__ Psalms 85:1 _« To the chief Musician, A Psalm for the sons of Korah. » LORD, thou hast been favourable unto thy land: thou hast brought back the captivity of Jacob._ Ver. 1. _Lord, thou hast been favourable, &c._] God's free grace and favour is fitly premised, as the fountain and mother of all... [ Continue Reading ]
Thou hast forgiven the iniquity of thy people, thou hast covered all their sin. Selah. Ver. 2. _Thou hast forgiven the iniquity, &c._] This is worthily mentioned as a main mercy, as a chief fruit of free grace. _ Thou hast covered all their sins_] That that filthy thing may be no longer an eyesore... [ Continue Reading ]
Thou hast taken away all thy wrath: thou hast turned [thyself] from the fierceness of thine anger. Ver. 3. _Thou hast taken away all thy wrath_] Heb. thou hast gathered it, thou hast recollected it, that we might not bear it; when sin is once remitted, wrath is soon removed. _ Thou hast turned thy... [ Continue Reading ]
Turn us, O God of our salvation, and cause thine anger toward us to cease. Ver. 4. _Turn us, O God of our salvation_] Turn us, and we shall be turned; do as thou ever hast done, for thou art Jehovah, thou changest not, but art yesterday, today, and the same for ever. _ And cause thine anger, &c._]... [ Continue Reading ]
_Wilt thou be angry with us for ever? wilt thou draw out thine anger to all generations?_ Ver. 5. _Wilt thou be angry with us for ever?_] _Dilato Christo tuo vel tuo adventu?_ Such expostulations mixed with faith are _Vis Deo grata,_ as saith Tertullian, such as God is well pleased with.... [ Continue Reading ]
Wilt thou not revive us again: that thy people may rejoice in thee? Ver. 6. _Wilt thou not revive us again?_] Who for present are all amort, as it were, free among the dead? free of that company? _ That thy people may rejoice in thee_] A joyless life is a lifeless life, _Mortis habet vices quae tr... [ Continue Reading ]
_Shew us thy mercy, O LORD, and grant us thy salvation._ Ver. 7. _Show us thy mercy, O Lord_] Thy fatherly mercy, στοργην . _ And grant us thy salvation_] Thy Christ, and our Jesus, Luke 2:30 .... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 8. _I will hear what God the Lord will speak_] I will not repine, but listen what answer God giveth to my prayer, and patiently wait a good issue of my tr... [ Continue Reading ]
Surely his salvation [is] nigh them that fear him; that glory may dwell in our land. Ver. 9. _Surely his salvation is nigh them, &c._] Though they be so bleared oft with tears that they cannot see it, and so discouraged that they have even done looking for it, Luke 18:7,8 . _ That glory may dwell... [ Continue Reading ]
Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed [each other]. Ver. 10. _Mercy and truth are met together_] As in God (his mercy is ever bounded by his truth), so in all his people, there is a sweet conjunction and concatenation of graces, 2 Peter 1:5; and this is an effect of... [ Continue Reading ]
Truth shall spring out of the earth; and righteousness shall look down from heaven. Ver. 11. _Truth shall spring out of the earth_] _i.e._ Heaven and earth shall be full both of truth and righteousness. Many understand all concerning Christ. See John 3:13. Others, concerning extraordinary plenty of... [ Continue Reading ]
Yea, the LORD shall give [that which is] good; and our land shall yield her increase. Ver. 12. _Yea, the Lord shall give that which is good_] Yea, best of all, viz. his Holy Spirit (Luke 11:13, with Mat 7:11), with a largess of outward comforts.... [ Continue Reading ]
Righteousness shall go before him; and shall set [us] in the way of his steps. Ver. 13. _Righteousness shall go before him_] Men shall walk before God in holiness and righteousness all the days of their lives, Luke 1:75; they shall not rest in outward blessings, Psalms 85:12, or be satisfied with s... [ Continue Reading ]