Unfailing love and truth have met together. Righteousness and peace have kissed! Psalm 85:10
My kids are always really embarrassed when Laura and I kiss. We try to do everything in our power to do this as often as we can because we love their reaction. They scream, "That's so gross! You two stop! Don't you know we are in the room!" We like to hear their reaction, but we are affectionate with one another because it shows the closeness in our relationship and our love.
The two concepts of righteousness and peace are closely knit together. Here in Psalm 85, the author wanted us to see how intimately they are connected. He wrote that "righteousness and peace have kissed." At first, you might react to this and be a little grossed out like my kids, but look at the spirit behind this passage of scripture. The authors of this Psalm, the Sons of Korah, were Levites who served in the temple. They saw the way that these two concepts were linked together and how God restored people with righteousness and peace. Righteousness concerns being made right in our relationship with God and this, ultimately, has the power to bring peace. The joy of having a right relationship with God restores our hope and gives us a reason to live. They made it a point to sing this regularly in the temple as a part of their worship songs for hundreds of years.
When Jesus came into the world, He brought these two concepts together on the cross. He brought righteousness through His death, and ultimately peace through His resurrection. What they had been singing for all those years came together in perfect harmony through Jesus.
Paul also brought these two ideas together when he encouraged people to suit up with the armor of God. He uses righteousness as the breastplate and covering for our hearts, along with the gospel of peace for the shoes we are to wear when going to battle. He might have put both of these together because they are interlocked with one another biblically. Your heart is protected through the righteousness of God, and then this gospel concept gives you the traction you need to stand firm. What Paul is telling us is intentional so that we would remember the faithfulness of God, even during hard times.
Sometimes when we sing worship songs, we miss out on the meaning of the words. This weekend when you come to worship with us at Sagebrush, we would encourage you to keep your mind engaged in what we are singing. Focus in on the words and let God's peace and righteousness inspire your gratitude. Remember how faithful He has been this past week and all throughout your life. Then, sing to the one who set you free! See you at church this weekend!
Read Psalm 85:1-13 (NLT)
For the choir director: A psalm of the descendants of Korah.
Lord, you poured out blessings on your land! You restored the fortunes of Israel.You forgave the guilt of your people— yes, you covered all their sins. InterludeYou held back your fury. You kept back your blazing anger.
Now restore us again, O God of our salvation. Put aside your anger against us once more.Will you be angry with us always? Will you prolong your wrath to all generations?Won’t you revive us again, so your people can rejoice in you?Show us your unfailing love, O Lord, and grant us your salvation.
I listen carefully to what God the Lord is saying, for he speaks peace to his faithful people. But let them not return to their foolish ways.Surely his salvation is near to those who fear him, so our land will be filled with his glory.
Unfailing love and truth have met together. Righteousness and peace have kissed!Truth springs up from the earth, and righteousness smiles down from heaven.Yes, the Lord pours down his blessings. Our land will yield its bountiful harvest.Righteousness goes as a herald before him, preparing the way for his steps.
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