Listening for God's voice. The psalm was written on the return from Captivity. I. THE . BURDEN OF GOD 'S SPEECH TO MAN . Peace. Peace with him. 1 . The way of peace. 2 . The nature of peace. II. A DETERMINATION TO LISTEN . Man listens to man. 1 . According to the claims of the speaker to be heard. 2 . When the subject is interesting and important. 3 . When the subject is important to him. Then we give the closest attention. III. THE ... read more
The joyful anticipation. The psalmist anticipates a favourable answer to his prayer, and proceeds to note down the chief points of it. God will "speak peace to his people" ( Psalms 85:8 ), bring his salvation near to them ( Psalms 85:9 ), contrive a way by which "mercy and truth," "righteousness and peace," shall be reconciled ( Psalms 85:10 , Psalms 85:11 ), shower blessings on his land ( Psalms 85:12 ), and guide his people in the way marked out by his own footsteps ( Psalms 85:13... read more
I will hear what God the Lord will speak - I, the psalmist; I, representing the people as looking to God. The state of mind here is that of patient listening; of a willingness to hear God, whatever God should say; of confidence in him that what he would say would be favorable to his people - would be words of mercy and of peace. Whatever God should command, the speaker was willing to yield to it; whatever God should say, he would believe; whatever God should enjoin, he would do; whatever God... read more
Psalms 85:8. I will hear Diligently observe; what God the Lord will speak Either by his prophets and other messengers, or by his providence, for that also hath a voice: I will hear what answer God will give to these my prayers. And the psalmist, by declaring what he would do, teaches all the Israelites what they ought to do; namely, attentively to hearken to the voice of God, in whatever way he should be pleased to speak to them, and to receive his gracious declarations and promises in... read more
Psalms 85-86 The steadfast love of GodIsrael had again suffered God’s punishment in being defeated by its enemies. The psalmist reminds God that when this happened in the past, God forgave his people and poured out his blessings on them afresh (85:1-3). Would he not, therefore, in the present crisis do the same once more (4-7)? The psalmist thinks longingly of the spiritual paradise that results when people are living in a right relation with their God. Steadfast love flows down from God and is... read more
GOD. Hebrew El. App-4 . peace. Referring to the war with Absalom. saints = graced ones. not turn again: i.e. rebel, as in Absalom's case. read more
THE GOODNESS OF THE LORD"I will hear what God Jehovah will speak;For he will speak peace unto his people, and to his saints:But let them not turn again to folly.Surely his salvation is near them that fear him,That glory may dwell in our land.Mercy and truth are met together;Righteousness and peace have kissed each other.Truth springeth out of the earth;And righteousness hath looked down from heaven.Yea, Jehovah will give that which is good;And our land shall yield its increase.Righteousness... read more
Psalms 85:8. I will hear, &c.— I will hearken what the Lord God will pronounce. Yes, he pronounceth prosperity to his people, and to his favoured ones, provided they return no more to folly; i.e. to their old idolatry, and their other crimes; for which God drove them out of Judea. See Mudge. read more
8. He is confident God will favor His penitent people (Psalms 51:17; Psalms 80:18). saints—as in Psalms 80:18- :, the "godly." read more
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The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 85:8
Self-pleasing is folly. "But let them not again turn to folly," or presumption. Sometimes the infatuation of sin is meant by the term "folly." Sometimes it is a synonym for "idolatry." Here the thing which is regarded as foolish is "following the devices and desires of their own heart," rather than watching for and doing the will of their God. A book was written some years ago to show that "all sin is folly." Wrong doing, in the long run, serves nobody's real interests. And it has often... read more