1.17.24 - Psalm 85:10
Look around you. What examples of God’s reunion hug, God’s kiss of union can you find?
Steadfast love and faithfulness will meet; righteousness and peace will kiss each other.
The Psalmist provides us a vivid picture of what salvation can look like: estranged best friends, love and faithfulness are meant to embrace like long-lost lovers, righteousness and peace are meant to kiss.
Like twins separated at birth and reunited after decades, the personification of stead-fast love and faithfulness, peace and righteousness gives a full picture of the blessing and active presence of God’s salvation.
It’s all word-play about the same reality:
the partners of love and faithfulness too long separated by hate and disrespect, bear-hugging and not wanting to let go…
the two lovers of peace and righteousness too long kept apart by war and injustice, passionately kissing and not caring who is watching…
God is in the embrace of love & faithfulness, in the kiss of peace and righteousness.
What would change if God’s people planted themselves inside the bear hug of love & faithfulness or could bear witness to the kiss of righteousness and peace?
— Libby Tedder Hugus