Psalm 85:1 Study Bible: [For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by the sons of Korah.] LORD, you have been favorable to your land. You have restored the fortunes of Jacob.

◄ Psalm 85:1 ►

You showed favor to Your land, O LORD; You restored Jacob from captivity.

You showed favor to Your land, O LORD
The opening phrase of Psalm 85:1, "You showed favor to Your land, O LORD," sets the tone for a psalm of gratitude and hope. The Hebrew word for "showed favor" is "ratsah," which conveys a sense of acceptance, delight, and goodwill. This word suggests a divine approval and blessing that God has bestowed upon His people. Historically, this favor can be seen in the context of Israel's return from exile, a time when God's mercy and grace were palpably experienced by the nation. The "land" here refers to the Promised Land, a central theme in the Old Testament, symbolizing God's covenant and faithfulness. The invocation of "O LORD" uses the sacred name Yahweh, emphasizing the personal and covenantal relationship between God and His people. This phrase reminds believers of God's sovereignty and His active role in the restoration and blessing of His chosen people.

You restored Jacob from captivity
The phrase "You restored Jacob from captivity" speaks to a historical reality and a spiritual truth. The Hebrew word for "restored" is "shuv," which means to return or bring back. This word is often used in the context of repentance and restoration, indicating a turning back to God and His ways. "Jacob" is a metonym for the nation of Israel, reflecting the patriarchal heritage and the collective identity of God's people. The "captivity" mentioned here likely refers to the Babylonian exile, a period of profound loss and longing for the Israelites. However, it also symbolizes any form of spiritual bondage or separation from God. The restoration from captivity is a powerful testament to God's redemptive power and His unwavering commitment to His promises. It serves as an encouragement to believers that no matter the depth of their trials, God's grace is sufficient to bring about renewal and freedom.

Persons / Places / Events

1. The LORD (Yahweh)
The covenant-keeping God of Israel, who shows favor and mercy to His people.

2. The Land
Refers to the Promised Land, Canaan, which God gave to the Israelites as an inheritance.

3. Jacob
Represents the nation of Israel, the descendants of Jacob, who was renamed Israel.

4. Captivity
Likely refers to the Babylonian exile, a period when the Israelites were taken captive and removed from their land.

5. Restoration
The act of God bringing His people back to their land and restoring their fortunes.

Teaching Points

God's Faithfulness
God is faithful to His promises. Just as He restored Israel, He is faithful to restore us when we turn back to Him.

The Importance of Repentance
Restoration often follows repentance. We must acknowledge our sins and turn back to God to experience His favor.

Hope in Times of Captivity
Whether physical or spiritual, God can deliver us from our "captivities" and restore us to a place of blessing.

God's Sovereignty Over Nations
God controls the destinies of nations and uses them to fulfill His purposes, as seen in the return from Babylonian exile.

The Role of Prayer in Restoration
Prayer is a powerful tool for seeking God's favor and restoration, as the psalmist demonstrates by calling on the LORD.

Bible Study Questions

1. How does understanding God's past faithfulness to Israel encourage you in your current circumstances?

2. In what ways can you identify "captivities" in your life, and how can you seek God's restoration?

3. How does the concept of repentance play a role in experiencing God's favor and restoration?

4. What are some modern-day examples of God showing favor to His people or nations?

5. How can you incorporate prayer into your life to seek God's guidance and restoration in areas where you feel "captive"?

Connections to Other Scriptures

Deuteronomy 30:3-5
This passage speaks of God's promise to restore Israel from captivity and gather them from all the nations.

Jeremiah 29:14
God promises to bring back the captives of Israel and restore them to their land.

Ezra 1:1-4
Describes the decree of Cyrus allowing the Jews to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the temple, fulfilling God's promise of restoration.

Isaiah 40:1-2
Offers comfort to God's people, assuring them of forgiveness and restoration.

Sermons

Recognition of National Mercies	R. Tuck	Psalm 85:1
A Psalm of Deliverance; Songs and Sighs	A. Maclaren, D. D.	Psalm 85:1-13
Genuine Piety	Homilist	Psalm 85:1-13
Temporal Mercies of Little Avail Without Such as are Spiritual	S. Conway	Psalm 85:1-13
The Responsibility of Favoured Nations	F. H. Darlow.	Psalm 85:1-13

People

Jacob, Korah, Psalmist

Places

Jerusalem

Topics

2, Captivity, Changing, Chief, Choirmaster, Fate, Favor, Favorable, Favourable, Fortunes, Gt, Hast, Jacob, Korah, Leader, Lt, Music, Musician, Music-maker, O, Overseer, Psalm, Restore, Restored, Showed, Sons, Wast

Dictionary of Bible Themes

Psalm 85:

5420 music

Library

'The Bridal of the Earth and Sky'
'Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other. 11. Truth shall spring out of the earth; and righteousness shall look down from heaven. 12. Yea, the Lord shall give that which is good; and our land shall yield her increase. 13. Righteousness shall go before Him, and shall set us in the way of His steps.'--PSALM lxxxv. 10-13. This is a lovely and highly imaginative picture of the reconciliation and reunion of God and man, 'the bridal of the earth and sky.' The Poet-Psalmist, …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

Two Coverings and Two Consequences
"Thou Hast covered all their sins."--Psalm 85:2. IN THESE two texts we have man's covering, which is worthless and culpable, and God's covering, which is profitable, and worthy of all acceptation. No sooner had man disobeyed his Maker's will in the garden of Eden than he discovered, to his surprise and dismay, that he was naked, and he set about at once to make himself a covering. It was a poor attempt which our first parents made, and it proved a miserable failure. "They sewed fig-leaves together." …
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 62: 1916

The Coming Revival
"Wilt Thou not revive us again: that Thy people may rejoice in Thee?"--PS. lxxxv. 6. "O Lord, revive Thy work in the midst of the years."--HAB. iii. 2. "Though I walk in the midst of trouble, Thou wilt revive me: Thy right hand shall save me."--PS. cxxxviii. 7. "I dwell with him that is of a humble and contrite heart, to revive the heart of the contrite ones."--ISA. lvii. 15. "Come, and let us return to the Lord: for He hath torn, and He will heal us. He will revive us."--HOS. vi. 1, 2. The Coming …
Andrew Murray—The Ministry of Intercession

Of the Inward Voice of Christ to the Faithful Soul I Will Hearken what the Lord God Shall Say Within Me. (1) Blessed is the Soul Which
CHAPTER I Of the inward voice of Christ to the faithful soul I will hearken what the Lord God shall say within me.(1) Blessed is the soul which heareth the Lord speaking within it, and receiveth the word of consolation from His mouth. Blessed are the ears which receive the echoes of the soft whisper of God, and turn not aside to the whisperings of this world. Blessed truly are the ears which listen not to the voice that soundeth without, but to that which teacheth truth inwardly. Blessed are the …
Thomas A Kempis—Imitation of Christ

When a Revival is to be Expected.
Text.--Wilt thou not revive us again; that thy people may rejoice in thee?--Psalm lxxxv. 6. THIS Psalm seems to have been written soon after the return of the people of Israel from the Babylonish captivity; as you will easily see from the language at the commencement of it. The Psalmist felt that God had been very favorable to the people, and while contemplating the goodness of the Lord in bringing them back from the land where they had been carried away captive, and while looking at the prospects …
Charles Grandison Finney—Lectures on Revivals of Religion

Conversion --Varied Phenomena or Experience.
We have spoken of the meaning of this term, inquired into the nature of the change, and noted its essential elements. We have also learned that there are some who do not need it because they are in a converted state, and that all who are not in such a state of Grace, do need conversion, regardless of anything that may or may not have taken place in the past. We inquire now as to the agencies or means by which this change is brought about. For it is a change which man can certainly not effect by his …
G. H. Gerberding—The Way of Salvation in the Lutheran Church

Two Coverings and Two Consequences
A Sermon (No. 3500) by C. H. Spurgeon, April 4th, 1875, at the Metropolitan Tabernacle, Newington. Published February 24th, 1916. "He that covereth his sins shall not prosper."--Proverbs 28:13. "Thou Hast covered all their sins."--Psalm 85:2. In these two texts we have man's covering, which is worthless and culpable, and God's covering, which is profitable and worthy of all acceptation. No sooner had man disobeyed his Maker's will in the garden of Eden than he discovered to his surprise and dismay …
C.H. Spurgeon—Sermons on Proverbs

Backsliding.
"I will heal their backsliding; I will love them freely: for Mine anger is turned away."--Hosea xiv. 4. There are two kinds of backsliders. Some have never been converted: they have gone through the form of joining a Christian community and claim to be backsliders; but they never have, if I may use the expression, "slid forward." They may talk of backsliding; but they have never really been born again. They need to be treated differently from real back-sliders--those who have been born of the incorruptible …
Dwight L. Moody—The Way to God and How to Find It

Letter xv (Circa A. D. 1129) to Alvisus, Abbot of Anchin
To Alvisus, Abbot of Anchin He praises the fatherly gentleness of Alvisus towards Godwin. He excuses himself, and asks pardon for having admitted him. To Alvisus, Abbot of Anchin. [18] 1. May God render to you the same mercy which you have shown towards your holy son Godwin. I know that at the news of his death you showed yourself unmindful of old complaints, and remembering only your friendship for him, behaved with kindness, not resentment, and putting aside the character of judge, showed yourself …
Saint Bernard of Clairvaux—Some Letters of Saint Bernard, Abbot of Clairvaux

This Conflict None Experience in Themselves, Save Such as War on the Side Of...
7. This conflict none experience in themselves, save such as war on the side of the virtues, and war down the vices: nor doth any thing storm the evil of lust, save the good of Continence. But there are, who, being utterly ignorant of the law of God, account not evil lusts among their enemies, and through wretched blindness being slaves to them, over and above think themselves also blessed, by satisfying them rather than taming them. But whoso through the Law have come to know them, ("For through …
St. Augustine—On Continence

Characters and Names of Messiah
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. S uch was the triumphant exultation of the Old Testament Church! Their noblest hopes were founded upon the promise of MESSIAH; their most sublime songs were derived from the prospect of His Advent. By faith, which is the substance of things hoped for, they considered the gracious declarations …
John Newton—Messiah Vol. 1

The Angel's Message and Song
And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the LORD came upon them, and the glory of the LORD shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the LORD . And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe …
John Newton—Messiah Vol. 1

Covenanting Adapted to the Moral Constitution of Man.
The law of God originates in his nature, but the attributes of his creatures are due to his sovereignty. The former is, accordingly, to be viewed as necessarily obligatory on the moral subjects of his government, and the latter--which are all consistent with the holiness of the Divine nature, are to be considered as called into exercise according to his appointment. Hence, also, the law of God is independent of his creatures, though made known on their account; but the operation of their attributes …
John Cunningham—The Ordinance of Covenanting

"And if any Man Sin, we have an Advocate with the Father,",
1 John ii. 1.--"And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father,", &c. It is the natural office of the conscience to accuse a man in evil doing. As every man by sin is liable to the judgment of the supreme court of heaven, so he is likewise subject to the inferior court of his own conscience, for the most high God hath a deputy within every man's breast, that not only is a witness, but a judge, to fasten an accusation, and pronounce a sentence upon him according to the law of God. And while …
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

Epistle xxviii. To Augustine, Bishop of the Angli .
To Augustine, Bishop of the Angli [136] . Gregory to Augustine, &c. Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men of good will (Luke ii. 14); because a grain of wheat, falling into the earth, has died, that it might not reign in heaven alone; even He by whose death we live, by whose weakness we are made strong, by whose suffering we are rescued from suffering, through whose love we seek in Britain for brethren whom we knew not, by whose gift we find those whom without knowing them we sought. …
Saint Gregory the Great—the Epistles of Saint Gregory the Great

The Truth of God
The next attribute is God's truth. A God of truth and without iniquity; just and right is he.' Deut 32:4. For thy mercy is great unto the heavens, and thy truth unto the clouds.' Psa 57:10. Plenteous in truth.' Psa 86:15. I. God is the truth. He is true in a physical sense; true in his being: he has a real subsistence, and gives a being to others. He is true in a moral sense; he is true sine errore, without errors; et sine fallacia, without deceit. God is prima veritas, the pattern and prototype …
Thomas Watson—A Body of Divinity

Psalms
The piety of the Old Testament Church is reflected with more clearness and variety in the Psalter than in any other book of the Old Testament. It constitutes the response of the Church to the divine demands of prophecy, and, in a less degree, of law; or, rather, it expresses those emotions and aspirations of the universal heart which lie deeper than any formal demand. It is the speech of the soul face to face with God. Its words are as simple and unaffected as human words can be, for it is the genius …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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