When Righteousness and Peace Meet
Psalm 85:1–13
Steadfast love and faithfulness meet; righteousness and peace kiss each other. Psalm 85:10

Verse 10 is one of the great poetic sections of the Psalms. It is generally understood as pointing to the work of Jesus Christ in making atonement for our sins by which alone God is able both to satisfy the demands of his righteousness or justice and at the same time to show mercy to those who have fallen short of his just standards. This may be part of what is involved. But the picture painted by verses 10–13 is larger and more comprehensive than that. They are actually looking forward to an ideal state and time when the harmony that is in God will also pervade and dominate God’s creation.

The devil is the great disrupter. He has brought disharmony to the universe. God brings harmony. In these verses four great attributes of God meet together— love, faithfulness, righteousness, and peace—and then, like conquering generals, they march side by side to a victory that is the sure and certain hope of God’s people. The verses suggest three harmonies.

1. The harmony in God. When we speak of mercy and truth as well as righteousness and peace being reconciled in God because of the work of Jesus Christ, we imply that somehow they are in conflict. But the qualities in God are never in conflict, and the psalm is certainly not speaking of a conflict. On the contrary, love and faithfulness, righteousness and peace are always at home in God, and it is from this divine harmony that all other harmonies come. We have peace only when we rest in him.

2. Harmony between heaven and earth. The second harmony is between God and man, which is what verse 11 suggests when it speaks of faithfulness springing from the earth and righteousness looking down from heaven. We may see this as God’s gift of righteousness from above and our response of faith reaching up to receive God’s righteousness and then issuing in faithfulness. But the picture is probably not as specific as this. The verse is better seen as pointing to a state in which God’s people live in faithful obedience to God and are blessed by him. When that happens salvation has indeed come to a people and the glory of God dwells in their land.

3. A harmony in man. The third harmony is in man himself. For these qualities—love, faithfulness, righteousness, and peace—are attributes of God that can be shared with man and therefore can and must appear in those who are God’s people. Moreover, when they appear in us, we find that we are at peace not only with God but also with ourselves and one another. In fact, we become peacemakers in an otherwise cruel, warring, and disharmonious world.

Taken from Come to the Waters by James Boice ISBN 9798887790954 used with permission from P&R Publishing, Phillipsburg NJ 08865

Scripture quotations are from the ESV (the Holy Bible English Standard Version) copyright 2001 by Crossway a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved.