Psalm 85 explained: Do It Again, Lord

Remembering past mercy (vv. 1-3)

The singers recall a time God brought his people back and forgave them, probably the return from exile in Babylon, though scholars are not certain. To say God "covered" their sins was a way of saying he put the wrong out of sight and no longer held it against them.

Asking for help again (vv. 4-7)

Life after that rescue has turned hard again, and the people ask whether God's displeasure will last forever. They base their plea on what he did before: you restored us once, so bring us back to life again.

Waiting for an answer (vv. 8-9)

The speaker stops pleading and listens, and hears God promise peace, meaning wholeness and well-being, to his faithful people. The warning not to return to "folly" means not drifting back into the wrongdoing that caused trouble before.

Goodness meeting together (vv. 10-11)

Love, faithfulness, rightness and peace are pictured as friends who meet and kiss, with faithfulness growing up from the ground and rightness leaning down from the sky, a poetic image of heaven and earth in harmony. Christians have often read this as pointing to Jesus, in whom they see God and humanity meet.

A land made good (vv. 12-13)

The hope becomes concrete: crops will grow and the land will flourish again. Rightness is pictured going ahead of God to prepare the way for his steps, though the last line can also be read as his footsteps becoming a path for people to follow.

Key verse: Psalm 85:10

Where Christians differ

Christians differ on whether the closing vision mainly describes Israel's hoped-for restoration after exile or looks further ahead to the coming of Christ.

Something to think about

When a fresh start in your life has been followed by new trouble, what has helped you hold on to hope, or made it hard to?