Mercy And Justice.

MERCY AND JUSTICE.

Psalm 85:7-13.

Our Psalm reading for today opens with a simple appeal for mercy (PSALM 85:7).

The Answer is provided for those who watch and pray:

It is an answer of peace (PSALM 85:8) to those who 'stand upon the watch' (cf. Habakkuk 2:1) - but with the warning not to return to their folly.

How soon Israel under Moses fell back upon her idolatry - the commandments were no sooner given than broken. And how soon the Church in Galatia, having begun in faith in the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, fell back upon empty forms, evidencing to the Apostle Paul that she had somehow been 'bewitched' (cf. Galatians 3:1)!

However, for those who do wait patiently and who do have a right evangelical fear (PSALM 85:9), help is at hand: the glory of the Lord is about to be revealed in the face of Jesus Christ.

Where do mercy and truth meet together (PSALM 85:10) but in the Cross, where God is both just and the Justifier: meting out just judgment upon sin whilst at the same time being merciful to us sinners! This is true to His own Word in Isaiah 53:4-6 where we see the substitutionary sufferings of the only saviour of sinners!

Where do righteousness and peace come into such union but in the Cross? There God’s justice is not violated, but rather His righteousness fulfilled; and there we are 'justified by faith, and have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ' (cf. Romans 5:1).

'Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men,' sang the angels (cf. Luke 2:14). Thus we see the joining of the interests of heaven and earth in the mission of our redemption.

God’s truth is personified in our great High Priest, who in the incarnation, as it were, “sprang out of the earth” (PSALM 85:11).

'The law of truth was in his mouth … he … did turn many away from iniquity' (cf. Malachi 2:6).

God’s truth is found also in all those who are 'in Christ,' and thus does God’s righteousness look upon those whom He has justified as being made righteous in Him; clothed not with our sins but with the righteousness of our Lord.

What promises of good God gives to us undeserving sinners (PSALM 85:12) - and what a wonder that we should be “set in the way of his steps” (PSALM 85:13).

How so? 'For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him' (2 Corinthians 5:21).