"Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other."
Psalm 85:10
Part 2
Yesterday:
“Mercy and truth.”
Truth demands God’s righteousness!
“Are met together.”
His lovingkindness (mercy) is present there.
Today:
“Righteousness and peace have kissed each other.”
“Righteousness.”
“Righteousness” naturally follows the “truth.” When God exposes the truth about us and our sin, His righteousness, His divine judgment is sure to follow.
This word comes from a Hebrew word meaning, “justice, rightness,” or “righteousness.”[1] God is always right and righteous. He is the righteous Judge. He always keeps His Word. But as this verse has already shown us, He is the epitome of “lovingkindness!” He is the ever-faithful loving Husband to Israel.
“And I will betroth thee unto me forever; yea, I will betroth thee unto me in righteousness, and in judgment, and in lovingkindness, and in mercies. I will even betroth thee unto me in faithfulness: and thou shalt know the LORD” (Hosea 2:19-20).
Our God is amazing, for He combines His perfect righteousness and judgment, with His ultimate lovingkindness and mercy! And He is faithful! All of this culminates with His peace.
“And peace.”
All believers are looking forward to the time when Christ’s Kingdom is set up, and He is ruling on the throne.
“Then judgment shall dwell in the wilderness, and righteousness remain in the fruitful field. And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance forever. And my people shall dwell in a peaceable habitation, and in sure dwellings, and in quiet resting places” (Isaiah 32:16-18).
“Have kissed each other.”
Only our all-wise Father could bring such different qualities together for the benefit of His child. His “truth” pointed to our sin, and His “righteous judgment” fell! Not on the believer, but on His dear Son, in our place. And He gave us peace with God!
Not only are mercy and truth, and righteousness and peace paired up here but note this too.
“Mercy and peace are on one side; truth and righteousness on the other. Truth requires righteousness; mercy calls for peace”[2] (Clarke).
When and where did all of these attributes meet? Clarke asks,
“Now, Where did these meet? In Christ Jesus.
When were they reconciled? When He poured out His life on Calvary.”[3]
“Praise him! Praise him! Jesus, our blessed Redeemer![4]
For our sins he suffered and bled and died;
He our Rock, our hope of eternal salvation,
Hail him! Hail him! Jesus the Crucified.
Sound his praises — Jesus who bore our sorrows —
Love unbounded, wonderful, deep, and strong:
Praise him! Praise him! Tell of His excellent greatness!
Praise him! Praise him! ever in joyful song!”
Quote: “The world’s peace is relative and fleeting because it is grounded in circumstances. God’s peace is absolute and eternal because it is grounded in His grace”[5] (MacArthur).
[1] “Righteousness,” tsedeq, defined. Downloaded: Thursday, July 16, 2020. From: https://www.biblestudytools.com/lexicons/hebrew/nas/tsedeq.html.
[2] Adam Clarke, Adam Clarke’s Commentary on the Bible, the electronic version in eSword.
[3] Clarke, ibid.
[4] “Praise Him! Praise Him! Jesus Our Blessed Redeemer!” The second verse and the refrain are quoted here. By Fanny Crosby (1869). Tune: [“Praise Him! Praise Him! Jesus Our Blessed Redeemer!”], (Allen). Copyright status: Public Domain.
[5] John MacArthur’s quote, Downloaded: June 29, 2020. From: https://grace2udaily.wordpress.com/2014/01/05/experiencing-gods-peace/.