◄ Psalm 85:10 ►
Loving devotion and faithfulness have joined together; righteousness and peace have kissed.
Study Bible
Loving devotion and faithfulness have joined together;

God’s covenant love and His unwavering commitment to His promises meet in His restoration of His people. His mercy does not overlook His word, and His faithfulness does not withhold compassion. The salvation prayed for in Psalm 85 rests on the character of the God who remembered His covenant with Abraham, preserved Israel despite her sin, and promised lasting redemption through David’s greater Son. In Jesus Christ, God’s love and faithfulness are displayed fully as He fulfills His promises and brings salvation to those who trust Him.

Exo 34:6 Then the LORD passed in front of Moses and called out:…
Psa 89:14 Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne…
Psa 25:10 All the LORD’s ways are loving and faithful…

righteousness and peace have kissed.

God’s righteous judgment and the peace sinners need are reconciled through atonement. Peace with God cannot be secured by ignoring sin; it comes because the demands of righteousness are satisfied. Christ bore sin’s penalty and rose again, bringing believers into peace with God (Romans 5:1). The union also anticipates the Messiah’s righteous reign, when the Prince of Peace will establish justice, wholeness, and peace throughout His kingdom.

Heb 7:2 and Abraham apportioned to him a tenth of everything.…
Isa 32:17 The work of righteousness will be peace;…
Rom 14:17 For the kingdom of God is not a matter…

Persons / Places / Events
1. The Sons of Korah
The authors of Psalm 85, a group of Levitical singers and musicians who played a significant role in temple worship.

2. Israel
The nation to whom the Psalm is addressed, reflecting on God's past mercies and seeking His restoration.

3. God's Covenant
The underlying theme of the Psalm, emphasizing God's promises and faithfulness to His people.
Teaching Points
The Harmony of Divine Attributes
God's loving devotion (Hebrew: "chesed") and faithfulness (Hebrew: "emet") are not in conflict but work together harmoniously. This teaches us that God's love is steadfast and reliable.

Righteousness and Peace in Christ
The ultimate fulfillment of righteousness and peace kissing is found in Jesus Christ, who embodies both perfectly. Believers are called to reflect these attributes in their lives.

The Role of Reconciliation
Just as righteousness and peace are united, believers are called to be agents of reconciliation, promoting peace through righteous living.

The Importance of Covenant Faithfulness
God's faithfulness to His covenant is a model for us to be faithful in our commitments and relationships, trusting in His promises.

Living in the Tension of Now and Not Yet
While we experience God's peace and righteousness now, we also anticipate their full realization in the future kingdom. This tension calls us to live with hope and expectation.
Bible Study Questions
1. How do the attributes of loving devotion and faithfulness manifest in your personal relationship with God?

2. In what ways can you actively pursue righteousness and peace in your community, reflecting the "kiss" described in Psalm 85:10?

3. How does understanding God's covenant faithfulness encourage you in times of personal struggle or doubt?

4. Reflect on a situation where you have seen reconciliation bring about peace. How can this inspire you to be a peacemaker?

5. How does the union of righteousness and peace in Christ challenge you to live differently in your daily walk with Him?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Psalm 89:14
This verse also speaks of righteousness and justice as the foundation of God's throne, with love and faithfulness going before Him, echoing the themes of Psalm 85:10.

Isaiah 32:17
This passage connects righteousness with peace, suggesting that true peace is a result of righteousness, similar to the imagery of them "kissing" in Psalm 85:10.

Ephesians 2:14-17
Paul speaks of Christ as our peace, who has reconciled us to God, embodying the union of righteousness and peace.
Sermons
Our Foes Become Our FriendsS. Conway Psalm 85:10
The Bridal of the Earth and Sky'Alexander MaclarenPsalm 85:10
A Psalm of Deliverance; Songs and SighsA. Maclaren, D. D.Psalm 85:1-13
Genuine PietyHomilistPsalm 85:1-13
Temporal Mercies of Little Avail Without Such as are SpiritualS. Conway Psalm 85:1-13
The Responsibility of Favoured NationsF. H. Darlow.Psalm 85:1-13
A Blessed CoalitionHomilistPsalm 85:10-13
Divine Perfections United to Save SinnersPsalm 85:10-13
Mercy and Truth Meeting TogetherJ. F. Clarke.Psalm 85:10-13
Rigorousness and Clemency in God's Procedure with ManHomilistPsalm 85:10-13
The Bridal of the Earth and SkyA. Maclaren, D. D.Psalm 85:10-13
The Tenderness of God's RuleA. Mackennal, D. D.Psalm 85:10-13
True Peace is Inseparable from RighteousnessJohn Ruskin.Psalm 85:10-13
People
Jacob, Korah, Psalmist
Places
Jerusalem
Topics
Faith, Faithfulness, Kindness, Kiss, Kissed, Love, Lovingkindness, Loving-kindness, Meet, Mercy, Met, Peace, Righteousness, Steadfast, Truth
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Psalm 85:10

     1035   God, faithfulness
     1085   God, love of

Psalm 85:8-13

     4824   famine, spiritual

Library
'The Bridal of the Earth and Sky'
'Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other. 11. Truth shall spring out of the earth; and righteousness shall look down from heaven. 12. Yea, the Lord shall give that which is good; and our land shall yield her increase. 13. Righteousness shall go before Him, and shall set us in the way of His steps.'--PSALM lxxxv. 10-13. This is a lovely and highly imaginative picture of the reconciliation and reunion of God and man, 'the bridal of the earth and sky.' The Poet-Psalmist, …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

Two Coverings and Two Consequences
"Thou Hast covered all their sins."--Psalm 85:2. IN THESE two texts we have man's covering, which is worthless and culpable, and God's covering, which is profitable, and worthy of all acceptation. No sooner had man disobeyed his Maker's will in the garden of Eden than he discovered, to his surprise and dismay, that he was naked, and he set about at once to make himself a covering. It was a poor attempt which our first parents made, and it proved a miserable failure. "They sewed fig-leaves together." …
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 62: 1916

The Coming Revival
"Wilt Thou not revive us again: that Thy people may rejoice in Thee?"--PS. lxxxv. 6. "O Lord, revive Thy work in the midst of the years."--HAB. iii. 2. "Though I walk in the midst of trouble, Thou wilt revive me: Thy right hand shall save me."--PS. cxxxviii. 7. "I dwell with him that is of a humble and contrite heart, to revive the heart of the contrite ones."--ISA. lvii. 15. "Come, and let us return to the Lord: for He hath torn, and He will heal us. He will revive us."--HOS. vi. 1, 2. The Coming …
Andrew Murray—The Ministry of Intercession

Of the Inward Voice of Christ to the Faithful Soul I Will Hearken what the Lord God Shall Say Within Me. (1) Blessed is the Soul Which
CHAPTER I Of the inward voice of Christ to the faithful soul I will hearken what the Lord God shall say within me.(1) Blessed is the soul which heareth the Lord speaking within it, and receiveth the word of consolation from His mouth. Blessed are the ears which receive the echoes of the soft whisper of God, and turn not aside to the whisperings of this world. Blessed truly are the ears which listen not to the voice that soundeth without, but to that which teacheth truth inwardly. Blessed are the …
Thomas A Kempis—Imitation of Christ

When a Revival is to be Expected.
Text.--Wilt thou not revive us again; that thy people may rejoice in thee?--Psalm lxxxv. 6. THIS Psalm seems to have been written soon after the return of the people of Israel from the Babylonish captivity; as you will easily see from the language at the commencement of it. The Psalmist felt that God had been very favorable to the people, and while contemplating the goodness of the Lord in bringing them back from the land where they had been carried away captive, and while looking at the prospects …
Charles Grandison Finney—Lectures on Revivals of Religion

Conversion --Varied Phenomena or Experience.
We have spoken of the meaning of this term, inquired into the nature of the change, and noted its essential elements. We have also learned that there are some who do not need it because they are in a converted state, and that all who are not in such a state of Grace, do need conversion, regardless of anything that may or may not have taken place in the past. We inquire now as to the agencies or means by which this change is brought about. For it is a change which man can certainly not effect by his …
G. H. Gerberding—The Way of Salvation in the Lutheran Church

Two Coverings and Two Consequences
A Sermon (No. 3500) by C. H. Spurgeon, April 4th, 1875, at the Metropolitan Tabernacle, Newington. Published February 24th, 1916. "He that covereth his sins shall not prosper."--Proverbs 28:13. "Thou Hast covered all their sins."--Psalm 85:2. In these two texts we have man's covering, which is worthless and culpable, and God's covering, which is profitable and worthy of all acceptation. No sooner had man disobeyed his Maker's will in the garden of Eden than he discovered to his surprise and dismay …
C.H. Spurgeon—Sermons on Proverbs

Backsliding.
"I will heal their backsliding; I will love them freely: for Mine anger is turned away."--Hosea xiv. 4. There are two kinds of backsliders. Some have never been converted: they have gone through the form of joining a Christian community and claim to be backsliders; but they never have, if I may use the expression, "slid forward." They may talk of backsliding; but they have never really been born again. They need to be treated differently from real back-sliders--those who have been born of the incorruptible …
Dwight L. Moody—The Way to God and How to Find It

Letter xv (Circa A. D. 1129) to Alvisus, Abbot of Anchin
To Alvisus, Abbot of Anchin He praises the fatherly gentleness of Alvisus towards Godwin. He excuses himself, and asks pardon for having admitted him. To Alvisus, Abbot of Anchin. [18] 1. May God render to you the same mercy which you have shown towards your holy son Godwin. I know that at the news of his death you showed yourself unmindful of old complaints, and remembering only your friendship for him, behaved with kindness, not resentment, and putting aside the character of judge, showed yourself …
Saint Bernard of Clairvaux—Some Letters of Saint Bernard, Abbot of Clairvaux

This Conflict None Experience in Themselves, Save Such as War on the Side Of...
7. This conflict none experience in themselves, save such as war on the side of the virtues, and war down the vices: nor doth any thing storm the evil of lust, save the good of Continence. But there are, who, being utterly ignorant of the law of God, account not evil lusts among their enemies, and through wretched blindness being slaves to them, over and above think themselves also blessed, by satisfying them rather than taming them. But whoso through the Law have come to know them, ("For through …
St. Augustine—On Continence

Characters and Names of Messiah
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. S uch was the triumphant exultation of the Old Testament Church! Their noblest hopes were founded upon the promise of MESSIAH; their most sublime songs were derived from the prospect of His Advent. By faith, which is the substance of things hoped for, they considered the gracious declarations …
John Newton—Messiah Vol. 1

The Angel's Message and Song
And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the LORD came upon them, and the glory of the LORD shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the LORD . And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe …
John Newton—Messiah Vol. 1

Covenanting Adapted to the Moral Constitution of Man.
The law of God originates in his nature, but the attributes of his creatures are due to his sovereignty. The former is, accordingly, to be viewed as necessarily obligatory on the moral subjects of his government, and the latter--which are all consistent with the holiness of the Divine nature, are to be considered as called into exercise according to his appointment. Hence, also, the law of God is independent of his creatures, though made known on their account; but the operation of their attributes …
John Cunningham—The Ordinance of Covenanting

"And if any Man Sin, we have an Advocate with the Father,",
1 John ii. 1.--"And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father,", &c. It is the natural office of the conscience to accuse a man in evil doing. As every man by sin is liable to the judgment of the supreme court of heaven, so he is likewise subject to the inferior court of his own conscience, for the most high God hath a deputy within every man's breast, that not only is a witness, but a judge, to fasten an accusation, and pronounce a sentence upon him according to the law of God. And while …
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

Epistle xxviii. To Augustine, Bishop of the Angli .
To Augustine, Bishop of the Angli [136] . Gregory to Augustine, &c. Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men of good will (Luke ii. 14); because a grain of wheat, falling into the earth, has died, that it might not reign in heaven alone; even He by whose death we live, by whose weakness we are made strong, by whose suffering we are rescued from suffering, through whose love we seek in Britain for brethren whom we knew not, by whose gift we find those whom without knowing them we sought. …
Saint Gregory the Great—the Epistles of Saint Gregory the Great

The Truth of God
The next attribute is God's truth. A God of truth and without iniquity; just and right is he.' Deut 32:4. For thy mercy is great unto the heavens, and thy truth unto the clouds.' Psa 57:10. Plenteous in truth.' Psa 86:15. I. God is the truth. He is true in a physical sense; true in his being: he has a real subsistence, and gives a being to others. He is true in a moral sense; he is true sine errore, without errors; et sine fallacia, without deceit. God is prima veritas, the pattern and prototype …
Thomas Watson—A Body of Divinity

Psalms
The piety of the Old Testament Church is reflected with more clearness and variety in the Psalter than in any other book of the Old Testament. It constitutes the response of the Church to the divine demands of prophecy, and, in a less degree, of law; or, rather, it expresses those emotions and aspirations of the universal heart which lie deeper than any formal demand. It is the speech of the soul face to face with God. Its words are as simple and unaffected as human words can be, for it is the genius …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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