 |
| A painting in melted wax made in the company of the incomparable Miss Faith Thompson. |
Hesed: lovingkindness; steadfast love. The never-stopping, never-leaving, never-changing love of God for His people.
Soaking in this word through the years has lead me deeper into the Father's heart for us.
It's translated throughout the Old Testament as love, mercy, and kindness; loyalty and affection in covenant relationship. Super-strong love in the super-strongest relationship.
"The LORD appeared to him from afar, saying
'I have loved you with an everlasting love;
Therefore I have drawn you with
Therefore I have drawn you with
lovingkindness.'" --Jeremiah 31:3
"Who is a God like you,
who pardons sin and forgives the transgression
of the remnant of his inheritance?
You do not stay angry forever
but delight to show mercy."
Micah 7:18
Whooooa: catch that: the Lord delights in mercy and unchanging love.
God extends mercy to the Israelites for hundreds of years, forgiving sins again and again, putting off judgment in His mercy, but He does not contradict His character by being unjust. But never does he exact fully His just, deserved wrath on humanity--He chooses to take that upon Himself.
He valued us more than His life. More than unity in the Trinity at the cross.
What?!
| There is another word to hold near: hasid. It is a variant of hesed, moving from verb to noun to name the people of God. We are the loved, the focus of mercy and lovingkindness. We--first Israel, now us, the whole church--are the focus of God's never stopping, never failing, absolutely unchanging love. That He is the God of hesed explains how everything--even the most painful, screwed-up, what-the-hell crap--works out for the good. I'm thankful when I see it; I'm learning to trust Him when I don't. In addition to this rather heady stuff, I'm thankful for |
a soft bathrobe (christened "Soft" by Asha) on a day I'm sick
tea
and chocooooooollaaaaaate!
Posts
No Response to "Thankful for Hesed"
Post a Comment