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<TITLE>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary on the Whole Bible [Psalms LXXXV].</TITLE>
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<center><h1>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary
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on the Whole Bible</h1>
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[<A HREF="MHC00000.HTM">Table of Contents</A>]<BR>
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Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1710)
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<!-- (Begin Body) -->
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<CENTER>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+3><B>P S A L M S</B></FONT>
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<BR>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+2>PSALM LXXXV.</FONT>
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<HR SIZE=1 WIDTH=50>
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</CENTER>
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<FONT SIZE=-1>
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<P>
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Interpreters are generally of the opinion that this psalm was penned
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after the return of the Jews out of their captivity in Babylon, when
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they still remained under some tokens of God's displeasure, which they
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here pray for the removal of. And nothing appears to the contrary, but
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that it might be penned then, as well as
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+137:1-9">Ps. cxxxvii.</A>
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They are the public interests that lie near the psalmist's heart here,
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and the psalm is penned for the great congregation. The church was here
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in a deluge; above were clouds, below were waves; every thing was dark
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and dismal. The church is like Noah in the ark, between life and
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death, between hope and fear; being so,
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I. Here is the dove sent forth in prayer. The petitions are against sin
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and wrath
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+85:4">ver. 4</A>)
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and for mercy and grace,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+85:7">ver. 7</A>.
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The pleas are taken from former favours
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+85:1-3">ver. 1-3</A>)
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and present distresses,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+85:5,6">ver. 5, 6</A>.
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II. Here is the dove returning with an olive branch of peace and good
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tidings; the psalmist expects her return
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+85:8">ver. 8</A>)
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and then recounts the favours to God's Israel which by the spirit of
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prophecy he gave assurance of to others, and by the spirit of faith he
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took the assurance of to himself,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+85:9-13">ver. 9-13</A>.
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In singing this psalm we may be assisted in our prayers to God both for
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his church in general and for the land of our nativity in particular.
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The former part will be of use to direct our desires, the latter to
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encourage our faith and hope in those prayers.</P>
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</FONT>
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<A NAME="Ps85_1"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ps85_2"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ps85_3"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ps85_4"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ps85_5"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ps85_6"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ps85_7"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec1"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Prayer in Time of Trouble.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1> <! -- Date --> </FONT></TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<CENTER>
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<P>To the chief musician. A psalm for the sons of Korah.</P>
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</CENTER>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>1 L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, thou hast been favourable unto
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thy land: thou hast brought back the captivity of Jacob.
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2 Thou hast forgiven the iniquity of thy people, thou hast
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covered all their sin. Selah.
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3 Thou hast taken away all thy wrath: thou hast turned
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<I>thyself</I> from the fierceness of thine anger.
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4 Turn us, O God of our salvation, and cause thine anger toward
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us to cease.
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5 Wilt thou be angry with us for ever? wilt thou draw out thine
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anger to all generations?
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6 Wilt thou not revive us again: that thy people may rejoice in
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thee?
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7 show us thy mercy, O L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, and grant us thy salvation.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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The church, in affliction and distress, is here, by direction from God,
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making her application to God. So ready is God to hear and answer the
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prayers of his people that by his Spirit in the word, and in the heart,
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he indites their petitions and puts words into their mouths. The people
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of God, in a very low and weak condition, are here taught how to
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address themselves to God.</P>
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<P>
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I. They are to acknowledge with thankfulness the great things God had
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done for them
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+85:1-3"><I>v.</I> 1-3</A>):
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"Thou has done so and so for us and our fathers." Note, The sense of
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present afflictions should not drown the remembrance of former mercies;
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but, even when we are brought very low, we must call to remembrance
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past experiences of God's goodness, which we must take notice of with
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thankfulness, to his praise. They speak of it here with pleasure,
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1. That God had shown himself propitious to their land, and had smiled
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upon it as his own: "<I>Thou hast been favourable to thy land,</I> as
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thine, with distinguishing favours." Note, The favour of God is the
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spring-head of all good, and the fountain of happiness, to nations, as
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well as to particular persons. It was by the favour of God that Israel
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got and kept possession of Canaan
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+44:3">Ps. xliv. 3</A>);
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and, if he had not continued very favourable to them, they would have
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been ruined many a time.
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2. That he had rescued them out of the hands of their enemies and
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restored them to their liberty: "<I>Thou hast brought back the
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captivity of Jacob,</I> and settled those in their own land again that
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had been driven out and were strangers in a strange land, prisoners in
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the land of their oppressors." The captivity of Jacob, though it may
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continue long, will be brought back in due time.
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3. That he had not dealt with them according to the desert of their
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provocations
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+85:2"><I>v.</I> 2</A>):
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"<I>Thou hast forgiven the iniquity of thy people,</I> and not punished
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them as in justice thou mightest. <I>Thou hast covered all their
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sin.</I>" When God forgives sin he covers it; and, when he covers the
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sin of his people, he covers it all. The bringing back of their
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captivity was <I>then</I> an instance of God's favour to them, when it
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was accompanied with the pardon of their iniquity.
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4. That he had not continued his anger against them so far, and so
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long, as they had reason to fear
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+85:3"><I>v.</I> 3</A>):
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"Having <I>covered all their sin,</I> thou hast <I>taken away all thy
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wrath;</I>" for when sin is set aside God's anger ceases; God is
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pacified if we are purified. See what the pardon of sin is: <I>Thou
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hast forgiven the iniquity of thy people,</I> that is, "<I>Thou hast
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turned thy anger from waxing hot,</I> so as to consume us in the flame
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of it. In compassion to us thou hast not stirred up all thy wrath, but,
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when an intercessor has stood before thee in the gap, thou hast turned
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away thy anger."</P>
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<P>
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II. They are taught to pray to God for grace and mercy, in reference to
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their present distress; this is inferred from the former: "Thou hast
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done well for our fathers; do well for us, for we are the children of
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the same covenant."
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1. They pray for converting grace: "<I>Turn us, O God of our
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salvation!</I> in order to the turning of our captivity; turn us from
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iniquity; turn us to thyself and to our duty; turn us, and we shall be
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turned." All those whom God will save sooner or later he will turn. If
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no conversion, no salvation.
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2. They pray for the removal of the tokens of God's displeasure which
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they were under: "<I>Cause thine anger towards us to cease,</I> as thou
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didst many a time cause it to cease in the days of our fathers, when
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thou didst take away thy wrath from them." Observe the method, "First
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turn us to thee, and then cause thy anger to turn from us." When we are
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reconciled to God, then, and not till then, we may expect the comfort
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of his being reconciled to us.
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3. They pray for the manifestation of God's good-will to them
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+85:7"><I>v.</I> 7</A>):
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"<I>Show us thy mercy, O Lord!</I> show thyself merciful to us; not
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only have mercy on us, but let us have the comfortable evidences of
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that mercy; let us know that thou hast mercy on us and mercy in store
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for us."
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4. They pray that God would, graciously to them and gloriously to
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himself, appear on their behalf: "<I>Grant us thy salvation;</I> grant
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it by thy promise, and then, no doubt, thou wilt work it by thy
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providence." Note, The vessels of God's mercy are the heirs of his
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salvation; he shows mercy to those to whom he grants salvation; for
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salvation is of mere mercy.</P>
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<P>
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III. They are taught humbly to expostulate with God concerning their
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present troubles,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+85:5,6"><I>v.</I> 5, 6</A>.
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Here observe,
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1. What they dread and deprecate: "<I>Wilt thou be angry with us for
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ever?</I> We are undone if thou art, but we hope thou wilt not. <I>Wilt
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thou draw out thy anger unto all generations?</I> No; thou art
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gracious, slow to anger, and swift to show mercy, and wilt not contend
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for ever. Thou wast not angry with our fathers for ever, but didst soon
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turn thyself from the fierceness of thy wrath; why then wilt thou be
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angry with us for ever? Are not thy mercies and compassions as
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plentiful and powerful as ever they were? Impenitent sinners God will
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be angry with for ever; for what is hell but the wrath of God drawn out
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unto endless generations? But shall a hell upon earth be the lot of thy
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people?"
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2. What they desire and hope for: "<I>Wilt thou not revive us again</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+85:6"><I>v.</I> 6</A>),
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revive us with comforts spoken to us, revive us with deliverances
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wrought for us? Thou hast been favourable to thy land formerly, and
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that revived it; wilt thou not again be favourable, and so revive it
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again?" God had granted to the children of the captivity <I>some
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reviving in their bondage,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ezr+9:8">Ezra ix. 8</A>.
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Their return out of Babylon was as <I>life from the dead,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+37:11,12">Eze. xxxvii. 11, 12</A>.
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Now, Lord (say they), <I>wilt thou not revive us again,</I> and <I>put
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thy hand again the second time</I> to gather us in?
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+126:1,4,Ps+126:1,4">Ps. cxxvi. 1, 4</A>.
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<I>Revive thy work in the midst of the years,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Hab+3:2">Hab. iii. 2</A>.
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"Revive us again,"
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(1.) "That thy people may rejoice; and so we shall have the comfort of
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it,"
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+14:7">Ps. xiv. 7</A>.
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Give them life, that they may have joy.
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(2.) "That they may rejoice in thee; and so thou wilt have the glory of
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it." If God be the fountain of all our mercies, he must be the centre
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of all our joys.</P>
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<A NAME="Ps85_8"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ps85_9"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ps85_10"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ps85_11"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ps85_12"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ps85_13"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec2"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Divine Answer to Prayer; Blessings Given in Answer to Prayer.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1> <! -- Date --> </FONT></TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>8 I will hear what God the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> will speak: for he will speak
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peace unto his people, and to his saints: but let them not turn
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again to folly.
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9 Surely his salvation <I>is</I> nigh them that fear him; that glory
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may dwell in our land.
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10 Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace
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have kissed <I>each other.</I>
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11 Truth shall spring out of the earth; and righteousness shall
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look down from heaven.
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12 Yea, the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> shall give <I>that which is</I> good; and our land
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shall yield her increase.
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13 Righteousness shall go before him; and shall set <I>us</I> in the
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way of his steps.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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We have here an answer to the prayers and expostulations in the
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+85:1-7">foregoing verses</A>.</P>
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<P>
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I. In general, it is an answer of peace. This the psalmist is soon
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aware of
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+85:8"><I>v.</I> 8</A>),
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for he <I>stands upon his watch-tower</I> to <I>hear what God will say
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unto him,</I> as the prophet,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Hab+2:1,2">Hab. ii. 1, 2</A>.
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<I>I will hear what God the Lord will speak.</I> This intimates,
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1. The stilling of his passions--his grief, his fear--and the tumult of
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his spirit which they occasioned: "Compose thyself, O my soul! in a
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humble silence to attend upon God and wait his motions. I have spoken
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enough, or too much; now I will hear what God will speak, and welcome
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his holy will. <I>What saith my Lord unto his servant?</I>" If we
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would have God to hear what we say to him by prayer, we must be ready
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to hear what he says to us by his word.
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2. The raising of his expectation; now that he has been at prayer he
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looks for something very great, and very kind, from the God that hears
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prayer. When we have prayed we should look after our prayers, and stay
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for an answer. Now observe here,
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(1.) What it is that he promises himself from God, in answer to his
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prayers: <I>He will speak peace to his people, and to his saints.</I>
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There are a people in the world who are God's people, set apart for
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him, subject to him, and who shall be saved by him. All his people are
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his saints, sanctified by his grace and devoted to his glory; these may
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sometimes want peace, when without are fightings and within are fears;
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but, sooner or later, God will speak peace to them; if he do not
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command outward peace, yet he will suggest inward peace, speaking that
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to their hearts by his Spirit which he has spoken to their ears by his
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word and ministers and making them to hear joy and gladness.
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(2.) What use he makes of this expectation.
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[1.] He takes the comfort of it; and so must we: "<I>I will hear what
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God the Lord will speak,</I> hear the assurances he gives of peace, in
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answer to prayer." When God speaks peace we must not be deaf to it, but
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with all humility and thankfulness receive it.
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[2.] He cautions the saints to do the duty which this calls for: <I>But
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let them not turn again to folly;</I> for it is on these terms, and no
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other, that peace is to be expected. To those, and those only, peace is
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spoken, who turn from sin; but, if they return to it again, it is at
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their peril. All sin is folly, but especially backsliding; it is
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egregious folly to turn to sin after we have seemed to turn from it, to
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turn to it after God has spoken peace. God is for peace, but, when he
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speaks, such are for war.</P>
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<P>
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II. Here are the particulars of this answer of peace. He doubts not but
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all will be well in a little time, and therefore gives us the pleasing
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prospect of the flourishing estate of the church in the
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+85:9-13">last five verses</A>
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of the psalm, which describe the peace and prosperity that God, at
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length, blessed the children of the captivity with, when, after a great
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deal of toil and agitation, at length they gained a settlement in their
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own land. But it may be taken both as a promise also to all who fear
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God and work righteousness, that they shall be easy and happy, and as a
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prophecy of the kingdom of the Messiah and the blessings with which
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that kingdom should be enriched. Here is,</P>
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<P>
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1. Help at hand
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+85:9"><I>v.</I> 9</A>):
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"<I>Surely his salvation is nigh,</I> nigh to us, nigher than we think
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it is: it will soon be effected, how great soever our difficulties and
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distresses are, when God's time shall come, and that time is not far
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off." When the tale of bricks is doubled, then Moses comes. It is nigh
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to all who fear him; when trouble is nigh salvation is nigh, for God is
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a very present help in time of trouble to all who are his; whereas
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<I>salvation is far from the wicked,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+119:155">Ps. cxix. 155</A>.
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This may fitly be applied to Christ the author of eternal salvation: it
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was the comfort of the Old-Testament saints that, though they lived not
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to see that redemption in Jerusalem which they waited for, yet they
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were sure it was nigh, and would be welcome, to all that fear God.</P>
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<P>
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2. Honour secured: "<I>That glory may dwell in our land,</I> that we
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may have the worship of God settled and established among us; for that
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is the glory of a land. When that goes, <I>Ichabod--the glory has
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departed;</I> when that stays glory dwells." This may refer to the
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Messiah, who was to be <I>the glory of his people Israel,</I> and who
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came and dwelt among them
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+1:4">John i. 4</A>),
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for which reason their land is called <I>Immanuel's land,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+8:8">Isa. viii. 8</A>.</P>
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<P>
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3. Graces meeting, and happily embracing
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+85:10,11"><I>v.</I> 10, 11</A>):
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<I>Mercy and truth, righteousness and peace, kiss each other.</I> This
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may be understood,
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(1.) Of the reformation of the people and of the government, in the
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administration of which all those graces should be conspicuous and
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commanding. The rulers and ruled shall all be merciful and true,
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righteous and peaceable. When there is no truth nor mercy all goes to
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ruin
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ho+4:1,Isa+59:14,15">Hos. iv. 1; Isa. lix. 14, 15</A>);
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but when these meet in the management of all affairs, when these give
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aim, when these give law, when there is such plenty of truth that it
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sprouts up like the grass of the earth, and of righteousness that it is
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showered down like rain from heaven, then things go well. When in every
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congress mercy and truth meet, in every embrace righteousness and peace
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kiss, and common honesty is indeed common, then glory dwells in a land,
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as the sin of reigning dishonesty is a reproach to any people.
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(2.) Of the return of God's favour, and the continuance of it,
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thereupon. When a people return to God and adhere to him in a way of
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duty he will return to them and abide with them in a way of mercy. So
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some understand this, man's truth and God's mercy, man's righteousness
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and God's peace, meet together. If God find us true to him, to one
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another, to ourselves, we shall find him merciful. If we make
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conscience of righteousness, we shall have the comfort of peace. If
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<I>truth spring out of the earth,</I> that is (as Dr. Hammond expounds
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it), out of the hearts of men, the proper soil for it to grow in,
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righteousness (that is, God's mercy) shall look down from heaven, as
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the sun does upon the world when it sheds its influences on the
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productions of the earth and cherishes them.
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(3.) Of the harmony of the divine attributes in the Messiah's
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undertaking. In him who is both our salvation and our glory <I>mercy
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and truth have met together;</I> God's mercy and truth, and his
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<I>righteousness and peace, have kissed each other;</I> that is, the
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great affair of our salvation is so well contrived, so well concerted,
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that God may have mercy upon poor sinners, and be at peace with them,
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without any wrong to his truth and righteousness. He is true to the
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threatening, and just in his government, and yet pardons sinners and
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takes them into covenant with himself. Christ, as Mediator, brings
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heaven and earth together again, which sin had set at variance; through
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him <I>truth springs out of the earth,</I> that truth which God
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<I>desires in the inward part,</I> and then <I>righteousness looks down
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from heaven;</I> for God is <I>just, and the justifier of those who
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believe in Jesus.</I> Or it may denote that in the kingdom of the
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Messiah these graces shall flourish and prevail and have a universal
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command.</P>
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<P>
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4. Great plenty of every thing desirable
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+85:12"><I>v.</I> 12</A>):
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<I>The Lord shall give that which is good,</I> every thing that he sees
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to be good for us. All good comes from God's goodness; and when mercy,
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truth, and righteousness, have a sovereign influence on men's hearts
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and lives, all good may be expected. If we thus <I>seek the
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righteousness of God's kingdom, other things shall be added;</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+6:33">Matt. vi. 33</A>.
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When the glory of the gospel dwells in our land, then it shall yield
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its increase, for soul-prosperity will either bring outward prosperity
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along with it or sweeten the want of it. See
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+67:6">Ps. lxvii. 6</A>.</P>
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<P>
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5. A sure guidance in the good way
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+85:13"><I>v.</I> 13</A>):
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<I>The righteousness</I> of his promise which he has made to us,
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assuring us of happiness, and the righteousness of sanctification, that
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good work which he has wrought in us, these shall go before him to
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prepare his way, both to raise our expectations of his favour and to
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qualify us for it; and these shall go before us also, and be our guide
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to <I>set us in the way of his steps,</I> that is, to encourage our
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hopes and guide our practice, that we may go forth to meet him when he
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is coming towards us in ways of mercy. Christ, the sun of
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righteousness, shall bring us to God, and put us into the way that
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leads to him. John Baptist, a preacher of righteousness, shall go
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before Christ to prepare his way. Righteousness is a sure guide both
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in meeting God and in following him.</P>
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