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Advent · Second Sunday in Advent · Year B

Psalm 85

Steadfast Love and Faithfulness Meet

December 6, 2026

The Kiss of Peace and Justice, Laurent de La Hyre
The Kiss of Peace and Justice, Laurent de La Hyre, 1654The Cleveland Museum of Art
Two women embrace and kiss beside a fountain in a calm classical landscape; one still holds the sword and scales of Justice, a soldier’s armour lies discarded at their feet, and sheep graze nearby.Steadfast love and faithfulness will meet; righteousness and peace will kiss each other. Faithfulness will spring up from the ground, and righteousness will look down from the sky.Laurent de La HyreA Parisian painter and founding member of the French Royal Academy, who painted this the year after the civil wars of the Fronde ended.The Cleveland Museum of ArtA large encyclopaedic museum in Ohio, free to enter since it opened in 1916.The Cleveland Museum of Art
LSB Three-Year Lectionary
GospelMark 1:1-8Mk 1:1-8
Epistle2 Pet. 3:8-142 Pt 3:8-14
Old TestamentIsa. 40:1-11Is 40:1-11
PsalterPs. 85Ps 85

Overview & Insights

“Steadfast love and faithfulness meet; righteousness and peace kiss each other.” (Psalm 85:10)

This psalm reflects the tension of living between promise and fulfillment. When the people of God had experienced the beginnings of his grace in the return from exile (vv. 1–3), they still suffered hardships in the early postexilic period (vv. 4–7). At the same time, they were still hearing future blessings promised to them (vv. 8–13). It reflects the tension of having been forgiven and still being in need of forgiveness. This psalm also shows us that OT worship consisted of more than a mere monologue; Yahweh was expected to answer. The first half consists of prayer addressed to him (vv. 1–7) and the second half of an anticipation of his answer (vv. 8–13). The enveloping concern of the psalm is that of the land and its harvest (vv. 1, 12).

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Take it further: Psalm 85

Commentary

Commentary on Psalm 85:1-2, 8-13 | Working PreacherCommentary on Ps 85:1-2, 8-13 | Working Preacher Working Preacher

The Lutheran voice on righteousness and peace meeting, matched to the live RCL page.

Psalm 85 | Enduring Word Bible Commentary (David Guzik)Ps 85 | Enduring Word Bible Commentary (David Guzik) Enduring Word · David Guzik

Verse-by-verse exposition of the prayer for revival and the kiss of mercy and truth.

Psalm 85:1 Commentaries | Bible HubPs 85:1 Commentaries | Bible Hub BibleHub

Classic pulpit and critical commentaries assembled at the opening of the psalm.

Background & Word Study

Psalms 85 | SefariaPs 85 | Sefaria Sefaria

The Hebrew text with JPS translation and linked Jewish commentary.

The Church Fathers

Psalm 85 | Catena BiblePs 85 | Catena Bible Catena

Patristic comment gathered verse by verse across the psalm.

Questions preachers ask

Why is Psalm 85 an Advent psalm?

It prays for God to restore his people and revive them again, waiting for the salvation that is near, where his love and faithfulness, righteousness and peace, meet as one.

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