); and, if he
had not continued very favourable to them, they would have been
ruined many a time. 2. That he had rescued them out of the hands of
their enemies and restored them to their liberty: "<i>Thou hast
brought back the captivity of Jacob,</i> and settled those in their
own land again that had been driven out and were strangers in a
strange land, prisoners in the land of their oppressors." The
captivity of Jacob, though it may continue long, will be brought
back in due time. 3. That he had not dealt with them according to
the desert of their provocations (<scripRef id="Ps.lxxxvi-p5.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.85.2" parsed="|Ps|85|2|0|0" passage="Ps 85:2"><i>v.</i> 2</scripRef>): "<i>Thou hast forgiven the
iniquity of thy people,</i> and not punished them as in justice
thou mightest. <i>Thou hast covered all their sin.</i>" When God
forgives sin he covers it; and, when he covers the sin of his
people, he covers it all. The bringing back of their captivity was
<i>then</i> an instance of God's favour to them, when it was
accompanied with the pardon of their iniquity. 4. That he had not
continued his anger against them so far, and so long, as they had
reason to fear (<scripRef id="Ps.lxxxvi-p5.4" osisRef="Bible:Ps.85.3" parsed="|Ps|85|3|0|0" passage="Ps 85:3"><i>v.</i>
3</scripRef>): "Having <i>covered all their sin,</i> thou hast
<i>taken away all thy wrath;</i>" for when sin is set aside God's
anger ceases; God is pacified if we are purified. See what the
pardon of sin is: <i>Thou hast forgiven the iniquity of thy
people,</i> that is, "<i>Thou hast turned thy anger from waxing
hot,</i> so as to consume us in the flame of it. In compassion to
us thou hast not stirred up all thy wrath, but, when an intercessor
has stood before thee in the gap, thou hast turned away thy
anger."</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.lxxxvi-p6">II. They are taught to pray to God for
grace and mercy, in reference to their present distress; this is
inferred from the former: "Thou hast done well for our fathers; do
well for us, for we are the children of the same covenant." 1. They
pray for converting grace: "<i>Turn us, O God of our salvation!</i>
in order to the turning of our captivity; turn us from iniquity;
turn us to thyself and to our duty; turn us, and we shall be
turned." All those whom God will save sooner or later he will turn.
If no conversion, no salvation. 2. They pray for the removal of the
tokens of God's displeasure which they were under: "<i>Cause thine
anger towards us to cease,</i> as thou didst many a time cause it
to cease in the days of our fathers, when thou didst take away thy
wrath from them." Observe the method, "First turn us to thee, and
then cause thy anger to turn from us." When we are reconciled to
God, then, and not till then, we may expect the comfort of his
being reconciled to us. 3. They pray for the manifestation of God's
good-will to them (<scripRef id="Ps.lxxxvi-p6.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.85.7" parsed="|Ps|85|7|0|0" passage="Ps 85:7"><i>v.</i>
7</scripRef>): "<i>Show us thy mercy, O Lord!</i> show thyself
merciful to us; not only have mercy on us, but let us have the
comfortable evidences of that mercy; let us know that thou hast
mercy on us and mercy in store for us." 4. They pray that God
would, graciously to them and gloriously to himself, appear on
their behalf: "<i>Grant us thy salvation;</i> grant it by thy
promise, and then, no doubt, thou wilt work it by thy providence."
Note, The vessels of God's mercy are the heirs of his salvation; he
shows mercy to those to whom he grants salvation; for salvation is
of mere mercy.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.lxxxvi-p7">III. They are taught humbly to expostulate
with God concerning their present troubles, <scripRef id="Ps.lxxxvi-p7.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.85.5-Ps.85.6" parsed="|Ps|85|5|85|6" passage="Ps 85:5,6"><i>v.</i> 5, 6</scripRef>. Here observe, 1. What they
dread and deprecate: "<i>Wilt thou be angry with us for ever?</i>
We are undone if thou art, but we hope thou wilt not. <i>Wilt thou
draw out thy anger unto all generations?</i> No; thou art gracious,
slow to anger, and swift to show mercy, and wilt not contend for
ever. Thou wast not angry with our fathers for ever, but didst soon
turn thyself from the fierceness of thy wrath; why then wilt thou
be angry with us for ever? Are not thy mercies and compassions as
plentiful and powerful as ever they were? Impenitent sinners God
will be angry with for ever; for what is hell but the wrath of God
drawn out unto endless generations? But shall a hell upon earth be
the lot of thy people?" 2. What they desire and hope for: "<i>Wilt
thou not revive us again</i> (<scripRef id="Ps.lxxxvi-p7.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.85.6" parsed="|Ps|85|6|0|0" passage="Ps 85:6"><i>v.</i>
6</scripRef>), revive us with comforts spoken to us, revive us with
deliverances wrought for us? Thou hast been favourable to thy land
formerly, and that revived it; wilt thou not again be favourable,
and so revive it again?" God had granted to the children of the
captivity <i>some reviving in their bondage,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.lxxxvi-p7.3" osisRef="Bible:Ezra.9.8" parsed="|Ezra|9|8|0|0" passage="Ezr 9:8">Ezra ix. 8</scripRef>. Their return out of Babylon was as
<i>life from the dead,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.lxxxvi-p7.4" osisRef="Bible:Ezek.37.11-Ezek.37.12" parsed="|Ezek|37|11|37|12" passage="Eze 37:11,12">Eze.
xxxvii. 11, 12</scripRef>. Now, Lord (say they), <i>wilt thou not
revive us again,</i> and <i>put thy hand again the second time</i>
to gather us in? <scripRef id="Ps.lxxxvi-p7.5" osisRef="Bible:Isa.126.1 Bible:Isa.126.4 Bible:Ps.126.1 Bible:Ps.126.4" parsed="|Isa|126|1|0|0;|Isa|126|4|0|0;|Ps|126|1|0|0;|Ps|126|4|0|0" passage="Isa 126:1,4,Ps 126:1,4">Ps.
cxxvi. 1, 4</scripRef>. <i>Revive thy work in the midst of the
years,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.lxxxvi-p7.6" osisRef="Bible:Hab.3.2" parsed="|Hab|3|2|0|0" passage="Hab 3:2">Hab. iii. 2</scripRef>.
"Revive us again," (1.) "That thy people may rejoice; and so we
shall have the comfort of it," <scripRef id="Ps.lxxxvi-p7.7" osisRef="Bible:Ps.14.7" parsed="|Ps|14|7|0|0" passage="Ps 14:7">Ps. xiv.
7</scripRef>. Give them life, that they may have joy. (2.) "That
they may rejoice in thee; and so thou wilt have the glory of it."
If God be the fountain of all our mercies, he must be the centre of
all our joys.</p>
</div><scripCom id="Ps.lxxxvi-p7.8" osisRef="Bible:Ps.85.8-Ps.85.13" parsed="|Ps|85|8|85|13" passage="Ps 85:8-13" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Ps.85.8-Ps.85.13">
<h4 id="Ps.lxxxvi-p7.9">Divine Answer to Prayer; Blessings Given in
Answer to Prayer.</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Ps.lxxxvi-p8">8 I will hear what God the <span class="smallcaps" id="Ps.lxxxvi-p8.1">Lord</span> 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 <i>is</i> nigh them that fear
him; that glory may dwell in our land.   10 Mercy and truth
are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed <i>each
other.</i>   11 Truth shall spring out of the earth; and
righteousness shall look down from heaven.   12 Yea, the <span class="smallcaps" id="Ps.lxxxvi-p8.2">Lord</span> shall give <i>that which is</i> good;
and our land shall yield her increase.   13 Righteousness
shall go before him; and shall set <i>us</i> in the way of his
steps.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.lxxxvi-p9">We have here an answer to the prayers and
expostulations in the <scripRef id="Ps.lxxxvi-p9.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.85.1-Ps.85.7" parsed="|Ps|85|1|85|7" passage="Ps 85:1-7">foregoing
verses</scripRef>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.lxxxvi-p10">I. In general, it is an answer of peace.
This the psalmist is soon aware of (<scripRef id="Ps.lxxxvi-p10.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.85.8" parsed="|Ps|85|8|0|0" passage="Ps 85:8"><i>v.</i> 8</scripRef>), for he <i>stands upon his
watch-tower</i> to <i>hear what God will say unto him,</i> as the
prophet, <scripRef id="Ps.lxxxvi-p10.2" osisRef="Bible:Hab.2.1-Hab.2.2" parsed="|Hab|2|1|2|2" passage="Hab 2:1,2">Hab. ii. 1, 2</scripRef>.
<i>I will hear what God the Lord will speak.</i> This intimates, 1.
The stilling of his passions—his grief, his fear—and the tumult
of his spirit which they occasioned: "Compose thyself, O my soul!
in a humble silence to attend upon God and wait his motions. I have
spoken enough, or too much; now I will hear what God will speak,
and welcome his holy will. <i>What saith my Lord unto his
servant?</i>" If we would have God to hear what we say to him by
prayer, we must be ready to hear what he says to us by his word. 2.
The raising of his expectation; now that he has been at prayer he
looks for something very great, and very kind, from the God that
hears prayer. When we have prayed we should look after our prayers,
and stay for an answer. Now observe here, (1.) What it is that he
promises himself from God, in answer to his prayers: <i>He will
speak peace to his people, and to his saints.</i> There are a
people in the world who are God's people, set apart for him,
subject to him, and who shall be saved by him. All his people are
his saints, sanctified by his grace and devoted to his glory; these
may sometimes want peace, when without are fightings and within are
fears; but, sooner or later, God will speak peace to them; if he do
not command outward peace, yet he will suggest inward peace,
speaking that to their hearts by his Spirit which he has spoken to
their ears by his word and ministers and making them to hear joy
and gladness. (2.) What use he makes of this expectation. [1.] He
takes the comfort of it; and so must we: "<i>I will hear what God
the Lord will speak,</i> hear the assurances he gives of peace, in
answer to prayer." When God speaks peace we must not be deaf to it,
but with all humility and thankfulness receive it. [2.] He cautions
the saints to do the duty which this calls for: <i>But let them not
turn again to folly;</i> for it is on these terms, and no other,
that peace is to be expected. To those, and those only, peace is
spoken, who turn from sin; but, if they return to it again, it is
at their peril. All sin is folly, but especially backsliding; it is
egregious folly to turn to sin after we have seemed to turn from
it, to turn to it after God has spoken peace. God is for peace,
but, when he speaks, such are for war.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.lxxxvi-p11">II. Here are the particulars of this answer
of peace. He doubts not but all will be well in a little time, and
therefore gives us the pleasing prospect of the flourishing estate
of the church in the <scripRef id="Ps.lxxxvi-p11.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.85.9-Ps.85.13" parsed="|Ps|85|9|85|13" passage="Ps 85:9-13">last five
verses</scripRef> of the psalm, which describe the peace and
prosperity that God, at length, blessed the children of the
captivity with, when, after a great deal of toil and agitation, at
length they gained a settlement in their own land. But it may be
taken both as a promise also to all who fear God and work
righteousness, that they shall be easy and happy, and as a prophecy
of the kingdom of the Messiah and the blessings with which that
kingdom should be enriched. Here is,</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.lxxxvi-p12">1. Help at hand (<scripRef id="Ps.lxxxvi-p12.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.85.9" parsed="|Ps|85|9|0|0" passage="Ps 85:9"><i>v.</i> 9</scripRef>): "<i>Surely his salvation is
nigh,</i> nigh to us, nigher than we think it is: it will soon be
effected, how great soever our difficulties and distresses are,
when God's time shall come, and that time is not far off." When the
tale of bricks is doubled, then Moses comes. It is nigh to all who
fear him; when trouble is nigh salvation is nigh, for God is a very
present help in time of trouble to all who are his; whereas
<i>salvation is far from the wicked,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.lxxxvi-p12.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.119.155" parsed="|Ps|119|155|0|0" passage="Ps 119:155">Ps. cxix. 155</scripRef>. This may fitly be applied to
Christ the author of eternal salvation: it was the comfort of the
Old-Testament saints that, though they lived not to see that
redemption in Jerusalem which they waited for, yet they were sure
it was nigh, and would be welcome, to all that fear God.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.lxxxvi-p13">2. Honour secured: "<i>That glory may dwell
in our land,</i> that we may have the worship of God settled and
established among us; for that is the glory of a land. When that
goes, <i>Ichabod—the glory has departed;</i> when that stays glory
dwells." This may refer to the Messiah, who was to be <i>the glory
of his people Israel,</i> and who came and dwelt among them
(<scripRef id="Ps.lxxxvi-p13.1" osisRef="Bible:John.1.4" parsed="|John|1|4|0|0" passage="Joh 1:4">John i. 4</scripRef>), for which
reason their land is called <i>Immanuel's land,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.lxxxvi-p13.2" osisRef="Bible:Isa.8.8" parsed="|Isa|8|8|0|0" passage="Isa 8:8">Isa. viii. 8</scripRef>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.lxxxvi-p14">3. Graces meeting, and happily embracing
(<scripRef id="Ps.lxxxvi-p14.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.85.10-Ps.85.11" parsed="|Ps|85|10|85|11" passage="Ps 85:10,11"><i>v.</i> 10, 11</scripRef>):
<i>Mercy and truth, righteousness and peace, kiss each other.</i>
This may be understood, (1.) Of the reformation of the people and
of the government, in the administration of which all those graces
should be conspicuous and commanding. The rulers and ruled shall
all be merciful and true, righteous and peaceable. When there is no
truth nor mercy all goes to ruin (<scripRef id="Ps.lxxxvi-p14.2" osisRef="Bible:Hos.4.1 Bible:Isa.59.14-Isa.59.15" parsed="|Hos|4|1|0|0;|Isa|59|14|59|15" passage="Ho 4:1,Isa 59:14,15">Hos. iv. 1; Isa. lix. 14, 15</scripRef>); but
when these meet in the management of all affairs, when these give
aim, when these give law, when there is such plenty of truth that
it sprouts up like the grass of the earth, and of righteousness
that it is showered down like rain from heaven, then things go
well. When in every congress mercy and truth meet, in every embrace
righteousness and peace kiss, and common honesty is indeed common,
then glory dwells in a land, as the sin of reigning dishonesty is a
reproach to any people. (2.) Of the return of God's favour, and the
continuance of it, thereupon. When a people return to God and
adhere to him in a way of duty he will return to them and abide
with them in a way of mercy. So some understand this, man's truth
and God's mercy, man's righteousness and God's peace, meet
together. If God find us true to him, to one another, to ourselves,
we shall find him merciful. If we make conscience of righteousness,
we shall have the comfort of peace. If <i>truth spring out of the
earth,</i> that is (as Dr. Hammond expounds it), out of the hearts
of men, the proper soil for it to grow in, righteousness (that is,
God's mercy) shall look down from heaven, as the sun does upon the
world when it sheds its influences on the productions of the earth
and cherishes them. (3.) Of the harmony of the divine attributes in
the Messiah's undertaking. In him who is both our salvation and our
glory <i>mercy and truth have met together;</i> God's mercy and
truth, and his <i>righteousness and peace, have kissed each
other;</i> that is, the great affair of our salvation is so well
contrived, so well concerted, that God may have mercy upon poor
sinners, and be at peace with them, without any wrong to his truth
and righteousness. He is true to the threatening, and just in his
government, and yet pardons sinners and takes them into covenant
with himself. Christ, as Mediator, brings heaven and earth together
again, which sin had set at variance; through him <i>truth springs
out of the earth,</i> that truth which God <i>desires in the inward
part,</i> and then <i>righteousness looks down from heaven;</i> for
God is <i>just, and the justifier of those who believe in
Jesus.</i> Or it may denote that in the kingdom of the Messiah
these graces shall flourish and prevail and have a universal
command.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.lxxxvi-p15">4. Great plenty of every thing desirable
(<scripRef id="Ps.lxxxvi-p15.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.85.12" parsed="|Ps|85|12|0|0" passage="Ps 85:12"><i>v.</i> 12</scripRef>): <i>The Lord
shall give that which is good,</i> every thing that he sees to be
good for us. All good comes from God's goodness; and when mercy,
truth, and righteousness, have a sovereign influence on men's
hearts and lives, all good may be expected. If we thus <i>seek the
righteousness of God's kingdom, other things shall be added;</i>
<scripRef id="Ps.lxxxvi-p15.2" osisRef="Bible:Matt.6.33" parsed="|Matt|6|33|0|0" passage="Mt 6:33">Matt. vi. 33</scripRef>. When the glory
of the gospel dwells in our land, then it shall yield its increase,
for soul-prosperity will either bring outward prosperity along with
it or sweeten the want of it. See <scripRef id="Ps.lxxxvi-p15.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.67.6" parsed="|Ps|67|6|0|0" passage="Ps 67:6">Ps.
lxvii. 6</scripRef>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.lxxxvi-p16">5. A sure guidance in the good way
(<scripRef id="Ps.lxxxvi-p16.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.85.13" parsed="|Ps|85|13|0|0" passage="Ps 85:13"><i>v.</i> 13</scripRef>): <i>The
righteousness</i> of his promise which he has made to us, assuring
us of happiness, and the righteousness of sanctification, that good
work which he has wrought in us, these shall go before him to
prepare his way, both to raise our expectations of his favour and
to qualify us for it; and these shall go before us also, and be our
guide to <i>set us in the way of his steps,</i> that is, to
encourage our hopes and guide our practice, that we may go forth to
meet him when he is coming towards us in ways of mercy. Christ, the
sun of righteousness, shall bring us to God, and put us into the
way that leads to him. John Baptist, a preacher of righteousness,
shall go before Christ to prepare his way. Righteousness is a sure
guide both in meeting God and in following him.</p>
</div></div2>