The bringing back of Israel’s captivity expected by the righteous
 
Whilst there are no specific references to the Messiah, such is the language used that it portrays His advent in the affairs of His people.
 
There is the remembrance of God’s former mercies, and the Psalmist prays for the same power and grace to turn his people back to God. He questions the Lord as to His present dealings, and wants the divine influences to revive the church and bring the people to rejoice. This would be brought about by truth springing out of the earth, which signifies Christ’s incarnation and coming as a root out of the dry ground. Righteousness would not only look down from Heaven, but would come down in the Lord our Righteousness. Righteousness would go before His face, and both mercy and truth are met in Christ. Salvation was near through Him.
 

Psalm 85

   1  O Lord, thou hast been favorable
         to thy beloved land:
      Jacob's captivity thou hast
         recalled with mighty hand.

   2  Thou pardoned thy people hast
         all their iniquities;
      Thou all their trespasses and sins
         hast covered from thine eyes.

   3  Thou took'st off all thine ire, and turn'dst
         from thy wrath's furiousness.
   4  Turn us, God of our health, and cause
         thy wrath 'gainst us to cease.

   5  Shall thy displeasure thus endure
         against us without end?
      Wilt thou to generations all
         thine anger forth extend?

   6  That in thee may thy people joy,
         wilt thou not us revive?
   7  Show us thy mercy, Lord, to us
         do thy salvation give.

   8  I'll hear what God the Lord will speak:
         to his folk he'll speak peace,
      And to his saints; but let them not
         return to foolishness.

   9  To them that fear him surely near
        is his salvation;
      That glory in our land may have
         her habitation.

  10  Truth met with mercy, righteousness
         and peace kissed mutually:
  11  Truth springs from earth, and righteousness
         looks down from heaven high.

  12  Yea, what is good the Lord shall give;
         our land shall yield increase:
  13  Justice, to set us in his steps,
         shall go before his face.


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