Psalm 85:1 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Lord, you were favorable to your land; you restored the fortunes of Jacob.

NIV: For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. A psalm. You, Lord, showed favor to your land; you restored the fortunes of Jacob.

NASB: Lord, You showed favor to Your land; You restored the fortunes of Jacob.

CSB: For the choir director. A psalm of the sons of Korah. Lord, you showed favor to your land; you restored the fortunes of Jacob.

NLT: Lord, you poured out blessings on your land! You restored the fortunes of Israel.

KJV: 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.

NKJV: {To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of the sons of Korah.} Lord, You have been favorable to Your land; You have brought back the captivity of Jacob.

Psalm 85:1–3 refers to God's chosen people as His "land" and by mentioning Israel's patriarch, Jacob (Genesis 32:28). This may be looking into the past at a prior event or something current. In either case, it may refer to how God brought the exiled Israelites home from Babylon after seventy years of captivity (Jeremiah 25:11). The next section seems to pray that the Lord would repeat this work of forgiveness and restoration.

This psalm looks back to a time when God forgave Israel and restored them. Perhaps during a new time of backsliding, the psalmist prays that the Lord would repeat this work of healing. The song ends with a hopeful description of God's encouraging attributes and an assumption that He will answer these prayers.

No specific event is associated with this psalm. However, mentions of forgiveness and restoration suggest the initial return from foreign captivity. Israel was captured because of their sin (Lamentations 1:5; Jeremiah 25:11) but God promised a return (Ezekiel 37:1–14). Stages of Israel's return are recorded in the book of Ezra. Another possibility is that the psalmist looks back on the return from exile and prays for God to work a similar miracle in the people's hearts once again. Other psalms labeled with the "Sons of Korah" are 42, 44—49, 84, and 87—88.

The book of Psalms is composed of individual songs, hymns, or poems, each of which is a ''Psalm'' in and of itself. These works contain a wide variety of themes. Some Psalms focus on praising and worshipping God. Others cry out in anguish over the pain of life. Still other Psalms look forward to the coming of the Messiah. While some Psalms are related, each has its own historical and biblical context.

Accessed 11/23/2024 11:12:55 PM