What does Psalm 85 teach about God's anger and mercy?

Psalm 85 beautifully captures the balance between God's anger and His mercy. The psalm states, 'Thou hast taken away all thy wrath' (verse 3) as a direct consequence of the cross. God's wrath against sin, which justly deserves judgment, was completely poured out on Jesus Christ. This act of justice makes way for mercy to flow freely, offering total forgiveness to those who believe. As David's plea for revival indicates, mercy renews believers and allows them to rejoice in God's salvation. Therefore, the psalm illustrates that while God is just in His anger towards sin, He is equally abundant in mercy through the redemptive work of Christ.