Grasp the Gospel — Bible Comprehension Quizzes

Psalm 85 Devotional

Where Love and Truth Meet

“Loving devotion and faithfulness have joined together; righteousness and peace have kissed.”Psalm 85:10 (BSB)

Psalm 85 begins by remembering. The LORD once showed favor to his land, brought his people back from captivity, forgave their guilt, and turned from his anger (85:1-3). Now they need him again. They ask him to restore them and revive them so they can rejoice in him (85:4-6). Past mercy becomes the ground for a new request.

Then the psalmist resolves to listen, confident that God will speak peace to those who belong to him (85:8). What follows is one of the most beautiful pictures in the Psalms. Loving devotion and faithfulness meet; righteousness and peace kiss each other (85:10). Faithfulness springs up from the ground, and righteousness bends down from the sky (85:11). Qualities that might seem to pull against each other come together in God. The cross is where this happens most fully, since Paul says God shows himself both just and the one who justifies those who believe in Jesus (Romans 3:26). God never has to choose between mercy and justice, so his people can come to him for both.

To think about: Where do you need God to revive you again, and how could remembering his past mercy give you courage to ask?

About Psalm 85: A Prayer for Renewed Mercy

The people recall how the LORD once forgave their sin and brought them back from captivity, and they ask Him to end His anger and revive them again. The psalmist then waits for God's word of peace and pictures loyal love, faithfulness, righteousness, and peace meeting as God blesses the land.

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