Psalm 85:4 Study Bible: Turn us, God of our salvation, and cause your indignation toward us to cease.

◄ Psalm 85:4 ►

Restore us, O God of our salvation, and put away Your displeasure toward us.

Restore us, O God of our salvation
This phrase is a plea for divine intervention and renewal. The concept of restoration is central to the biblical narrative, reflecting the Israelites' recurring need for God's mercy and forgiveness. Historically, this plea may have been voiced during a time of national distress, such as the Babylonian exile, when the Israelites longed for a return to their homeland and a renewal of their covenant relationship with God. The title "God of our salvation" emphasizes God's role as the deliverer and redeemer of His people, a theme that resonates throughout the Old Testament. This phrase also foreshadows the ultimate restoration through Jesus Christ, who is seen as the fulfillment of God's promise of salvation.

and put away Your displeasure toward us
This part of the verse acknowledges the reality of God's righteous anger due to the people's sins. In the Old Testament, God's displeasure often manifested in tangible consequences, such as defeat in battle or exile. The request to "put away" this displeasure indicates a desire for reconciliation and peace with God. It reflects the covenantal relationship where God's favor is contingent upon the people's faithfulness. This plea is echoed in other scriptures, such as 2 Chronicles 7:14, where God promises healing and forgiveness if His people humble themselves and turn from their wicked ways. Theologically, this phrase underscores the need for repentance and the hope for divine mercy, which is ultimately realized in the New Testament through the atoning work of Christ.

Persons / Places / Events

1. The Sons of Korah
The authors of Psalm 85, a group of Levitical singers and musicians who played a significant role in temple worship.

2. Israel
The nation to whom the Psalm is addressed, representing the people of God seeking restoration and favor.

3. God of our salvation
A title for God emphasizing His role as the deliverer and redeemer of His people.

4. Displeasure of God
Refers to God's righteous anger or judgment towards His people due to their sin and disobedience.

5. Restoration
The act of God bringing His people back into a right relationship with Him, often following repentance and forgiveness.

Teaching Points

Understanding God's Displeasure
Recognize that God's displeasure is a response to sin, but it is not His final word. His desire is for restoration and reconciliation.

The Role of Repentance
True restoration begins with acknowledging our sins and turning back to God. Repentance is a key step in experiencing God's forgiveness and favor.

God as the Source of Salvation
Emphasize that God alone is the source of our salvation and restoration. Our efforts are insufficient without His intervention.

The Power of Prayer
Encourage believers to pray earnestly for personal and communal restoration, trusting in God's willingness to restore.

Hope in God's Faithfulness
Despite past failures, there is hope in God's unchanging nature and His promises to restore those who seek Him.

Bible Study Questions

1. What does the plea for restoration in Psalm 85:4 reveal about the relationship between God and His people?

2. How can we apply the principle of seeking God's restoration in our personal lives today?

3. In what ways does understanding God's displeasure help us appreciate His grace and mercy?

4. How do the additional scriptures connected to Psalm 85:4 enhance our understanding of God's desire to restore His people?

5. What practical steps can we take to ensure we are living in a state of continual restoration and right relationship with God?

Connections to Other Scriptures

2 Chronicles 7:14
This verse speaks about God's promise to heal the land if His people humble themselves, pray, seek His face, and turn from their wicked ways, which parallels the plea for restoration in Psalm 85:4.

Isaiah 57:15
Highlights God's willingness to revive the spirit of the humble and contrite, aligning with the theme of restoration.

Hosea 6:1-2
Describes a call to return to the Lord for healing and restoration, similar to the plea in Psalm 85:4.

Acts 3:19
Encourages repentance and turning to God so that times of refreshing may come, echoing the desire for restoration.

James 4:8
Invites believers to draw near to God with the promise that He will draw near to them, reflecting the relational aspect of restoration.

Sermons

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
Incomplete Redemptions	R. Tuck	Psalm 85:3-5

People

Jacob, Korah, Psalmist

Places

Jerusalem

Topics

Anger, Angry, Bring, Cause, Cease, Displeasure, Indignation, Longer, O, Restore, Salvation, Savior, Towards, Turn, Void

Dictionary of Bible Themes

Psalm 85:4-7

8151 revival, corporate
8610 prayer, asking God

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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