Psalms 85:4

KJV

Turn us, O God of our salvation, and cause thine anger toward us to cease.

KJV (with Strong's)

Turn {H7725}{H8798)} us, O God {H430} of our salvation {H3468}, and cause thine anger {H3708} toward us to cease {H6565}{H8685)}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Restore us, God of our salvation, renounce your displeasure with us.

Berean Standard Bible

Restore us, O God of our salvation, and put away Your displeasure toward us.

American Standard Version

Turn us, O God of our salvation, And cause thine indignation toward us to cease.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Psalms 85:4 is a fervent communal plea for divine intervention and restoration. It acknowledges God as the ultimate source of deliverance ("God of our salvation") and implores Him to reverse their dire circumstances, which are understood as a manifestation of His righteous anger. This prayer expresses a deep dependence on God's grace, seeking both a spiritual turning of the people back to Him and a cessation of His disciplinary judgment, thereby paving the way for renewed favor and blessing.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Psalms 85:4 stands as the pivotal turning point in a psalm that moves from remembrance to petition and finally to hopeful expectation. The preceding verses [Psalms 85:1-3](/psalms/85-1 "Psalm 85:1-3 - God's Past Deliverance") recount God's past acts of favor, particularly His forgiveness and restoration of Jacob's captivity, setting a precedent for the current appeal. This remembrance establishes the psalmist's confidence in God's character as a merciful deliverer. Following verse 4, the psalm intensifies its plea for full restoration and revival, culminating in a vision of righteousness and peace flourishing in the land, contingent upon God's renewed favor. The structure thus highlights a movement from past grace, through present distress and earnest prayer, to future hope.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** While the psalm does not explicitly state its historical setting, scholarly consensus often places it in the post-exilic period, specifically after the return of the Jewish people from Babylonian captivity (e.g., [Ezra 1](/ezra/1 "Ezra 1 - Cyrus's Decree and the Return")). Though the initial return brought joy, the reality of rebuilding Jerusalem and the temple was fraught with challenges, opposition, and spiritual apathy, leading to a sense of unfulfilled promise and continued divine displeasure (cf. [Haggai 1](/haggai/1 "Haggai 1 - Call to Rebuild the Temple")). The "anger" mentioned in the verse likely refers to ongoing hardships, perhaps drought, famine, or political instability, which were often interpreted as God's disciplinary hand upon His covenant people for their sin and spiritual lukewarmness. Culturally, the concept of divine anger was understood as a just response to covenant unfaithfulness, and cessation of anger implied restoration of the covenant relationship and its attendant blessings.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully encapsulates several key themes prevalent in the Psalter and broader Old Testament narrative. Firstly, it underscores the theme of **divine sovereignty and initiative in salvation**. The phrase "Turn us, O God of our salvation" acknowledges that true spiritual and national restoration can only originate with God. Secondly, it highlights the **consequences of sin and the necessity of divine discipline**. The "anger toward us" is not arbitrary but a righteous response to the people's unfaithfulness, a common motif seen in prophetic books like [Jeremiah](/jeremiah/1 "Jeremiah - The Weeping Prophet") and [Ezekiel](/ezekiel/1 "Ezekiel - Prophet of Exile"). Thirdly, the verse expresses a profound **dependence on God's mercy and grace**. Despite their sin, the people appeal to God's character as the "God of our salvation," trusting in His willingness to forgive and restore, echoing the covenant promises of a God who is "gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love" ([Exodus 34:6](/exodus/34-6 "Exodus 34:6 - God's Self-Revelation to Moses")).

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Turn (Hebrew, _shuv_):** This verb is exceptionally rich in meaning, carrying connotations of returning, restoring, repenting, and turning back. In this context, it functions dually: it is a plea for God to *turn* His favorable attention back to His people and to *restore* their fortunes, but it also implies a desire for God to *enable* His people to *turn* (repent) from their sin back to Him. It suggests that true restoration is a two-way movement, initiated by God but requiring a responsive turning of the heart from humanity.
* **God of our salvation (Hebrew, _Elohei Yishenu_):** This title emphasizes God's unique identity as the source of deliverance, rescue, and well-being. The term "salvation" (_yeshu'ah_) encompasses not just spiritual redemption but also physical deliverance from distress, prosperity, and wholeness. By addressing God with this specific epithet, the psalmist appeals to His proven character and power as the one who has historically delivered His people and is capable of doing so again, despite their present state of divine disfavor.
* **Anger (Hebrew, _charon_):** This word refers to a burning, fierce anger or wrath, often associated with divine judgment against sin and rebellion. It is not an irrational outburst but a righteous and just response to covenant unfaithfulness. The plea for this anger to "cease" indicates the people's recognition that their current suffering is a direct consequence of their actions and a manifestation of God's displeasure, and their earnest desire for the cessation of this disciplinary hand.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Turn us, O God of our salvation":** This opening clause is a desperate, yet hopeful, imperative plea. It acknowledges God's absolute sovereignty and capacity to intervene and reverse their circumstances. The address "God of our salvation" is a foundational declaration of trust, reminding God (and the petitioners themselves) of His historical role as their deliverer. It's a prayer for both objective change in their external situation and subjective change in their internal spiritual state, recognizing that only God can initiate this profound turning.
* **"and cause thine anger toward us to cease":** This second clause specifies the desired outcome of God's "turning." The people understand that their distress is linked to God's righteous anger, a consequence of their sin. They are not asking for a blind removal of consequences, but for God to relent from His just judgment. This implies a recognition of guilt and a longing for reconciliation and restoration of the covenant relationship, where divine favor replaces divine displeasure.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs several powerful **literary devices**. The primary device is **apostrophe**, as the psalmist directly addresses God ("O God of our salvation"), creating an intimate and urgent tone for the communal prayer. The use of the imperative verb "**Turn** us" functions as a **supplication**, highlighting the people's desperate need and complete dependence on divine initiative. The parallel structure between "Turn us" and "cause thine anger... to cease" creates a sense of **balance and emphasis**, underscoring the two-fold nature of their plea: an internal turning and an external cessation of judgment. Furthermore, the phrase "God of our salvation" acts as an **epithet**, a descriptive title that not only identifies God but also evokes His character and past acts of deliverance, serving as a basis for their present hope.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Psalms 85:4 encapsulates a profound theological truth: humanity's utter dependence on God for both spiritual renewal and the cessation of divine judgment. It affirms God's righteous character, where sin invokes His just anger, yet simultaneously highlights His compassionate nature as the "God of our salvation" who is willing to forgive and restore. This tension between divine wrath and divine mercy is a central theme throughout Scripture, demonstrating that while God is holy and just, His ultimate desire is for reconciliation and the flourishing of His people. The verse serves as a model for how a repentant community, acknowledging its sin, can appeal to God's covenant faithfulness and redemptive power for restoration.

* [Lamentations 5:21](/lamentations/5-21 "Lamentations 5:21 - A Plea for Restoration")
* [Jeremiah 31:18](/jeremiah/31-18 "Jeremiah 31:18 - Ephraim's Repentance")
* [Joel 2:13](/joel/2-13 "Joel 2:13 - Return to the Lord with All Your Heart")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Psalms 85:4 offers a timeless pattern for both individual and communal prayer in times of distress, particularly when we perceive God's displeasure, whether due to personal sin or collective societal failings. It calls us to a posture of humble dependence and earnest petition. First, it reminds us to acknowledge God's sovereignty and His just response to sin, understanding that any hardship or sense of distance from Him might be a consequence of our own turning away. Second, it encourages us to appeal to His character as the "God of our salvation," trusting in His boundless mercy and His historical commitment to deliver His people. Our prayer should not merely be for the removal of suffering, but for a profound spiritual transformation—a turning of our hearts back to Him, enabled by His grace, so that His anger might cease and His favor be restored. This verse invites us to seek genuine repentance and to believe that God desires to "turn" us, to bring us back into full communion with Him, and to pour out His blessings upon us once more.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of my life, or our community's life, might we be experiencing the consequences of turning away from God?**
* **How does understanding God as the "God of our salvation" impact my confidence in approaching Him with pleas for restoration?**
* **What does it mean for God to "turn us," and what is my role in that process of turning?**
* **How can this prayer inform our approach to national or global crises, recognizing the spiritual dimensions at play?**

### FAQ

**Does God truly get "angry" with His people, or is this just a human way of describing consequences?**

Answer: The biblical concept of God's anger, as seen in Psalms 85:4, is a profound theological truth, not merely a metaphor for natural consequences. While God is love and slow to anger, His holiness and justice necessitate a righteous response to sin and rebellion. This anger is not akin to human capriciousness or uncontrolled rage; rather, it is a holy indignation against unrighteousness that threatens His covenant relationship with His people. It serves as a disciplinary measure, intended to bring about repentance and restoration, as seen throughout the Old Testament (e.g., [Deuteronomy 28](/deuteronomy/28 "Deuteronomy 28 - Blessings and Curses")). The psalmist's plea for God's anger to "cease" acknowledges its reality and seeks His merciful turning away from judgment, which is always rooted in His desire for His people's ultimate good.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Psalms 85:4, with its earnest plea for God to "Turn us" and cause His "anger toward us to cease," finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in Jesus Christ. The "anger toward us" that the psalmist laments is the righteous wrath of God against human sin, a wrath that stood as an insurmountable barrier between a holy God and a fallen humanity. Yet, the "God of our salvation" did indeed "turn" to us, not merely by relenting from judgment, but by providing a perfect sacrifice. Jesus, the [Lamb of God](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"), bore the full weight of divine wrath on the cross, becoming sin for us so that we might become the righteousness of God ([2 Corinthians 5:21](/2_corinthians/5-21 "2 Corinthians 5:21 - Christ Became Sin for Us")). Through His atoning work, God's anger against those who believe in Christ has been fully satisfied and forever ceased. Moreover, the "turning" that the psalmist longed for—both God's turning to humanity and humanity's turning to God—is perfectly accomplished in Christ. He enables us to truly repent and turn from sin to God ([Acts 3:19](/acts/3-19 "Acts 3:19 - Repentance and Refreshing")), and through Him, we are reconciled to God, experiencing the full favor and peace that the psalmist could only yearn for ([Romans 5:1](/romans/5-1 "Romans 5:1 - Justification by Faith")). Thus, in Jesus, the plea of Psalms 85:4 is not just answered, but eternally fulfilled, offering a salvation far grander than the psalmist could have imagined.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Psalms 80:3

Turn us again, O God, and cause thy face to shine; and we shall be saved.

Psalms 80:7

Turn us again, O God of hosts, and cause thy face to shine; and we shall be saved.

Lamentations 5:21

Turn thou us unto thee, O LORD, and we shall be turned; renew our days as of old.

Micah 7:7

¶ Therefore I will look unto the LORD; I will wait for the God of my salvation: my God will hear me.

Psalms 80:19

Turn us again, O LORD God of hosts, cause thy face to shine; and we shall be saved.

Malachi 4:6

And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.

Micah 7:18

Who [is] a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth [in] mercy.