‘Truth’ and ‘Righteousness’

Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other.

Psalm  85:10

It is important for us to understand and embrace a whole God.  As we continue to meditate upon the text we summarized yesterday, we come to consider one particular aspect of the whole character of God.  The words ‘truth’ and ‘righteousness,’ take us there.  Whatever else we understand about God, we should understand that He is ‘truth’ and ‘righteousness.’  The Scripture declares, ‘He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.’  Whatever else God is, He is what that verse describes.  This is the God with Whom we have to do.  When we look at all of God’s commands, we see the definitive outward consequences of His Character.  These commands show us His ‘truth’ and ‘righteousness.’  The effect of our reading of these commands is that it highlights our own unrighteousness.  We are unable, of our own ability, to keep these commands.  Our fallen nature prevents us from succeeding.  How then shall we approach this God of ‘truth’ and ‘righteousness?’  The answer is Christ.  Christ exhibits all of God’s characteristics of ‘truth’ and ‘righteousness.’  Not one pearl ever dropped from the silver string of His Character.  He is the ultimate keeper of the Law of God.  Therefore, as we consider God as the God of ‘truth’ and ‘righteousness,’ it will lead us to Christ.

Our Holy and Wise God,
we rejoice that You are the God of truth and righteousness.
We praise You, that Christ our Savior,
is the Grand Fulfillment of these, Your qualities of perfection.

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning

 

‘Mercy and Truth’

Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other.

Psalm 85:10

Christ appears throughout the Old Testament, if we but have the eyes to see Him.  The text before us today offers to us a glimpse of Christ based upon His reflection of the whole Character of God.  We know that God is the ‘God of truth and without iniquity.’  We also know that God is merciful.  We know that He is righteous and yet also the God of peace.  It is in Christ that we see all these qualities of the Character of God come together, especially as it respects us, who are breakers of the law of God by nature and by choice.  How can God countenance us and not compromise the righteousness of His Character?  How can He be merciful to us and keep faith with truth?  The answer is Christ.  It is in Christ that, ‘mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other.’  The life, death, resurrection, intercession, and return of Christ for His people are all manifestations of the mercy of God.  By everything He did, Christ demonstrated the mercy of God, while upholding His truth.  Christ is the most evident example of the righteousness of God and His plan to bring peace to us who have no righteousness of our own.  Therefore, we must make much of Christ.  He is the premiere way for us to understand the God Who is both mercy and truth.  Christ is the sum of all possible perfections.

Our Good and Holy God,
we praise You for every thing that Your Character exhibits.
We rejoice that we see all these characteristics
in the Person of our Savior.

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning