Righteousness And Peace

Sunday’s Psalm (day 85) was one I recall reading sometime in late high school, early college. (I’m sure I could find the journal where I dramatically applied the words to my love life, but I’ll spare us all that.) What I remember is reading Psalm 85 and thinking it was so beautiful: righteousness and peace being in love with one another, not being able to keep their hands (or at least their lips) off each other…

As I write this tonight I’m tired and am wishing I had some deep meaningful insights to share with you. I wish I had more anecdotes to share from my life than potty training drama and baby sleep issues. I wish I could always be clever and funny and full of dramatic, wonderful stories or deep spiritual insights. But, the truth is, all I have to say today is that I really like the idea that righteousness and peace are little smoochers..

Righteousness isn’t a word we use much in our everyday lives. Maybe we’d say “virtuous” or “honorable”. And we all know how difficult it is to live up to either of those character traits. So, I thought about righteousness and peace together and began to wonder: How do I apply this to my life? Is peace more likely to show up in our lives when we’re virtuous? Is there some correlation?

That’s when I had a mini-epiphany. I realized that (shockingly!) this passage isn’t about us at all. It’s not about our morality or our control. It’s about the God who is going to “restore us again.”

The Psalmist says: “I will listen to what the Lord says. / He promises peace to his people… Surely his salvation is near those who fear him, / that his glory may dwell in our land.” It’s only after we’re rescued, after we hear that his salvation is on its way, that righteousness and peace have their kissy-face moment.

It’s not our righteousness. It’s not our peace. It’s God’s. He does the rescuing. He provides the righteousness. He offers the peace.

It’s Monday. And I think we all might need to hear that.

Mwah! (That’s a kiss sound, people.) —