Meaning of Psalms 85:10

This verse from Psalm 85 beautifully encapsulates a profound theological truth: the harmonious convergence of God's essential attributes and their resultant impact on humanity and creation. It describes a divine interplay where hesed (steadfast love, covenant loyalty) and emet (truthfulness, faithfulness, reliability) embrace, and where tzedakah (righteousness, justice) and shalom (peace, wholeness, well-being) unite. This is not merely a poetic description but a theological statement about the very character of God and the ideal state of His relationship with His people, achieved through His redemptive work. The psalm anticipates a future restoration where God's blessings are fully manifest, leading to an era of perfect harmony.

Context and Background

Psalm 85 is a psalm of lament and petition, specifically a prayer for the restoration of Israel. The psalm begins by recounting God's past faithfulness and forgiveness of His people's sins (vv. 1-3), lamenting their present state of exile and suffering (vv. 4-6), and then earnestly pleading for God's renewed favor and restoration (vv. 7-9). Verse 10, therefore, stands as a prophetic declaration of what will occur when God turns His anger away and showers His people with His grace and mercy. It paints a picture of the ideal outcome of God's intervention – a state of perfect alignment between divine attributes and human experience.

Key Themes and Messages

• Divine Harmony: The verse highlights the perfect unity within God's own character. His love is inseparable from His faithfulness, and His righteousness is the very foundation of true peace. These attributes do not conflict but rather complement and complete each other.
• Covenantal Reality: The Hebrew terms hesed and emet are deeply rooted in the concept of covenant. God's steadfast love is His covenant commitment, and His faithfulness is His reliability in upholding that covenant.
• Justice and Peace: Righteousness (tzedakah) is not merely about moral rectitude but also about divine justice and equitable dealings. This righteousness, when fully expressed, leads to shalom, a comprehensive state of well-being, wholeness, and peace, both vertically (between God and humanity) and horizontally (among people and in creation).
• Restoration and Blessing: The verse anticipates a future time of divine blessing and restoration, where the consequences of sin are overcome, and God's perfect will is fully realized.

Spiritual Significance and Application

This verse offers a profound insight into the nature of God and the path to spiritual well-being. It assures believers that God's love is not fickle but steadfast, rooted in His unwavering faithfulness. Furthermore, it reveals that true peace is not achieved apart from righteousness. For individuals, this means embracing God's righteous standards as the pathway to experiencing His deep and lasting peace. It calls for a life lived in alignment with God's will, trusting in His unfailing love and faithfulness.

Relation to the Broader Biblical Narrative

Psalm 85:10 finds its ultimate fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Jesus embodies God's steadfast love and faithfulness in His sacrificial death and resurrection. He is the embodiment of divine righteousness, making atonement for sin and establishing a new covenant. Through Him, believers are declared righteous and are brought into a state of shalom with God. The New Testament, particularly the Gospels and epistles like Romans and Ephesians, elaborates on how Christ's work reconciles humanity to God, bringing about this perfect meeting of divine attributes and human experience.

Analogies

• A Perfect Union: Imagine two rivers, one carrying pure, life-giving water (love and faithfulness) and the other flowing with clear, restorative currents (righteousness and peace). Where these rivers merge, they create a single, powerful, and life-sustaining force that nourishes the entire landscape.
• A Secure Foundation: Consider a building. The foundation must be built with unwavering strength and integrity (faithfulness and righteousness). Upon this solid base, the entire structure can stand secure and harmonious, providing shelter and peace.
• A Harmonious Orchestra: The different instruments in an orchestra, each playing its distinct part, come together to create a beautiful and unified symphony. Similarly, God's attributes, though distinct, work in perfect harmony to create His grand design.

Relation to Other Verses

• Galatians 5:22-23: The "fruit of the Spirit" lists love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. This echoes the themes of love, faithfulness, and peace found in Psalm 85:10, indicating that these divine qualities are to be cultivated in the lives of believers.
• Romans 5:1: "Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." This verse directly links righteousness (justification) with peace, aligning with the psalm's message.
• John 14:27: Jesus says, "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." This "peace" is the shalom described in the psalm, a divine peace that transcends worldly understanding.
• Micah 6:8: "He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God." This verse emphasizes the interconnectedness of justice (righteousness), love, and a right relationship with God, mirroring the sentiments of Psalm 85:10.