Psalm 85:10 says, “Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other.”
As teenage boys in our youth group, one of our favorite Bible verses was II Corinthians 13:12 (you look it up).
Recently, my wife and I attended a beautiful wedding. The bride’s name was Gracie, the groom’s, Justice. These names are very close to “mercy” and “truth.” They met together to exchange the wedding vows. Though they were madly in love, they chose not to kiss each other until they were married. As everyone watched their first kiss, fireworks went off above them. They were presented as Mr. and Mrs. and the groom swept his bride into his arms and ran up the aisle, out in the corridor, up a set of stairs and down the hall out of sight.
The two ideas of mercy and truth, grace and justice, appear over and over in Scripture. Jesus said His way was truth and life (John 14:6). First let us look at mercy, grace, and life. This is what we all need, and want. As a sinner, we need mercy as we stand before a Holy God. We need grace—forgiveness that must come from God, because we have nothing to bargain with. We need life because we have the death sentence that comes with sin. Thankfully, the Bible is full of promises that supply the answer to these needs.
Now let us look at truth and justice. The Bible is also full of these words. They often appear right along with mercy, grace, and life. Truth and justice deal with man’s part in the sin problem. The truth is, we have sinned, and justice requires a blood sacrifice—ours. Ezekiel 18:4 states, “…the soul that sinneth it shall die.” The law tells us this truth. It is important for us to know this truth. Jesus did not destroy the law, but fulfilled it (Matthew 5:17).
We do not need grace, grace, grace. Nor do we need truth, truth, truth. We need them both together. That is why Jesus said His way was both of them, hand in hand.
The rest of Psalm 85 is a beautiful picture. Verse 11 says, “Truth shall spring out of the earth; and righteousness shall look down from heaven.” This is a picture of Jesus springing out of the tomb. Why would He be called truth? It is because He is representing man, redeemed man.
Isaiah 45:8 states, “Drop down, ye heavens, from above, and let the skies pour down righteousness: let the earth open, and let them bring forth salvation, and let righteousness spring up together; I the Lord have created it.” Not only does righteousness look down from heaven; it is poured out with the right conditions. When mercy, grace, and life overcome truth and justice, the end result is righteousness in man.Â
Psalm 85:13 says, “Righteousness shall go before him; and shall set US in the way of his steps” [emphasis added]. I like the way Psalm 89:14-17 says it, “Justice and judgment are the habitation of thy throne: mercy and truth shall go before thy face. Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound: they shall walk, O Lord, in the light of thy countenance. In thy name shall they rejoice all the day: and in thy righteousness shall they be exalted. For thou art the glory of their strength…”
It is so refreshing to see two young people who love the Lord come together in marriage. They wait for God’s blessing. They are rewarded with a Christian home. There are many who have passed this by, even marriage altogether. Actually, we have all sinned. The good news is, it is not too late. Jesus finds us where we are. He is madly in love with His bride—redeemed man. He brings with Him the holy kiss!
