A study on the Hesed love of God

Dear friends

The word of God is such a treasure it is even more precious than diamonds, silver and gold.

As we read the word we garner so much - we can clearly hear his voice, receive comfort, peace, encouragement, strength, strategy - all we ever needed. It is the only book where the writer speaks - the word of God is alive and powerful.

So as I read the word recently once again

I came across this beautiful Psalm -

Psalm 118.

Let me share you the words of this Psalm

Psalm 118 Amplified

1 O give thanks to the Lord, for He is good;

For His lovingkindness endures forever.

2 Oh let Israel say,

“His lovingkindness endures forever.”

3 Oh let the house of Aaron say,

“His lovingkindness endures forever.”

4 Oh let those who [reverently] fear the Lord, say,

“His lovingkindness endures forever.”

5 Out of my distress I called on the Lord;

The Lord answered me and set me free.

6 The Lord is on my side; I will not fear.

What can [mere] man do to me?

7 The Lord is on my side, He is among those who help me;

Therefore I will look [in triumph] on those who hate me.

8 It is better to take refuge in the Lord

Than to trust in man.

9 It is better to take refuge in the Lord

Than to trust in princes.

10 All nations encompassed me;

In the name of the Lord I will surely cut them off.

11 They encompassed me, yes, they surrounded me [on every side];

In the name of the Lord I will cut them off.

12 They swarmed around me like bees;

They flare up and are extinguished like a fire of thorns;

In the name of the Lord I will surely cut them off.

13 You [my enemy] pushed me violently so that I was falling,

But the Lord helped me.

14 The Lord is my strength and song,

And He has become my salvation.

15 The sound of joyful shouting and salvation is in the tents of the righteous:

The right hand of the Lord does valiantly.

16 The right hand of the Lord is exalted;

The right hand of the Lord does valiantly.

17 I will not die, but live,

And declare the works and recount the illustrious acts of the Lord.

18 The Lord has disciplined me severely,

But He has not given me over to death.

19 Open to me the [temple] gates of righteousness;

I shall enter through them, I shall give thanks to the Lord.

20 This is the gate of the Lord;

The righteous will enter through it.

21 I will give thanks to You, for You have heard and answered me;

And You have become my salvation [my Rescuer, my Savior].

22 The stone which the builders rejected

Has become the [a]chief corner stone.

23 This is from the Lord and is His doing;

It is marvelous in our eyes.

24 This [day in which God has saved me] is the day which the Lord has made;

Let us rejoice and be glad in it.

25 O Lord, save now, we beseech You;

O Lord, we beseech You, send now prosperity and give us success!

26 Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord;

We have blessed you from the house of the Lord [you who come into His sanctuary under His guardianship].

27 The Lord is God, and He has given us light [illuminating us with His grace and freedom and joy].

Bind the festival sacrifices with [b]cords to the horns of the altar.

28 You are my God, and I give thanks to You;

[You are] my God, I extol You.

29 O give thanks to the Lord, for He is good;

For His lovingkindness endures forever

The Hebrew word for lovingkindness is Hesed and this Psalm truly conveys the Hesed love of God and causes us to have a deep understanding of God’s lovingkindness. He keeps covenant concerning us in so many ways - he defends us, encourages us, disciplines us to bring abundant life and fruitfulness (These are all detailed in this Psalm).

Verse 17 is memorized and spoken by many as an "antidote" to untimely death.

Below is an adaptation to give us a deeper understanding of this Hesed love.

For clarity please note

Hesed is the Hebrew word

Agape is the Greek word

Many biblical words such as mercy, compassion, love, grace, and faithfulness relate to the Hebrew word hesed (חֶסֶד), but none of these completely summarize the concept. Hesed is not merely an emotion or feeling but involves action on behalf of someone who is in need. Hesed describes a sense of love and loyalty that inspires merciful and compassionate behavior toward another person.

Hesed, found some 250 times in the Old Testament, expresses an essential part of God’s character. hesed is closely related to God’s covenant with His people, Israel. As it relates to the concept of love, hesed expresses God’s faithfulness to His people.

God’s covenant relationship with His people results in His loyal love and faithfulness [hesed], even when His people are unfaithful to Him. Always at the heart of hesed lies God’s generous sense of compassion, grace, and mercy.

Hesed surpasses ordinary kindness and friendship. It is the inclination of the heart to show “amazing grace” to the one who is loved

Amen

Thank you Lord for your amazing love. Our response is to love and serve you wholeheartedly good Father, Abbah Father. You are our priority, our all in all, our everything. We remember every step of our daily walk - your lovingkindness. Thus we walk with an attitude of gratitude. Thank you once again Abbah Father for choosing us to draw close to you, revealing yourself to us and causing us to be in a deep intimate relationship with you. We worship Lord in Jesus name

Amen

Walk good in Christ

Till you meet again

Pastor J