When Justice Embraces Mercy

Daily Devotional – Tuesday, February 13, 2024
Mercy and truth have met together. Righteousness and peace have kissed.
Psalms 85:10 (NKJV)

In the most holy place of the tabernacle was the ark of the covenant. God commanded Moses to place the two tablets bearing the Ten Commandments inside the ark. Thus, the Israelites had a perpetual reminder of God’s righteousness and His aversion to sin.

When Righteousness Kisses Peace

In addition, on top of the Ark of the Covenant was the symbolic mercy seat, with a cherubim on each side. This was a reminder that God was willing to forgive penitent people who gave sin offerings.

There is an important lesson based on where the Ten Commandments and the mercy seat were located. According to the sons of Korah, “Mercy and truth have met together. Righteousness and peace have kissed.” (Psalms 85:10). Just as the mercy seat was on top of the Ten Commandments, God overlooks the sins of the penitent and embraces them.

When Justice Embraces Mercy

God is just, but His mercy and love for us, His children, will cover our sins. If God treated us as we deserved as sinners, we would not live a second longer. On our own, we have no right to stand before God, but because He loves us and pities us, He forgives our sins and allows us into His presence.

Today, let us heed Apostle Paul’s exhortation: “Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” (Hebrews 4:16). When justice embraces mercy, what matters is not your sins but what Christ did on the cross for you.

Prayer
Thank You, Jesus, because though I deserve punishment and death under Your perfect law, You are always merciful to me.