Psalms 85:12

85:8-13 Sooner or later, God will speak peace to his people. If he do not command outward peace, yet he will suggest inward peace; speaking to their hearts by his Spirit. Peace is spoken only to those who turn from sin. All sin is folly, especially backsliding; it is the greatest folly to return to sin. Surely God's salvation is nigh, whatever our difficulties and distresses are. Also, his honour is secured, that glory may dwell in our land. And the truth of the promises is shown by the Divine mercy in sending the Redeemer. The Divine justice is now satisfied by the great atonement. Christ, the way, truth, and life, sprang out of the earth when he took our nature upon him, and Divine justice looked upon him well pleased and satisfied. For his sake all good things, especially his Holy Spirit, are given to those who ask him. Through Christ, the pardoned sinner becomes fruitful in good works, and by looking to and trusting in the Saviour's righteousness, finds his feet set in the way of his steps. Righteousness is a sure guide, both in meeting God, and in following him

Yea, the Lord shall give that which is good,.... Meaning not merely temporal good, as rain in particular, as some think, because of the following clause; but that which is spiritually good, his good Spirit and his grace, grace and glory: nor will he withhold any good thing from his people; every good and perfect gift comes from him: and our land shall yield her increase; such who are like to the earth, which receives blessing of God, and oft drinks in the rain that comes upon it, and brings forth herbs to the dresser of it, Hebrews 6:2, these increase with the increase of God, bring forth fruits of righteousness, and grow in grace and in the knowledge of Christ; though the whole may be interpreted of the incarnation of Christ, which agrees with what goes before and follows after; see Psalm 67:6.

Psalm 85:12-13 . The Lord shall give us that which is good — That is, all that is good in itself, and good for us; all spiritual and temporal blessings. And our land shall yield her increase — The effects of the incarnation of Christ, the descent of the Spirit, and the publication of the gospel among men, are here, as frequently elsewhere, set forth in Scripture under images borrowed from that fruitfulness caused in the earth by the rain of heaven. Righteousness shall go before him — As his harbinger, or attendant. He shall work and fulfil all righteousness. He shall satisfy and glorify the righteousness of God, and shall advance the practice of righteousness and holiness among men. And shall set us in the way of his steps — That is, shall incline and enable us to walk in those righteous ways wherein he walked, and which he hath prescribed to us. “Draw us, blessed Jesus, and we will run after thee in the path of life; let thy mercy pardon us, thy truth enlighten us, thy righteousness direct us, to follow thee, O Lamb of God, whithersoever thou goest, through poverty, affliction, persecution, and death itself; that our portion may be for ever in thy kingdom of peace and love!” — Horne.

12, 13. and, under this, the deserted land shall be productive, and men be "set," or guided in God's holy ways. Doubtless, in this description of God's returning favor, the writer had in view that more glorious period, when Christ shall establish His government on God's reconciled justice and abounding mercy.

12 . Material prosperity will go hand in hand with moral progress. Earth responds to the divine blessing. Cp. Leviticus 26:4 ; Deuteronomy 28:12 ; Psalm 67:6 . The fruitfulness of the land is a constant feature in pictures of the Messianic future; and point is given to the promise by the fact that the returned exiles had been suffering from scarcity ( Haggai 1:10 f.).

Yea, the Lord shall give that which is good - All that is truly good: all needful temporal blessings; all blessings connected with salvation. And our land shall yield her increase - There shall be fruitful seasons, and the earth shall produce abundance. Compare the notes at Psalm 67:6.

The poet pursues this charming picture of the future further. After God's אמת, i.e., faithfulness to the promises, has descended like dew, אמת, i.e., faithfulness to the covenant, springs up out of the land, the fruit of that fertilizing influence. And צדקה, gracious justice, looks down from heaven, smiling favour and dispensing blessing. גּם in Psalm 85:13 places these two prospects in reciprocal relation to one another (cf. Psalm 84:7 ); it is found once instead of twice. Jahve gives הטּוב, everything that is only and always good and that imparts true happiness, and the land, corresponding to it, yields יבוּלהּ, the increase which might be expected from a land so richly blessed (cf. Psalm 67:7 and the promise in Leviticus 26:4 ). Jahve Himself is present in the land: righteousness walks before Him majestically as His herald, and righteousness ישׂם לדרך פּעמיו, sets (viz., its footsteps) upon the way of His footsteps, that is to say, follows Him inseparably. פּעמיו stands once instead of twice; the construct is to a certain extent attractional, as in Psalm 65:12 ; Genesis 9:6 . Since the expression is neither דּרך ( Psalm 50:23 ; Isaiah 51:10 ) nor לדּרך ( Isaiah 49:11 ), it is natural to interpret the expression thus, and it gives moreover (cf. Isaiah 58:8 ; Isaiah 52:12 ) an excellent sense.

But if, which we prefer, שׂים is taken in the sense of שׂים לב (as e.g., in Job 4:20 ) with the following ל, to give special heed to anything ( Deuteronomy 32:46 ; Ezekiel 40:4 ; Ezekiel 44:5 ), to be anxiously concerned about it ( 1 Samuel 9:20 ), then we avoid the supplying in thought of a second פעמיו, which is always objectionable, and the thought obtained by the other interpretation is brought clearly before the mind: righteousness goes before Jahve, who dwells and walks abroad in Israel, and gives heed to the way of His steps, that is to say, follows carefully in His footsteps.

[Bible] 84:5. Convert us, O God our saviour: and turn off thy anger from us. 84:6. Wilt thou be angry with us for ever: or wilt thou extend thy wrath from generation to generation? 84:7. Thou wilt turn, O God, and bring us to life: and thy people shall rejoice in thee. 84:8. Shew us, O Lord, thy mercy; and grant us thy salvation. 84:9. I will hear what the Lord God will speak in me: for he will speak peace unto his people: And unto his saints: and unto them that are converted to the heart. 84:10. Surely his salvation is near to them that fear him: that glory may dwell in our land. 84:11. Mercy and truth have met each other: justice and peace have kissed. 84:12. Truth is sprung out of the earth: and justice hath looked down from heaven. 84:13. For the Lord will give goodness: and our earth shall yield her fruit. 84:14. Justice shall walk before him: and shall set his steps in the way. Psalms Chapter 85 Inclina, Domine. A prayer for God's grace to assist us to the end. 85:1. A prayer for David himself. Incline thy ear, O Lord, and hear me: for I am needy and poor. 85:2. Preserve my soul, for I am holy: save thy servant, O my God, that trusteth in thee. I am holy... I am by my office and profession dedicated to thy service. 85:3. Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I have cried to thee all the day. 85:4. Give joy to the soul of thy servant, for to thee, O Lord, I have lifted up my soul. 85:5. For thou, O Lord, art sweet and mild: and plenteous in mercy to all that call upon thee. 85:6. Give ear, O Lord, to my prayer: and attend to the voice of my petition. 85:7. I have called upon thee in the day of my trouble: because thou hast heard me. 85:8. There is none among the gods like unto thee, O Lord: and there is none according to thy works. 85:9. All the nations thou hast made shall come and adore before thee, O Lord: and they shall glorify thy name. 85:10. For thou art great and dost wonderful things: thou art God alone.