LORD, You Have Been Favorable to Your Land

This psalm looks at a time when God has brought His people back to His Promised Land. In doing so, God has forgiven His people and covered their sins. The psalm continues to call on God for salvation and restoration. The prayer is for the people to continue on the right path and not turn to foolish rebellion again. "Salvation is near to those who fear Him", goes the reminder. It seems that all is coming together when the LORD restores them, including mercy, truth, righteousness, peace and the land will increase.



Psalm 85
To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of the sons of Korah.
 1 LORD, You have been favorable to Your land;
         You have brought back the captivity of Jacob.
 2 You have forgiven the iniquity of Your people;
         You have covered all their sin.  Selah 
 3 You have taken away all Your wrath;
         You have turned from the fierceness of Your anger.
        
 4 Restore us, O God of our salvation,
         And cause Your anger toward us to cease.
 5 Will You be angry with us forever?
         Will You prolong Your anger to all generations?
 6 Will You not revive us again,
         That Your people may rejoice in You?
 7 Show us Your mercy, LORD,
         And grant us Your salvation.
        
 8 I will hear what God the LORD will speak,
         For He will speak peace
         To His people and to His saints;
         But let them not turn back to folly.
 9 Surely His salvation is near to those who fear Him,
         That glory may dwell in our land.
        
 10 Mercy and truth have met together;
         Righteousness and peace have kissed.
 11 Truth shall spring out of the earth,
         And righteousness shall look down from heaven.
 12 Yes, the LORD will give what is good;
         And our land will yield its increase.
 13 Righteousness will go before Him,
         And shall make His footsteps our pathway.