Buoyant joy or diminishing bliss ∙
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
“An Affair to Remember” is a beloved 1957 romance film starring Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr. Widely regarded as one of the most romantic movies of all time, according to the American Film Institute. Its timeless appeal lies in a story of love, tragedy, and reunion.
The story follows Nickie Ferrante (Cary Grant) and Terry McKay (Deborah Kerr), who meet aboard a transatlantic ocean liner en route from Europe to New York. They fall deeply in love and make a bold promise to reunite at the Empire State Building in six months.
However, tragedy strikes when Terry is hit by a car on her way to the rendezvous, leaving her gravely injured and unable to walk. Unaware of the accident, Nickie waits for her at the observation deck until midnight, believing she has rejected him, he is heartbroken.
Months later, they unexpectedly run into each other at the ballet. Nickie discovers Terry’s address and pays her a surprise visit on Christmas Eve. He mentions a painting he had been working on when they first met. He had since given it to a woman in a wheelchair who liked it but had no money. To his surprise, Nickie finds the painting hanging on Terry’s wall. The movie ends with the two in a tight embrace.
A Biblical Love Affair
The Scriptures are replete with love affairs. One of the lesser-known but exquisite ones is in Psalms 85. But this affair does not involve people. Instead, it is about the delightful qualities of unfailing love and truth and righteousness and peace. They are personified in a celestial love affair. Psalms 85:10: “Unfailing love and truth have met together. Righteousness and peace have kissed!”
These four qualities are attributes of the Father and are personified as delightful couples engaged in a love affair. Steadfast love and faithfulness are partners, just as righteousness and peace are. These pairs meet, embrace, and kiss each other. Pause for a moment and imagine steadfast love and truth meeting in a warm embrace while righteousness and peace kiss like reunited lovers. It is a picture of divine harmony that evokes awe and wonder.
Tesh and Zorn observe, “Four of the most significant words in Hebrew are combined in verses 10 and 11, like jewels in a crown. Their totality of meaning embraces in large measure the fullness of the Old Testament concept of the relationship between God and his people when harmony has been established.”
Loyal Love and Faithfulness
These terms encompass a continuum of meanings that a single English word cannot fully express. The Hebrew word hesed is often translated as “love,” “mercy,” “kindness,” “lovingkindness,” or “loyalty.” Hesed speaks of “loyal love,” “steadfast kindness,” and “mercy.” It’s the kind of “love that shows devotion” in relationships, whether between spouses, family, or close friends.
Truth is often interpreted as faithfulness. It connotes “steadfastness” and “reliability.” It represents “loyalty,” “honesty,” and “dependability,” making it “an essential virtue for trust and security.” Together, love and truth form a partnership that embodies the Father’s boundless care for His people.
Righteousness and Peace
Peace (shalom) encompasses “much more than simply the absence of conflict.” It represents a rich and multifaceted continuum of meaning encompassing concepts such as “wholeness,” “tranquility,” “quietness,” and “harmony.” Shalom implies a sense of “well-being,” “inner peace,” and “completeness” — “a state where everything is as it should be, with nothing missing or broken.” Ultimately, shalom reflects “a right relationship with God.” Shalom is realized when righteousness and peace meet and metaphorically embrace each other.
When in love, we are inspired to be our best and do our best for our beloved. Similarly, the Father’s love for us has given birth to redemption and the forgiveness of sins. These blessings are the offspring of the Father’s love for us, the children of the King.
REFLECT & PRAY
Psalms 85:10 highlights the profound importance of love, faithfulness, righteousness, and peace within the bond between God and the children of the King.
Father, You have invited us into a love affair, a love affair with You! May we feel Your embrace and enjoy Your kiss.
INSIGHT
The Quest for Joy and Belonging
Maslow’s “Hierarchy of Needs” is a widely accepted concept in psychology, proposed by Abraham Maslow in his 1943 paper “A Theory of Human Motivation.” Maslow’s five-tier model outlines fundamental human needs, ranging from the basics, such as food and safety, to higher desires, including love, belonging, and self-actualization. These needs are universal, shaping our pursuit of happiness and fulfillment.
But what truly produces joy in our lives? Is it the beauty of nature, personal achievements, or deep, meaningful relationships? At its core, we long to feel loved and have a sense of belonging.
For King David, however, the pathway to joy and belonging looked very different. His was not a simple or straightforward road but one marked by despair, guilt, and a profound transformation.
David’s Sorrowful Turning Point
King David’s despair stemmed from his explicit and nefarious sins, which brought shame and humiliation into his once-celebrated life. This was new territory for David, and he was uncertain as to how to proceed.
Before this, David’s faithfulness had been unmatched. 1 Kings 15:5 affirms this by stating, “For David had done what was pleasing in the Lord’s sight and had obeyed the Lord’s commands throughout his life, except in the matter concerning Uriah the Hittite.”
Overwhelmed and unsettled, David turned to prayer. Acknowledging his deleterious and broken state, he sought relief from God Himself. The Father’s response was swift and compassionate. He lifted the burden of guilt and replaced it with the joy of forgiveness.
Psalm 32:3-5 captures David’s confession and God’s merciful response: “When I kept silent, my bones became brittle from groaning all day. For day and night, Your hand was heavy on me; my strength was drained as in the summer’s heat. 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.”
This turning point ushered in a miracle of grace and a profound renewal of David’s soul.
The Joy of Forgiveness
What happens when we stop hiding and pretending and instead turn to God with open hearts? David’s life offers a clear answer. By humbling himself and confessing his sins, he experienced a joy and freedom that is unmatched.
Psalm 32:1-2 speaks to this transformation: “How joyful is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered! How joyful is the man the Lord does not charge with sin and in whose spirit there is no deceit!”
Remaining silent about our sins brings misery, as David experienced, but confessing them brings healing and peace. This joy, as Romans 4:8 reminds all children of the King, is rooted in the fact that “the Lord has cleared our records of sin.”
Through forgiveness, David’s sorrow turned into exuberant worship. He couldn’t help but proclaim the goodness of the Lord, inviting others to join in his praise.
Misery or Joy? The Choice is Yours
David’s experience serves as both a warning and a guide. He reminds us that attempting to hide from the Father is futile. God, who knows all, sees our struggles even when we won’t admit them. David once made this mistake, and it left him emotionally and physically drained. As Charles Spurgeon wisely said, “God does not permit his children to sin successfully.”
Sin burdens us with anguish, but forgiveness cleanses us, replacing sorrow with joy. David warns us not to mimic the stubbornness of a mule, resisting the gentle guidance of our heavenly Father:
Psalm 32:9-11: “Do not be like a senseless horse or mule that needs a bit and bridle to keep it under control. Many sorrows come to the wicked, but unfailing love surrounds those who trust the LORD. So rejoice in the LORD and be glad, all you who obey him! Shout for joy, all you whose hearts are pure!”
The choice is clear: Will you cling to your burdens and sorrows, or will you surrender them to God and experience the radiant joy of His forgiveness?
A Loving Invitation
David’s story reminds us of the transformation God offers when we turn to Him in humility. The weight of guilt is no match for the depth of His grace. His unfailing love surrounds every child of the King, offering joy, peace, and a restored sense of belonging.
Abundant joy or diminishing bliss, the choice is yours. Choose joy.
¯_(ツ)_/¯3-16-2
© Dr. H 2025
Dr H Reflections 