Psalms 85:2

“Thou hast forgiven the iniquity of thy people, etc.] Took it from them, and laid it on Christ, who has bore it, and took it away, so as it shall never return more to their destruction; and by the application of his blood it is taken away from their own consciences; for this denotes the manifestation and discovery of forgiveness to themselves; it is a branch of redemption, and is in consequence of it; and is a fruit of the free favour and good will of God through Christ; and it only belongs to the Lord’s special people, the people he has taken into covenant with him, and for whose iniquity Christ was stricken: thou hast covered all their sin; this is but another phrase for forgiveness, (see…”

“Thou hast forgiven the iniquity of thy people - That is, These calamities came upon them in consequence of their sins, and thou hast dealt with them as if those sins were forgiven. The fact that the tokens of his anger bad passed away, and that his judgments were withdrawn, seemed to prove that their sins had been forgiven. The same form of expression used here - with the same words in Hebrew - occurs in Psalms 32:5. See the notes at that passage. The language suggests the idea of an atonement. Literally, “Thou hast lifted up - or borne - the iniquity of thy people.” Thou hast covered all their sin - So that it is hidden; and therefore thou dost treat them as if they were righteous, or as if…”

“85:2 When God forgave the guilt of their sins, he gave the people the possibility of fellowship with him (see 32:5).”

“forgiven: Psa 32:1, Psa 79:8, Psa 79:9; Jer 50:20; Mic 7:18; Act 13:39; Col 2:13 Psalms 85:3”