“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. Interlude You 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.”
Psalms 85:1-13 NLT
Righteousness and Peace have kissed. This is a beautiful sentiment and metaphor in the wake of a disordered world. In this life, because of the disorder brought about by sin and death, there is no righteousness that doesn’t come with judgment and shame. There is no peace for those who live at constant enmity with each other. It is interesting since those two ideas are constantly sought to be married in culture. We want our heroes to usher in peace and somehow earn their righteousness. Yet our efforts only sow death and despair. They never amount to righteousness. The peace that comes from our efforts is never lasting. It is transitory and vultures always circle above it. But God is the source of both righteousness and peace and when he comes to be with his people, there is a transformation in their lives that brings about a great and undeniable blessing. They no longer must feel the shame of their unrighteousness. They no longer must live at enmity with each other. They no longer must worry about the fragile nature of holding all things together and the tenuous act of an infinite intent upon a finite creature. God’s kingdom accounts for it all and at the center of that is a tender moment between these two forlorn lovers, torn apart by man’s folly.
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