Joy or consequences ∙

Joy or consequences ∙

Unfailing love and truth have met together. Righteousness and peace have kissed! – Psalms 85:10 

Psalms 32:1-5

 1 Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sin is put out of sight!

 2 Yes, what joy for those whose record the LORD has cleared of guilt, whose lives are lived in complete honesty!

 3 When I refused to confess my sin, my body wasted away, and I groaned all day long.

 4 Day and night your hand of discipline was heavy on me. My strength evaporated like water in the summer heat.

 5 Finally, I confessed all my sins to you and stopped trying to hide my guilt. I said to myself, “I will confess my rebellion to the LORD.”

An Affair to Remember is a 1957 American romance film starring Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr. It is considered one of the most romantic films of all time, according to the American Film Institute

Nickie Ferrante (Cary Grant) meets Terry McKay (Deborah Kerr) aboard the transatlantic ocean liner the SS Constitution en route from, Europe to New York.

As the ship returns to New York City, they agree to reunite at the top of the Empire State Building in six months.

On the day of their rendezvous, Terry, hurrying to reach the Empire State Building, is struck by a car while crossing a street. Gravely injured, she is rushed to the hospital. She is to spend the rest of her life in a wheelchair.

Meanwhile, Nickie, waiting for her at the observation deck at the top of the building, is unaware of the accident and, after many hours, leaves at midnight, believing she has rejected him.

Terry and Nikkie run into each other at the ballet. Nickie learns Terry’s address and on Christmas Eve pays her a surprise visit. Nickie mentions a painting that he had been working on when they originally met, and that it was just given away to a woman in a wheelchair who liked it but had no money. Nickie walks into her bedroom and sees the painting hanging on the wall. The film ends with the two in a tight embrace.

The Scriptures are replete with love affairs. One of the lesser-known ones is in Psalm 85. But this affair does not involve people. Rather it is about the delightful qualities of unfailing love and truth and righteousness and peace.

Psalms 85:10 Unfailing love and truth have met together. Righteousness and peace have kissed!

These are four qualities are attributes of the Father. They are personified as two delightful couples engaged in a love affair. Steadfast love and faithfulness are partners, as are righteousness and peace. They meet, embrace, and kiss each other. Can you imagine for a moment love and faithfulness embracing? How about righteousness and peace kissing?

Psalms 85:11 Truth springs up from the earth, and righteousness smiles down from heaven.

Truth and righteousness are likened to their offspring. They are likened to the timely refreshing rain of Spring from which the lush, green foliage of the season issues forth.

When you are in love, you want to be your best and do your best for your beloved. The Father’s love for us has given birth to redemption and the forgiveness of sin. They the offspring of the Father’s love for children of the King

REFLECT & PRAY

Joy or consequences, the choice is ours.

Father You have invited us into a love affair, a love affair with You! May we feel Your embrace and enjoy Your kiss.

INSIGHT

What produces joy in your life? What puts a smile on your face? The answers are as varied as people: being in love, personal achievement, the satisfaction of a job well done, your team winning, the success of others you love, young animals of all kinds, beautiful sunsets, and sunrises, wildflowers, and lilies, sunlight, moonlight, the stars, the ocean, a gentle breeze, summer rain, winter snowflakes, etc.

For King David, the answer was quite different. He had been greatly troubled because he had sinned and experienced much condemnation and shame. The burden was too much for him to carry. He did not know what to do so he lifted up his voice in prayer recognizing his sullen and depleted condition.

Psalm 32:3-5

 3 When I kept silent, my bones became brittle from my groaning all day long.

 4 For day and night Your hand was heavy on me; my strength was drained as in the summer’s heat.  

 5 Then I acknowledged my sin to You and did not conceal my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD,” and You took away the guilt of my sin.  

The Father is seeking to forgive us and cleanse us of all from our impurities. We need only to ask. When David stopped hiding and pretending, he confessed his wrongdoing. And his devoted Father God gently removed the heavy burden, exchanging it for joy.

Psalm 32:1-2

 1 How joyful is the one whose transgression is forgiven; whose sin is covered!

 2 How joyful is the man the LORD does not charge with sin and in whose spirit is no deceit!

David’s anguish and groaning, his repeated deep emotional and physical unrest made him a physical and mental wreck. But now all the torment has been swapped for something unbelievably magnificent: exuberant joy. His joy bursts forth into praise and worship. He wants everyone to hear and know what the Father has done for him. What a relief, what a release.

David had been a fool trying to hide and cover. He had become physically and emotionally drained. The fact is, “God does not permit his children to sin successfully” (Spurgeon). Sin makes us miserable. Forgiveness and cleansing make us joyful.

Joy or consequences, the choice is always ours.

¯\_(ツ)_/¯ 11-07-9