Psalm-85
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*The Ketuvim - Includes, Poetical
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Chronicles I & II.
Open Thou mine eyes, that I may behold
wondrous things out of Thy Law!
Tehillim
- Psalm 119:18..
(JPS-1917
version of the Tanakh).
Please Note: Some alterations or (additions) have been made relating to
‘Names’ and ‘Attributes’ of אֱלֹהִים -
Elohim, having been corrected like it once was pre
the “Masoretic Text”.
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Remember the
following truth from our beloved Torah!
“Ye shall NOT ADD TO THE
WORD which I command you, NEITHER SHALL YE DIMINISH FROM IT,
that ye may keep the commandments of יְהוָה
אֱלֹהֵיכֶם -
the LORD your Eloleichem, which I command you”. Davarim - Deuteronomy 4:2.
However, sadly both the later priests as well as our rabbis of long ago have shamefully disobeyed this command of אֱלֹהִים יְהוָה - the LORD Elohim, בָּרוּךְ שֵׁם קָדוֹשׁוֹ - ‘Baruch Shem Kadosho’ – ‘Blessed be His Holy Name!’
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With Rabbi, Dr. Reuven Ben
Avraham-Goossens, PhD.
Introduction:
Psalm 85 is a communal prayer of restoration: it
remembers past Divine favour, confesses need, petitions for renewed mercy and salvation, and closes
with a confident vision where mercy, truth, righteousness, and peace meet. The
Psalm moves from thanksgiving to urgent plea and then to prophetic assurance.
Let
us read Tehillim - Psalms Chapter 85: (JPS-1917 version of the Tanakh).
1. “For the Leader. A Psalm of the sons of Korah.
2. יְהוָה - LORD, Thou hast been favourable
unto Thy land, Thou hast turned the captivity of Jacob.
3. Thou hast forgiven the iniquity of Thy people, Thou hast pardoned all their sin. Selah
4. Thou hast withdrawn all Thy
wrath; Thou hast turned from the fierceness of Thine
anger.
5. Restore us, O אֱלֹהִים -
Elohim of our salvation, and cause Thine indignation toward us to cease.
6. Wilt Thou be angry with us for ever? Wilt Thou
draw out Thine anger to all generations?
7. Wilt Thou not quicken us again, that Thy people
may rejoice in Thee?
8. Show us Thy mercy, O יְהוָה - LORD, and grant us Thy salvation.
9. I will hear what הָאֵל
יְהוָה - Elohim the
LORD will speak; for He will speak peace unto His people, and to His saints;
but let them not turn back to folly.
10. Surely His salvation is nigh them that fear Him;
that glory may dwell in our land.
11. Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness
and peace have kissed each other.
12. Truth springeth out of
the earth; and righteousness hath looked down from heaven.
13. Yea, יְהוָה -
the LORD will give that which is good; and our land shall yield her produce.
14. Righteousness shall go before Him, and shall make
His footsteps a way”.
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Let us now look at the
‘verse by verse’ with Explanations:
Verse 1. “יְהוָה - LORD, Thou hast been favourable unto Thy land: Thou hast turned the captivity of Jacob”.
Explanation: The opening is thankful recall: restoration of the people’s fortunes is attributed to אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s favour, setting the tone of trust that grounds the petition.
Verse 2. “Thou hast forgiven the iniquity of Thy people, Thou hast pardoned all their sin. Selah”.
Explanation: Forgiveness is foregrounded as the basis for renewed relationship; the Selah invites reflection on Divine pardon as a completed act.
Verse 3. “Thou hast withdrawn all Thy wrath; Thou hast turned from the fierceness of Thine anger”.
Explanation: The community remembers that judgment was lifted; this memory fuels hope that אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s anger is not perpetual.
Verse 4. “Restore us, O אֱלֹהִים of our salvation, And cause Thine indignation toward us to cease.
Explanation: A direct plea for restoration, not merely relief from punishment but return to the state of salvation and closeness with אֱלֹהִים.
Verse 5. “Wilt Thou be angry with us for ever? Wilt Thou draw out Thine anger to all generations?”
Explanation: The psalmist challenges the notion of endless wrath, appealing to אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s covenantal mercy rather than perpetual punishment.
Verse 6. “Wilt Thou not quicken us again: that Thy people may rejoice in Thee?”
Explanation: The desired outcome is revival, spiritual life renewed so the people can again find joy in אֱלֹהִים.
Verse 7. “Shew us Thy mercy, O אֱלֹהִים - LORD, and grant us Thy salvation”.
Explanation: A compact petition combining compassion and
deliverance, both inward (forgiveness) and outward (salvation).
Verse 8.” I will hear what אֱלֹהִים יְהוָה - the LORD Elohim will speak: for He will speak peace unto His people, and to His saints: but let them not turn again to folly”.
Explanation: Expectant listening for אֱלֹהִים -
Elohim’s
word of peace, coupled with a moral charge: the people must not relapse into
folly.
Verse 9. “Surely His salvation is nigh them that fear Him; that glory may dwell in our land”.
Explanation: Promise of nearness: salvation approaches for the reverent, and אֱלֹהִים -Elohim’s presence (glory) will bless the land.
Verse 10. “Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other”.
Explanation: A poetic vision where divine attributes converge, the restoration is holistic: ethical ‘truth’, ‘mercy’, ‘justice’, and ‘peace united’”.
Verse 11. “Truth shall spring out of the earth; and righteousness shall look down from heaven”.
Explanation: Imagery of earth and heaven cooperating: אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s truth and justice manifest in human life and society.
Verse 12. “Yea, יְהוָה - the LORD shall give that which is good; and our land shall yield her increase”.
Explanation: Promise of blessing and fruitfulness, material and spiritual prosperity as אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s gift.
Verse 13. “Righteousness shall go before him; and shall set us in the way of his steps”.
Explanation: Final image: righteousness leads, guiding the community to follow אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s path and live under His favour.
My Closing Message:
Psalm 85 calls for humble remembrance, honest petition, and readiness to receive אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s renewal. May its movement from gratitude through plea to confident vision, guide your prayers for communal restoration and inspire a life shaped by mercy, truth, righteousness, and peace!
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This site was originally created, for those who desired to return to our blessed and wonderful faith. Thus be wise and work on your faith and pray at least two or three times a day (if possible) and always seek our beloved אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s guidance, for His love is always with us, especially when we seek Him, blessed be He! However this site has become very much a teaching site with hundreds of studies!
Remember what אֱלֹהִים - Elohim, blessed be
He, said the following via several of our prophets...
“Return unto Me, and I will return unto you,
saith צְבָאוֹת- יְהוָה- the LORD of
hosts”. Mal’a’chi - Malachi 3:7. (JPS).
And Remember ...
Enjoy your Sabbath Rest, Shabbat Shalom!
אֲנִי
יְהוָה
אֱלֹהֵיכֶם, בְּחֻקּוֹתַי
לֵכוּ; וְאֶת-מִשְׁפָּטַי
שִׁמְרוּ, וַעֲשׂוּ
אוֹתָם
וְאֶת-שַׁבְּתוֹתַי, קַדֵּשׁוּ; וְהָיוּ
לְאוֹת, בֵּינִי
וּבֵינֵיכֶם-לָדַעַת, כִּי
אֲנִי יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם
“I am אֱלֹהֵיכֶם יְהוָה -
the LORD your Eloheichem; walk in My statutes, and keep Mine ordinances, and do them; and
hallow My Sabbaths, and they shall be a sign between Me and you, that ye may
know that I am אֱלֹהֵיכֶם יְהוָה - the
LORD your Eloheichem”. Yechezkel
- Ezekiel 20:19-20. (JPS).
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“Hebraic Studies” motto is as
follows;
“The More Torah, the
More Life”
For אֱלֹהִים יְהוָה - the LORD Elohim, Blessed be His Sanctified Name,
He
is the one who gave us our Life!”
May the שָׁלוֹם - Shalom = Peace of צְבָאוֹת- יְהוָה= the LORD of hosts. be with you, and please always uphold our blessed שַׁבָּת - Shabbat, as well as the מוֹעֲדִים - Mo’a’dim - Feasts, and continue saying your daily תְּפִלָּה - Tefeelah’s (Prayers) and regular בְּרָכָה - Be’ra’chah’s (blessings) before food and drinks, etc!
שָׁלוֹם
עֲלֵיכֶם - Shalom Aleichem - Peace be with you!
Rabbi, Dr. Reuven Ben Avraham-Goossens, PhD.
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