“Meeting…kissing”. There’s an inescapable sense of intimacy in this verse. Much like people at a wedding, this Psalm wants to celebrate the drawing together of two similar but complementary partners, not simply for their union’s sake, but for what their marriage will achieve: love & faithfulness; righteousness & peace.

The broader context of the Psalm alludes to God’s work in restoring his rebellious people in former generations. It is an appeal for him to restore this new generation once more. In other words, it’s a cry for salvation.

How will this salvation be conceived? Only through the marriage of God’s faithfulness and his love. As his covenantal commitment combines with his immeasurable capacity to give himself to and for his people, salvation comes to light. The future of God’s people depends entirely on the fusion of these core components of God’s character.

And what marks does this salvation bear? Well, nothing less than righteousness and peace together. The two are distinguishable but inseparable. For when righteousness abounds, harmony sounds. When all things align to God’s good purpose, the gears of creation no longer grind. There is flow. Cohesion. Alignment. Peace.

Here is the holiest and most beautiful of all kisses and a marriage of inestimable worth and beauty. And it finds its most delightful and ultimate expression in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. As Romans 5 states, “Therefore since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ…” and “since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him!” Love, faith, righteousness, peace. All bound up in Jesus.