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Commentary on Psalms 85 verses 8–13
We have here an answer to the prayers and expostulations in the foregoing verses.
I. In general, it is an answer of peace. This the psalmist is soon aware of (Psa 85:8), for he stands upon his watch-tower to hear what God will say unto him, as the prophet, Hab 2:1, Hab 2:2. I will hear what God the Lord will speak. This intimates, 1. The stilling of his passions - his grief, his fear - and the tumult of his spirit which they occasioned: "Compose thyself, O my soul! in a humble silence to attend upon God and wait his motions. I have spoken enough, or too much; now I will hear what God will speak, and welcome his holy will. What saith my Lord unto his servant?" If we would have God to hear what we say to him by prayer, we must be ready to hear what he says to us by his word. 2. The raising of his expectation; now that he has been at prayer he looks for something very great, and very kind, from the God that hears prayer. When we have prayed we should look after our prayers, and stay for an answer. Now observe here, (1.) What it is that he promises himself from God, in answer to his prayers: He will speak peace to his people, and to his saints. There are a people in the world who are God's people, set apart for him, subject to him, and who shall be saved by him. All his people are his saints, sanctified by his grace and devoted to his glory; these may sometimes want peace, when without are fightings and within are fears; but, sooner or later, God will speak peace to them; if he do not command outward peace, yet he will suggest inward peace, speaking that to their hearts by his Spirit which he has spoken to their ears by his word and ministers and making them to hear joy and gladness. (2.) What use he makes of this expectation. [1.] He takes the comfort of it; and so must we: "I will hear what God the Lord will speak, hear the assurances he gives of peace, in answer to prayer." When God speaks peace we must not be deaf to it, but with all humility and thankfulness receive it. [2.] He cautions the saints to do the duty which this calls for: But let them not turn again to folly; for it is on these terms, and no other, that peace is to be expected. To those, and those only, peace is spoken, who turn from sin; but, if they return to it again, it is at their peril. All sin is folly, but especially backsliding; it is egregious folly to turn to sin after we have seemed to turn from it, to turn to it after God has spoken peace. God is for peace, but, when he speaks, such are for war.
II. Here are the particulars of this answer of peace. He doubts not but all will be well in a little time, and therefore gives us the pleasing prospect of the flourishing estate of the church in the last five verses of the psalm, which describe the peace and prosperity that God, at length, blessed the children of the captivity with, when, after a great deal of toil and agitation, at length they gained a settlement in their own land. But it may be taken both as a promise also to all who fear God and work righteousness, that they shall be easy and happy, and as a prophecy of the kingdom of the Messiah and the blessings with which that kingdom should be enriched. Here is,
1.Help at hand (Psa 85:9): "Surely his salvation is nigh, nigh to us, nigher than we think it is: it will soon be effected, how great soever our difficulties and distresses are, when God's time shall come, and that time is not far off." When the tale of bricks is doubled, then Moses comes. It is nigh to all who fear him; when trouble is nigh salvation is nigh, for God is a very present help in time of trouble to all who are his; whereas salvation is far from the wicked, Psa 119:155. This may fitly be applied to Christ the author of eternal salvation: it was the comfort of the Old Testament saints that, though they lived not to see that redemption in Jerusalem which they waited for, yet they were sure it was nigh, and would be welcome, to all that fear God.
2.Honour secured: "That glory may dwell in our land, that we may have the worship of God settled and established among us; for that is the glory of a land. When that goes, Ichabod - the glory has departed; when that stays glory dwells." This may refer to the Messiah, who was to be the glory of his people Israel, and who came and dwelt among them (Joh 1:4), for which reason their land is called Immanuel's land, Isa 8:8.
3.Graces meeting, and happily embracing (Psa 85:10, Psa 85:11): Mercy and truth, righteousness and peace, kiss each other. This may be understood, (1.) Of the reformation of the people and of the government, in the administration of which all those graces should be conspicuous and commanding. The rulers and ruled shall all be merciful and true, righteous and peaceable. When there is no truth nor mercy all goes to ruin (Hos 4:1; Isa 59:14, Isa 59:15); but when these meet in the management of all affairs, when these give aim, when these give law, when there is such plenty of truth that it sprouts up like the grass of the earth, and of righteousness that it is showered down like rain from heaven, then things go well. When in every congress mercy and truth meet, in every embrace righteousness and peace kiss, and common honesty is indeed common, then glory dwells in a land, as the sin of reigning dishonesty is a reproach to any people. (2.) Of the return of God's favour, and the continuance of it, thereupon. When a people return to God and adhere to him in a way of duty he will return to them and abide with them in a way of mercy. So some understand this, man's truth and God's mercy, man's righteousness and God's peace, meet together. If God find us true to him, to one another, to ourselves, we shall find him merciful. If we make conscience of righteousness, we shall have the comfort of peace. If truth spring out of the earth, that is (as Dr. Hammond expounds it), out of the hearts of men, the proper soil for it to grow in, righteousness (that is, God's mercy) shall look down from heaven, as the sun does upon the world when it sheds its influences on the productions of the earth and cherishes them. (3.) Of the harmony of the divine attributes in the Messiah's undertaking. In him who is both our salvation and our glory mercy and truth have met together; God's mercy and truth, and his righteousness and peace, have kissed each other; that is, the great affair of our salvation is so well contrived, so well concerted, that God may have mercy upon poor sinners, and be at peace with them, without any wrong to his truth and righteousness. He is true to the threatening, and just in his government, and yet pardons sinners and takes them into covenant with himself. Christ, as Mediator, brings heaven and earth together again, which sin had set at variance; through him truth springs out of the earth, that truth which God desires in the inward part, and then righteousness looks down from heaven; for God is just, and the justifier of those who believe in Jesus. Or it may denote that in the kingdom of the Messiah these graces shall flourish and prevail and have a universal command.
4.Great plenty of every thing desirable (Psa 85:12): The Lord shall give that which is good, every thing that he sees to be good for us. All good comes from God's goodness; and when mercy, truth, and righteousness, have a sovereign influence on men's hearts and lives, all good may be expected. If we thus seek the righteousness of God's kingdom, other things shall be added; Mat 6:33. When the glory of the gospel dwells in our land, then it shall yield its increase, for soul-prosperity will either bring outward prosperity along with it or sweeten the want of it. See Psa 67:6.
5.A sure guidance in the good way (Psa 85:13): The righteousness of his promise which he has made to us, assuring us of happiness, and the righteousness of sanctification, that good work which he has wrought in us, these shall go before him to prepare his way, both to raise our expectations of his favour and to qualify us for it; and these shall go before us also, and be our guide to set us in the way of his steps, that is, to encourage our hopes and guide our practice, that we may go forth to meet him when he is coming towards us in ways of mercy. Christ, the sun of righteousness, shall bring us to God, and put us into the way that leads to him. John Baptist, a preacher of righteousness, shall go before Christ to prepare his way. Righteousness is a sure guide both in meeting God and in following him.
"Mercy and truth have met together" [Psalm 85:10]. "Truth in our land," in a Jewish person, "mercy" in the land of the Gentiles. For where was truth? Where the utterances of God were. Where was mercy? On those who had left their God, and turned themselves unto devils. Did He look down also upon them? Yea, as if He said, Call those who are fugitives afar off, who have departed far from Me: call them, let them find Me who seek them, since they themselves would not seek Me. Therefore, "Mercy and truth have met together: righteousness and peace have kissed each other." Do righteousness, and you shall have peace; that righteousness and peace may kiss each other. For if you love not righteousness, you shall not have peace; for those two, righteousness and peace, love one another, and kiss one another: that he who has done righteousness may find peace kissing righteousness. They two are friends: thou perhaps willest the one, and not the other: for there is no one who wills not peace: but all will not work righteousness. Ask all men, Willest thou peace? With one mouth the whole race of man answers you, I wish, I desire, I will, I love it. Love also righteousness: for these two, righteousness and peace, are friends; they kiss one another: if you love not the friend of peace, peace itself will not love you, nor come unto you. For what great thing is it to desire peace? Every bad man longs for peace. For peace is a good thing. But do righteousness, for righteousness and peace kiss one another, they quarrel not together....
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SUMMARY
Psalms 85:10 stands as a profound poetic declaration, revealing the harmonious convergence of God's essential attributes—mercy, truth, righteousness, and peace. Far from being disparate or conflicting, these divine qualities are portrayed as intimately united and perfectly aligned within God's character and His overarching salvific purposes. This verse serves as a powerful affirmation of hope, illustrating the profound divine reconciliation that is foundational for both spiritual flourishing and societal well-being, particularly in the context of God's redemptive work for His people.
CONTEXT
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
Psalms 85:10 is exceptionally rich in literary artistry, primarily employing Personification, a device that attributes human actions and emotions—specifically "met together" and "kissed"—to abstract divine attributes such as mercy, truth, righteousness, and peace. This vivid imagery transforms profound theological concepts into accessible and emotionally resonant truths, suggesting an active, relational dynamic between these qualities. The verse also features a clear instance of Parallelism, specifically Synonymous Parallelism, where the second poetic line ("righteousness and peace have kissed [each other]") reiterates, amplifies, and intensifies the core concept introduced in the first line ("Mercy and truth are met together"). This deliberate poetic structure serves to emphasize the unified and harmonious nature of God's character, powerfully reinforcing the central message of divine reconciliation and integrity. Furthermore, the use of Anthropomorphism in depicting God's attributes as human-like figures who interact physically further enhances the emotional impact and fosters a deeper, more relational understanding of these otherwise abstract divine concepts.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
This verse beautifully encapsulates the tension and ultimate resolution found throughout biblical theology regarding God's attributes. How can a holy and just God forgive sinful humanity without compromising His righteousness? Psalms 85:10 provides a poetic answer: in God's very being, His mercy and truth, and His righteousness and peace, are perfectly integrated and reconciled. This divine harmony is the bedrock of salvation, demonstrating that God's justice is not a barrier to His love, but rather the very means by which His love can be righteously extended. It points to a divine economy where ultimate peace is contingent upon divine justice being satisfied, a theme that finds its ultimate expression in the New Testament.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Psalms 85:10 offers profound assurance and a robust foundation for faith in a world often characterized by conflict and moral ambiguity. It reminds us that the God we worship is utterly consistent and unified in His character; His attributes do not compete but cooperate in perfect harmony. This understanding should instill deep confidence in His promises and His plan for salvation. We can trust that His mercy is never at the expense of His truth, nor does His righteousness ever negate His desire for peace. For the believer, this means that the peace we receive from God is a righteous peace, secured by His justice, and extended through His unfailing love. Furthermore, this verse serves as a powerful model for human relationships and societal aspirations. As image-bearers of God, we are called to embody these same virtues, striving to be people who pursue truth with mercy, and who work for peace grounded in righteousness, thereby reflecting the very character of our Creator in our interactions and communities.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
What does "kissed each other" signify in this verse?
Answer: The phrase "kissed each other" is a powerful anthropomorphism that signifies a deep, intimate union, complete agreement, and profound reconciliation. It suggests that righteousness and peace are not merely co-existing but are in a loving embrace, perfectly aligned and mutually affirming. This imagery emphasizes that true, holistic peace (shalom) is not possible without the foundation of righteousness (justice and moral rectitude), and that God's perfect justice ultimately leads to and establishes genuine peace. It's a picture of attributes that were seemingly at odds (justice demanding punishment, peace desiring harmony) finding perfect accord in God's character and plan.
How does Psalms 85:10 relate to the concept of God's justice and mercy?
Answer: Psalms 85:10 is a pivotal verse for understanding the intricate relationship between God's justice and His mercy. It asserts that these attributes, often perceived as opposing forces, are in fact perfectly reconciled within God's character. "Mercy and truth are met together" indicates that God's compassionate love (mercy) is always consistent with His faithfulness and integrity (truth). Similarly, "righteousness and peace have kissed [each other]" shows that God's perfect justice (righteousness) is the very foundation upon which true peace is established. This verse resolves the tension by demonstrating that God's justice does not negate His mercy, nor does His mercy compromise His justice; rather, they work in perfect harmony to achieve His redemptive purposes, ultimately making a way for sinful humanity to experience peace with a holy God. This divine harmony is crucial for understanding the mechanism of salvation, where God remains just while justifying the ungodly, as seen in Romans 3:26.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Psalms 85:10 finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. The "meeting" of mercy and truth and the "kiss" of righteousness and peace, which seemed an impossible reconciliation for fallen humanity, became a glorious reality at the cross. In Christ, God's perfect righteousness was fully satisfied through His obedient life and atoning death, bearing the penalty for sin that justice demanded (Romans 5:19). Simultaneously, God's boundless mercy was poured out upon humanity, offering forgiveness and reconciliation to all who believe (Ephesians 2:4-5). The truth of God's promises and His unwavering character were perfectly upheld and demonstrated in Christ, who is Himself "the way, the truth, and the life" (John 14:6). As a result of this divine convergence at Calvary, humanity can now experience genuine peace with God, a peace that transcends understanding because it is founded on a righteous reconciliation (Romans 5:1). Thus, in Jesus, the seemingly disparate attributes of God harmoniously converged, making salvation possible and bringing about the ultimate shalom between God and humanity.