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In this week’s study from Tehillim / Psalms 85:1-13, the Psalm opens saying, א לַמְנַצֵּחַ | לִבְנֵי-קֹרַח מִזְמוֹר: For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. (NASB) The psalmist continues saying, ב רָצִיתָ יְהֹוָה אַרְצֶךָ שַׁבְתָּ שְׁבִות [שְׁבִית] יַעֲקֹב: 85:1 O Lord, You showed favor to Your land; You restored the captivity of Jacob. (NASB) opening asking the Lord God to restore what once was, the captivity of Jacob is a reference to all of Israel. The author gets more specific saying, ג נָשָֹאתָ עֲוֹן עַמֶּךָ כִּסִּיתָ כָל-חַטָּאתָם סֶלָה: ד אָסַפְתָּ כָל-עֶבְרָתֶךָ הֱשִׁיבוֹתָ מֵחֲרוֹן אַפֶּךָ: 85:2 You forgave the iniquity of Your people; You covered all their sin. Selah. 85:3 You withdrew all Your fury; You turned away from Your burning anger. (NASB) He says the Lord withdrew his fury and turned away his anger, how is this so if the people are now in captivity? However he continues saying, ה שׁוּבֵנוּ אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׁעֵנוּ וְהָפֵר כַּעַסְךָ עִמָּנוּ: 85:4 Restore us, O God of our salvation, And cause Your indignation toward us to cease. (NASB) If one is receiving the punishment for his or her sins, is this considered the Lord turning His indignation against such a person? Read more here: Tehillim 85-Part1
