Psalm 85:13 - You Showed Favor to Your Land

Audio Bible

Context

You Showed Favor to Your Land
…12The LORD will indeed provide what is good, and our land will yield its increase. 13Righteousness will go before Him to prepare the way for His steps.

Cross References

Isaiah 45:8
Drip down, O heavens, from above, and let the skies pour down righteousness. Let the earth open up that salvation may sprout and righteousness spring up with it; I, the LORD, have created it.Hosea 10:12
Sow for yourselves righteousness and reap the fruit of loving devotion; break up your unplowed ground. For it is time to seek the LORD until He comes and sends righteousness upon you like rain.Isaiah 61:11
For as the earth brings forth its growth, and as a garden enables seed to spring up, so the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise to spring up before all the nations.Isaiah 58:8
Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will come quickly. Your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard.Isaiah 32:17
The work of righteousness will be peace; the service of righteousness will be quiet confidence forever.Isaiah 55:11-12
so My word that proceeds from My mouth will not return to Me empty, but it will accomplish what I please, and it will prosper where I send it. / You will indeed go out with joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.Jeremiah 33:15
In those days and at that time I will cause to sprout for David a righteous Branch, and He will administer justice and righteousness in the land.Isaiah 11:5
Righteousness will be the belt around His hips, and faithfulness the sash around His waist.Isaiah 4:2
On that day the Branch of the LORD will be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the land will be the pride and glory of Israel’s survivors.Isaiah 51:5
My righteousness draws near, My salvation is on the way, and My arms will bring justice to the nations. The islands will look for Me and wait in hope for My arm.Matthew 5:6
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.Romans 3:21-22
But now, apart from the law, the righteousness of God has been revealed, as attested by the Law and the Prophets. / And this righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no distinction,Romans 10:3-4
Because they were ignorant of God’s righteousness and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness. / For Christ is the end of the law, to bring righteousness to everyone who believes.2 Corinthians 5:21
God made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.Philippians 1:11
filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

Psalm 72:2,3
He shall judge thy people with righteousness, and thy poor with judgment…

Psalm 89:14
Justice and judgment are the habitation of thy throne: mercy and truth shall go before thy face.

Isaiah 58:8
Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the LORD shall be thy rereward.

shall set

Psalm 119:35
Make me to go in the path of thy commandments; for therein do I delight.

Matthew 20:27,28
And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: …

John 13:14-16,34
If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet…

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Psalm 85

Righteousness will go before Him
This phrase suggests the idea of righteousness as a forerunner or herald, preparing the way for the Lord. In biblical context, righteousness often refers to God's moral perfection and justice. This imagery is reminiscent of John the Baptist's role in preparing the way for Jesus Christ, as seen in Isaiah 40:3 and Matthew 3:3. The concept of righteousness going before God implies that His actions and presence are always preceded by His just and holy nature. This aligns with the biblical theme that God’s righteousness is foundational to His covenant with His people, as seen in passages like Psalm 89:14.

to prepare the way for His steps.
The preparation of the way for His steps indicates a path being made ready for the Lord's coming or intervention. This echoes the ancient practice of preparing roads for the arrival of a king or dignitary, ensuring a smooth and honorable passage. In a spiritual sense, it suggests that God’s righteous acts pave the way for His presence and blessings among His people. This can be connected to the prophetic imagery in Malachi 3:1, where a messenger prepares the way for the Lord. It also points to the ultimate fulfillment in Jesus Christ, whose life and ministry were marked by righteousness, preparing the way for humanity's reconciliation with God. The phrase underscores the importance of living righteously as a means of welcoming God's presence and guidance in one's life.

Persons / Places / Events

1. The Sons of Korah
The authors of Psalm 85, a group of Levitical singers and musicians who played a significant role in temple worship.

2. Israel
The nation to whom the Psalm is addressed, reflecting on their relationship with God and seeking restoration and favor.

3. God
The central figure in the Psalm, whose righteousness and peace are themes of hope and restoration for His people.

Teaching Points

Righteousness as a Pathway
God's righteousness is not just a characteristic but a guiding force that leads and prepares the way for His presence. As believers, we are called to walk in righteousness, aligning our lives with God's standards.

Preparation for God's Presence
Just as righteousness prepares the way for God's steps, we are to prepare our hearts and lives for His presence. This involves repentance, faith, and obedience.

The Role of Righteousness in Restoration
The Psalm speaks to a time of restoration for Israel. In our lives, embracing God's righteousness can lead to personal and communal restoration and peace.

Anticipation of Christ's Return
The imagery of preparing the way can also be seen as a call to readiness for Christ's second coming. We are to live in a manner that reflects His righteousness and anticipates His return.

Lists and Questions

Top 10 Lessons from Psalm 85How does the psalmist's reliance on personal righteousness (Psalm 17:5) align with New Testament teachings about salvation by faith and not by works (Ephesians 2:8-9)?Why would God threaten complete destruction (Jeremiah 21:5-6) instead of offering a path to repentance, seeming to contradict earlier scriptures that highlight mercy?If the Bible is divinely inspired, why does Paul misquote the Old Testament (Romans 3:10-18 vs. Psalms)?Zechariah 13:7 - Who is the 'shepherd' in this verse, and why does the text imply that God himself would strike him, which seems contradictory to other passages?

(13) Righteousness shall . . .--Better, Righteousness shall walk in front of Him, and follow in His steps.

Nothing is more instructive than the blending in Psalm 85:12-13 of material and moral blessings. They do go together, as experience, especially national testifies. In the same spirit is Wordsworth's well-known Ode to Duty:

"Stern Law-giver! Yet thou dost wear

The Godhead's most benignant grace,

Nor know we anything so fair

As is the smile upon thy face.

Flowers laugh before thee on their beds,

And fragrance in thy footing treads:

Thou dost preserve the stars from wrong,

And the most ancient heavens through Thee are . . .

Verse 13. - Righteousness shall go before him. Prepare the way, i.e., for the restoration of the people to God's favour (compare the first clause of ver. 11, and the second of ver. 12). And shall set us in the way of his steps; i.e. cause his people to walk in the way marked out by his footsteps - i.e. by the indications of his will either in nature or in the written Word.

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

Righteousness
צֶ֭דֶק (ṣe·ḏeq)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 6664: The right, equity, prosperity

will go
יְהַלֵּ֑ךְ (yə·hal·lêḵ)
Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1980: To go, come, walk

before Him
לְפָנָ֣יו (lə·p̄ā·nāw)
Preposition-l | Noun - common plural construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 6440: The face

to prepare
וְיָשֵׂ֖ם (wə·yā·śêm)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect Jussive - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7760: Put -- to put, place, set

the way
לְדֶ֣רֶךְ (lə·ḏe·reḵ)
Preposition-l | Noun - common singular construct
Strong's 1870: A road, a course of life, mode of action

for His steps.
פְּעָמָֽיו׃ (pə·‘ā·māw)
Noun - feminine plural construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 6471: A beat, foot, anvil, occurrence

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Psalm 85:13 Catholic BibleOT Poetry: Psalm 85:13 Righteousness goes before him And prepares (Psalm Ps Psa.)