Psalm 85 – “Petition”

Hebrew-English Text
I. Summary
The psalmist recalls God’s kindness and asks him to revive the people.

II. Photo
Truth and justice unite: “Truth springs up from the earth; justice looks down from heaven.” (v. 12)

III. Select Verses    
2-4: O LORD, You will favor Your land, restore Jacob’s fortune;  You will forgive Your people’s iniquity, pardon all their sins; Selah. You will withdraw all Your anger, turn away from Your rage.
6: Will You be angry with us forever, prolong Your wrath for all generations?
9: Let me hear what God, the LORD, will speak; He will promise well-being to His people, His faithful ones; may they not turn to folly.
11-14: Faithfulness and truth meet; justice and well-being kiss. Truth springs up from the earth; justice looks down from heaven.  The LORD also bestows His bounty; our land yields its produce. Justice goes before Him as He sets out on His way.

IV. Outline
1. Superscription
2-4. Account of salvation
5-8. Petition, rationale
9. Wish
10-14. Hymnic sermon/wish

V. Comment
No comment today. Stay tuned.

VI. Works Used
(see “Commentaries” page)
Gerstenberger, Erhard S. “Psalms Part 1 with an Introduction to Cultic Poetry” Forms of Old Testament Literature (Michigan: Eerdmans, 1988).
Tate, Marvin. “Psalms 51-100” Word Biblical Commentary vol. 20 (Waco, Texas: Wordbooks, 1990).
Photo copied from http://images.alphacoders.com/540/54059.jpg