Psa 85:2 | KingComments | STEP | Now that the remnant of the ten tribes has returned from exile we have an outward restoration. In Psalm 85 we find the spiritual exercise of the remnant leading to inner restoration. We first have a retrospective ( ), then a look ahead ( ) with finally teaching from the LORD to comfort the remnant ( ). For “for the choir director” ( ) see at Psalm 4:1. For “a Psalm of the sons of Korah” see at Psalm 42:1. The first part of the psalm ( ) gives a retrospective. The psalm begins with the grateful acknowledgment that the LORD has shown “favor to” His “land” ( ) – Israel is His land ( ). It is about the time when God has “restored the captivity of Jacob” ( ). This is what the remnant will say when the great tribulation is over and the people, Jacob, that is the twelve tribes, have been brought back by God to His land. The land is God’s, He owns the land, and dwells in it in His own who dwell in it. The blessing is the result of the removal of the iniquity and sin of the people ( ). It concerns the believers of the ten tribes. They have received forgiveness for their sins; the anger no longer rests on them. Their iniquity and sins have been the reason for God to drive His people out of His land. These sins can be summarized in two things: not accepting the Son, the Messiah, and accepting, serving and following the antichrist ( ). In other words: murder and (spiritual) adultery, or the breaking of the commandments of both of the two stone tablets of the law. But He “forgave the iniquity” of His people. The word “forgave” or “carried away” is reminiscent of the day of atonement where the goat that is sent away carried away all the iniquities of the people to a solitary land in the east ( ). The iniquity of His people is that they rejected Him in His Son. He has taken it away by making the rejection the basis for their blessing. He has done this by laying the iniquity of the people upon His Son and judging Him for it. Iniquity was manifested in their countless sins. The rejection of the Son is the culmination and irrefutable evidence of a life full of sin. But He has “covered all their sin”. The covering for sin is likewise found in the work of His Son. The blood of Christ covers all the sins, without exception, of every one who confesses his sins and believes in Him ( ). The remnant can say to God “You withdrew all Your fury” because the Son of God has already suffered the wrath of God over sin ( ; cf. ). Because God has let His burning wrath pass over His Son by making Him sin ( ), God has “turned away” from His “burning anger” over His people.

‏ Psalms 85:2

Introduction

Now that the remnant of the ten tribes has returned from exile we have an outward restoration. In Psalm 85 we find the spiritual exercise of the remnant leading to inner restoration. We first have

a retrospective (Psa 85:1b-3), then

a look ahead (Psa 85:4-7) with finally

teaching from the LORD to comfort the remnant (Psa 85:8-13).

God Shows Favor to His Land

For “for the choir director” (Psa 85:1a) see at Psalm 4:1.

For “a Psalm of the sons of Korah” see at Psalm 42:1.

The first part of the psalm (Psa 85:1b-3) gives a retrospective. The psalm begins with the grateful acknowledgment that the LORD has shown “favor to” His “land” (Psa 85:1b) – Israel is His land (Lev 25:23). It is about the time when God has “restored the captivity of Jacob” (Lev 26:44-45). This is what the remnant will say when the great tribulation is over and the people, Jacob, that is the twelve tribes, have been brought back by God to His land. The land is God’s, He owns the land, and dwells in it in His own who dwell in it.

The blessing is the result of the removal of the iniquity and sin of the people (Psa 85:2). It concerns the believers of the ten tribes. They have received forgiveness for their sins; the anger no longer rests on them. Their iniquity and sins have been the reason for God to drive His people out of His land. These sins can be summarized in two things: not accepting the Son, the Messiah, and accepting, serving and following the antichrist (Jn 5:43). In other words: murder and (spiritual) adultery, or the breaking of the commandments of both of the two stone tablets of the law.

But He “forgave the iniquity” of His people. The word “forgave” or “carried away” is reminiscent of the day of atonement where the goat that is sent away carried away all the iniquities of the people to a solitary land in the east (Lev 16:22). The iniquity of His people is that they rejected Him in His Son. He has taken it away by making the rejection the basis for their blessing. He has done this by laying the iniquity of the people upon His Son and judging Him for it.

Iniquity was manifested in their countless sins. The rejection of the Son is the culmination and irrefutable evidence of a life full of sin. But He has “covered all their sin”. The covering for sin is likewise found in the work of His Son. The blood of Christ covers all the sins, without exception, of every one who confesses his sins and believes in Him (1Jn 1:7).

The remnant can say to God “You withdrew all Your fury” because the Son of God has already suffered the wrath of God over sin (Psa 85:3; cf. Psa 42:8b). Because God has let His burning wrath pass over His Son by making Him sin (2Cor 5:21), God has “turned away” from His “burning anger” over His people.