rd

Psalms 85

1 Because God withdrew not his rods from his Church after their return from Babylon: first they put him in mind of their deliverance, to the intent that he should not leave the work of his grace unperfite, 5 Next they complain of their long affliction: 8 And thirdly they rejoyce in hope of felicity promised. 9 For their deliverance was a figure of Christ’s kingdom, under the which should be perfect felicity.
To him that excelleth. A Psalme committed to the sons of Kórah.
1.Lord, thou hast been afavourable unto thy land: thou hast brought again the captivity of Jaakób.
2.Thou hast forgotten the iniquity of thy people, and bcovered all their sins. Sélah.
3.Thou hast withdrawen all thine anger, and hast turned back from the cfierceness of thy wrath.
4.Turn us, ô God of our salvation, and release thine anger towards us.
5.Wilt thou be angry with us dforever? and wilt thou prolong thy wrath from one generation to another?
6.Wilt thou not turn again and quicken us, that thy people maie rejoyce in thee?
7.Shewe us thy mercie, ô Lord, and grant us thy esalvation.
8.I will hearken what the Lord God wil saie: for he wil speak fpeace unto his people, and to his Saints, that they turn not again to folly.
9.Surely his salvation is near to them that fear him, that glory maie dwell in our land.
10.Mercie and trueth shall meet: righteousness and peace shall kiss
11.gTrueth shal bud out of the earth, and righteousness shal look down from heaven.
12.Yea, the Lord shal give good things, and our land shal give her increase.
13.hRighteousness shal go before him, and shal set her steps in the way.

Notes

1-a.
They confess that God’s free mercy was the cause of their deliverance, because he loved the land, which he had chosen.
2-b.
You have buried them that they shall not come into judgement.
3-c.
Not only in withdrawing your rod, but in forgiving our sins, and in touching our hearts to confess them.
5-d.
As in times past they had felt God’s mercies, so now being oppressed by the long continuance of evils, they pray unto God, that according to his nature he would be merciful unto them.
7-e.
He confesses that our salvation comes only from God’s mercy.
8-f.
He will send all prosperity to his Church, when he has sufficiently corrected them, also by his punishments the faithful shall learn to beware that they return not to like offences.
11-g.
Though for a time God thus exercise them with his rods, yet under the kingdom of Christ they should have peace and joy.
13-h.
Justice shall then flourish and have free course and passage in every place.