What does Psalm 85:4 mean?
ESV: Restore us again, O God of our salvation, and put away your indignation toward us!
NIV: Restore us again, God our Savior, and put away your displeasure toward us.
NASB: Restore us, God of our salvation, And cause Your indignation toward us to cease.
CSB: Return to us, God of our salvation, and abandon your displeasure with us.
NLT: Now restore us again, O God of our salvation. Put aside your anger against us once more.
KJV: Turn us, O God of our salvation, and cause thine anger toward us to cease.
NKJV: Restore us, O God of our salvation, And cause Your anger toward us to cease.
Verse Commentary:
Please see our chapter commentary on Psalm 85, verse-level content coming soon!
Verse Context:
Psalm 85:4–7 asks God to once again apply mercy and revival to the people of Israel. This suggests a song written well after the initial restoration—which may have been at the return from exile (Jeremiah 25:11). Israel had an unfortunate habit of spiraling into idolatry (Judges 2:16–19); perhaps the psalmist sensed this this was happening again.
Chapter Summary:
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.
Chapter Context:
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.
Book Summary:
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.
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