Psalm 85 is a prayer for a people who have been through a hard season and are asking God to turn toward them again. Readers look it up when they want to understand how a community can move from judgment to renewal, and why the psalm ends with a picture of peace and righteousness meeting together. It is a short chapter, but it moves steadily from remembering what God has already done to pleading for what is still needed.
Psalm 85 Summary
The psalm opens with gratitude. The writer looks back on a time when God was favorable to the land and restored the fortunes of Jacob, reminding God and the listener that forgiveness has already been shown. The tone is confident, as if the past is a solid foundation for the present.
The middle of the chapter shifts to a sharper question. The writer asks God to turn them back, to let his anger cease, and to stop being angry for generations. This is honest prayer. It does not pretend the people are free of trouble, and it asks for a fresh revival rather than assuming the old blessing will simply continue.
The final section turns outward and upward. The writer says they will listen for what God will speak, expecting peace for his people, and then describes a vision in which mercy and truth meet, righteousness and peace embrace, and the land bears fruit. Righteousness is pictured going ahead of God, preparing the way for him to walk among his people.
Background and Setting
Psalm 85 belongs to the Psalter, the collection of prayers and songs in the Old Testament book of Psalms. It is traditionally attributed to the sons of Korah, a family of temple singers, though the psalm itself does not name its author. Most scholars place it in the post-exilic period, after Israel’s return from Babylonian exile, when the community was rebuilding and felt the strain of a land that had not yet fully recovered.
The psalm was written for the worshiping community gathered around the temple and its songs. Its language of land, fortunes, and returning anger fits a people trying to make sense of their history and their present struggles. Its place in the Psalms reflects the wider Hebrew hope that God would restore a faithful remnant and renew the covenant.
Psalm 85 Section by Section
Verses 1-3: The God Who Has Already Forgiven
1 The LORD, you have been favorable to your land. You have restored the fortunes 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.
Psalm 85:1-3 (WEB)
The psalm begins by recalling God’s past kindness. The writer does not start with a complaint but with a memory: God has been favorable to the land, has restored the fortunes of Jacob, has forgiven iniquity, and has turned away from his wrath. This establishes that the community’s hope rests on God’s track record rather than on their own performance.
Notice the word “Selah” in verse 2, which probably marks a pause for reflection or musical emphasis. The pause invites the reader to stop and let the weight of forgiveness settle before moving on. The section is a reminder that remembering God’s faithfulness is itself a form of prayer.
Verses 4-7: Asking for Renewal
4 Turn us, God of our salvation, and cause your indignation toward us to cease. 5 Will you be angry with us forever? Will you draw out your anger to all generations? 6 Won’t you revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you?
Psalm 85:4-6 (WEB)
In these verses the tone changes from remembrance to request. The writer asks God to turn them, to bring his indignation to an end, and to revive his people. The questions “Will you be angry with us forever?” and “Won’t you revive us again?” are honest. They admit that the present feels like anger has returned, and they ask God to act.
The request in verse 7 for loving kindness and salvation sums up the heart of the prayer. The community is not asking for a small improvement. They are asking God to be near to them again, to show steadfast love, and to rescue them. Prayer like this teaches that it is right to name the gap between what was and what is.
Verses 8-9: Listening for God’s Word of Peace
8 I will hear what God, the LORD, will speak, for he will speak peace to his people, his saints; but let them not turn again to folly. 9 Surely his salvation is near those who fear him, that glory may dwell in our land.
Psalm 85:8-9 (WEB)
After asking, the writer waits. The psalmist says they will hear what God will speak, because God will speak peace to his people. The phrase “let them not turn again to folly” is a gentle warning that peace is connected to faithfulness. Listening and obedience go together in this vision.
Verse 9 expresses hope that God’s salvation is near to those who fear him, so that his glory may dwell in the land. The focus is on God’s presence rather than on the mere restoration of crops or walls. A land where God’s glory lives is a land where life is truly ordered and blessed.
Verses 10-13: Mercy, Truth, Righteousness, and Peace
10 Mercy and truth meet together. Righteousness and peace have kissed each other. 11 Truth springs out of the earth. Righteousness has looked down from heaven. 12 Yes, the LORD will give that which is good. Our land will yield its increase. 13 Righteousness goes before him, And prepares the way for his steps.
Psalm 85:10-13 (WEB)
The closing verses form one of the most memorable images in the Psalter. Mercy and truth meet together, and righteousness and peace kiss each other. These are personified qualities working in harmony, showing that God’s attributes do not compete. Justice does not cancel mercy, and peace is not bought by ignoring truth.
The chapter ends with truth springing up from the earth, righteousness looking down from heaven, and the land yielding its increase. Righteousness goes before God and prepares the way for his steps. The vision is of a world where heaven and earth respond to one another, and where God’s coming is met by a people already prepared by his goodness.
Key Themes in Psalm 85
- Divine forgiveness: The psalm rests on God having already forgiven his people and covered their sin.
- Honest lament: The writer asks hard questions about God’s anger without giving up on his character.
- Renewal: The request to be revived shows that God’s people need fresh life, not only memories of past grace.
- Harmony of God’s attributes: Mercy, truth, righteousness, and peace are pictured as meeting and embracing.
Lessons From Psalm 85 for Today
Psalm 85 gives a model for prayer in seasons when a church, family, or community feels distant from God. A pastor watching attendance decline or a family dealing with the fallout of a hard year can follow the psalm’s pattern: remember what God has done, name the present struggle honestly, and ask him to turn toward them again. The psalm does not hide the ache, but it also does not stop there.
The psalm also speaks to the way we handle conflict and justice. Many people feel forced to choose between truth and kindness, or between holding people accountable and offering peace. Verse 10 suggests that God holds these together. When we seek reconciliation, we are not asked to drop honesty, and when we speak truth, we are not asked to abandon mercy.
Questions for Reflection
- What past act of God’s faithfulness can you remember when you feel distant from him now?
- Where in your life do you need to ask God, honestly, to turn toward you again?
- How does the idea that mercy and truth meet together change the way you think about a difficult relationship?
- What would it look like to listen for God’s word of peace before rushing to fill the silence with your own plans?
A Prayer From Psalm 85
Lord, you have been good to your people before, and you have forgiven what we could not forgive ourselves. Remind me of those times when I have seen your kindness clearly, and let that memory steady me now. I confess that some days I feel the weight of your silence or the sting of hard seasons, and I do not want to pretend otherwise. Turn me back to you, and revive what has grown dry in my heart.
Show me your steadfast love and grant me your salvation. Help me to listen for your word of peace, and keep me from turning back to foolish ways. Let mercy and truth meet in my life, and let righteousness go before you as you draw near. Amen.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who wrote Psalm 85?
The psalm is traditionally attributed to the sons of Korah, a family of temple singers. The text itself does not name its author, so this attribution comes from the heading tradition of the Psalter. Scholars generally date the psalm to the post-exilic period.
What does “Selah” mean in Psalm 85?
“Selah” appears in verse 2 and throughout the Psalms, and its exact meaning is uncertain. It most likely marks a pause, a musical notation, or a point for reflection. Many readers treat it as an invitation to stop and consider what has just been said.
What is the main message of Psalm 85?
The main message is that God has already shown forgiveness and faithfulness, and his people can ask him to restore them again. The psalm combines honest prayer with confidence in God’s character. Its closing vision of mercy, truth, righteousness, and peace points to the harmony God desires for his people.