Psalms 85:4
A focused desk for reading, commentary, cross-references, original language notes, and your own observations.
Psalms 85:4
4 Turn us, O God of our salvation, and cause thine anger toward us to cease.
Chapter Context
Psalms 85 is a poetic and liturgical chapter in the Old Testament that explores themes of sacrifice, fellowship, righteousness. Written during various periods (c. 1000-400 BCE), this chapter should be understood within its historical context: Temple worship utilized these compositions across various periods of Israel's history.
The chapter can be divided into several sections:
- Verses 1-5: Introduction and setting the context
- Verses 6-12: Development of key themes
- Verses 13-13: Central message and teachings
This chapter is significant because it offers practical wisdom for godly living in a fallen world. When studying this passage, it's important to consider both its immediate context within Psalms and its broader place in the scriptural canon.
Verse Study
Psalms 85:4
4 Turn us, O God of our salvation, and cause thine anger toward us to cease.
Analysis
Turn us, O God of our salvation, and cause thine anger toward us to cease. The psalm shifts from recounting past mercy (vv. 1-3) to urgent present petition (vv. 4-7). The imperative shuv (שׁוּב, "turn us") is causative—"cause us to turn, bring us back, restore us." This prayer recognizes human inability to turn ourselves and God's necessary initiative in restoration. Without divine action enabling repentance, we remain in rebellion. This theology anticipates Jeremiah 31:18 ("Turn thou me, and I shall be turned") and Lamentations 5:21 ("Turn thou us unto thee, O LORD, and we shall be turned").
"O God of our salvation" (Elohei yish'enu, אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׁעֵנוּ) addresses God by His saving character. Yesha (יֵשַׁע) means deliverance, victory, salvation. By invoking God as "God of our salvation," the psalmist appeals to established pattern—God IS savior; salvation is His nature. The appeal assumes: since You ARE the God who saves, act according to Your character by saving us now.
"And cause thine anger toward us to cease" (vehapher ka'asekha immanu, וְהָפֵר כַּעַסְךָ עִמָּנוּ) requests termination of divine displeasure. Hapher (הָפֵר) means "break, annul, frustrate, make cease"—cause to stop operating. Ka'as (כַּעַס) is vexation, anger, provocation. The phrase "with us" (immanu, עִמָּנוּ) acknowledges that anger is justified—we provoked it through sin. The prayer doesn't claim innocence but pleads for mercy despite guilt.
Historical Context
This verse reflects the tension post-exilic Jews experienced. Physically they had returned to the land (starting 538 BC under Cyrus's decree), but spiritually they sensed incomplete restoration. The second temple, completed in 515 BC, lacked the Shekinah glory that filled Solomon's temple (Ezekiel 10:18-19, Haggai 2:3). Foreign powers still dominated—Persia, then Greece, then Rome. Economic hardship plagued the community (Haggai 1:6, 9). Spiritual compromise crept in through intermarriage with pagans (Ezra 9-10, Nehemiah 13). The people were back in the land but not fully experiencing covenant blessings promised for obedience. This prompted prayers like Psalm 85: "You've forgiven us before—do it again! Turn us back to You completely." The historical context shows that geographic restoration doesn't automatically equal spiritual revival.
Reflection
- Why does the psalmist pray for God to 'turn us' rather than pledging to turn himself, and what does this reveal about human nature and divine grace?
- How can believers distinguish between genuine divine discipline and misinterpreting difficult circumstances as God's anger?
- What does it mean to address God as 'God of our salvation' when currently experiencing His displeasure?
Word Studies
- God: אֱלֹהִים (Elohim) H430 - God (plural of majesty)
Cross-References
- Salvation: Psalms 27:1, 80:3, 80:7, 80:19, Micah 7:7
- References God: Psalms 25:2
- Parallel theme: Lamentations 5:21, Malachi 4:6