Ps. 85.12-13 (no greater conclusion)

Yhwh will indeed / bestow what is good
and our land / will yield its harvest
Righteousness / will go before him
and prepare a way / for his footsteps. 

Looking back at what Yhwh provides in the psalm we find: “turning the fortunes of Jacob” (1), “life” (6), “loyal-love” and “salvation” (7 and 9), “well-being” (8), and the constellation of covenantal powers in verses 10-11. Here we can add his bestowal of “what is good” which in turn leads to the land “yielding its harvest”. What these images convey is the sense not just of a life lived in the abundance of God but of the cosmos living in that abundance. Whatever the ‘fortunes of Jacob’ are they clearly point, in some fashion, to the honor and prestige that shines forth from a life of blessing. Here, that which is “good”, as closely paired to the harvest, also points in the same direction—of God’s people living within a land that produces blessing. One sees in the ‘yielding of the harvest’ the bestowal, by Yhwh, of that which is good. In a sense, the harvest ‘shines’ with God’s loving concern for his people. The harvest also shines with the certainty that has marked the psalm since Yhwh spoke to the prophet/priest in verse 8. From that point forward, Yhwh’s response to his people has been without equivocation: “Yhwh will indeed command well-being”, “Surely his salvation is near…”, the covenantal forces “have met”, “have embraced”, “will spring up” and “will look down”. Now, Yhwh “will indeed” bestow what is good. The meditative import of this is that the harvest’s yield is not only a ‘blessing’ but comes doubly clothed. One—it comes to his people as his gracious response to their petitions to him. As such, it shows them the fact that Yhwh responds to them, that he can be moved to act toward them. Second—it comes to his people in the full light of his face, by which I mean its certainty speaks of an entirely ‘for his people’ response; it does not contain a shadow. Yhwh wants to be, without reservation, toward his people Here, he is not withholding from them his loyal-love and salvation. 

The final verse compliments these insights and deepens them. Here, at the concluding of the psalm, we see Yhwh approaching the land, heralded by ‘righteousness’. A ‘way’ is being prepared for his entrance to the Land. It would seem that this verse needs to be read in light of verse 9, where it describes “glory” dwelling in our Land (which implies a reference to the Temple, as God’s dwelling). What we see is that not only is God going to bestow his blessings and empower the harvest, but he himself is going to come and dwell with them. In fact, it is already in the process. A way is being prepared. Whereas there seemed to be a clear sense that God’s wrath had sealed off heaven from earth in the opening, now heaven is to be opened and Yhwh will journey forth to dwell with his people. It is very important to note how the psalms ends on this note of Yhwh approaching. There could be no greater conclusion.