Ps. 85:0 THE ARGUMENT This Psalm is thought to have been made after the people’s return from the Babylonish captivity, wherein he partly gives God thanks for that glorious deliverance, and partly implores God’s mercy in completing that work, and rescuing his people from the relics of their bondage,…

Unto thy land, i.e. unto thy people, in removing the sad effects of thy displeasure. The captivity; the captives, as the word is used, Ps. 14:7, Ps. 68:18, and elsewhere.

So as not to impute it to them, or to continue the punishment which thou didst inflict upon them for it.

All thy wrath; those calamities which were the effects of thy just wrath conceived against us.

Turn us; either, 1. Convert us. As thou hast brought back our bodies to thy land, so bring back our hearts to thyself, from whom many of them to this day are alienated. Or rather, 2.

Thou hast once revived us in bringing us out of captivity, give us a second reviving in bringing home the rest of our brethren, and in rebuking and restraining the remainder of our enemies’ wrath.

Show us thy mercy, i.e. grant it to us, as the next words explain it, and as showing signifies, Ps. 4:6, Ps. 60:3, Ps. 71:20. Or, manifest thy secret purpose of mercy to us by thy providential dispensations.

I will hear, i.e. diligently observe. And the psalmist, by declaring what he would do, teacheth all the Israelites what they ought to do. Or he speaks in the name of all the people of God.

His salvation; that complete salvation and deliverance for which all the Israel of God do pray and wait, even the redemption of Israel by the Messiah; of which not only Christian, but even Jewish, writers understand this place; and to which the following passages do most properly and perfectly…

This is to be understood, either, 1. Of these graces or virtues in men. So the sense is, When that blessed time shall come, those virtues which now seem to be banished from human societies shall be restored, and there shall be a happy conjunction of mercy, or benignity; truth, or veracity;…

Truth shall spring out of the earth; either, 1. Truth among men, which shall be so common amongst all men, as if it grew out of the earth. Or rather, 2.

That which is good, i.e. all that is good in itself and for us, all spiritual and temporal blessings.

Go before him, as his harbinger or attendant. He shall work and fulfil all righteousness, he shall glorify and satisfy the righteousness of God, and shall advance the practice of righteousness and holiness among men. Shall set us in the way of his steps, i.e.