Psalm 85:1 You showed favor to your land, O LORD; you restored the fortunes of Jacob.
2 You forgave the iniquity of your people and covered all their sins. "Selah"
3 You set aside all your wrath and turned from your fierce anger.
4 Restore us again, O God our Savior, and put away your displeasure toward us.
5 Will you be angry with us forever? Will you prolong your anger through all generations?
6 Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you?
7 Show us your unfailing love, O LORD, and grant us your salvation.
8 I will listen to what God the LORD will say; he promises peace to his people, his saints-- but let them not return to folly.
9 Surely his salvation is near those who fear him, that his glory may dwell in our land.
10 Love and faithfulness meet together; righteousness and peace kiss each other.
11 Faithfulness springs forth from the earth, and righteousness looks down from heaven.
12 The LORD will indeed give what is good, and our land will yield its harvest.
13 Righteousness goes before him and prepares the way for his steps.
Devotional:
When we pray "Your kingdom come," we ask that our eyes may see the salvation of our God. We want to see the event the prophet describes in the second part of this psalm.
Before the prophet's eyes the clouds are breaking. God's glory is coming. "Salvation is near," he cries (v. 9). He sees the reestablishment of the kingship of God, the marriage of heaven and earth. God's works and virtues take over on earth. Hatred and treachery disappear, crooks and guns evaporate. Instead, love and faithfulness shake hands and celebrate. Righteousness and peace embrace and kiss.
Love and faithfulness, or "mercy and truth," as older translations read, are twin virtues of God's heart that transform the world. Salvation begins with love that stoops down. But God's love, as all true love, is not a one-night stand or a one-day flower. For faithfulness, or fidelity, is her twin. Therefore we sing that God's love is from everlasting to everlasting.
Righteousness and peace are the earthly harvest of God's love and faithfulness. They too are twins. As long as we are wicked, we can have no peace. But those who want peace must do what is right.
We who have received God's love and faithfulness now pledge to do good. Then righteousness and peace will kiss each other.
