THE Word
but the LORD takes pleasure in those who fear him, in those who hope in his steadfast love. Psalm 147:11 ESV
Steadfast love – Once again we discover David’s declaration that hesed is the fundamental description of what it means to have a relationship with YHWH. The ESV uses “steadfast love.” NASB attempts “lovingkindness.” NKJV and NIV make other efforts to communicate hesed in English. But they all fail. Hesed is a uniquely Hebrew word. It has no English (or Greek) equivalent. But that doesn’t mean we can’t understand it because hesed is a word of action, and we can all do what hesed describes.
Notice the Hebraic parallelism in David’s declaration. Those who fear the Lord are the same ones who hope in His hesed. The Hebraic idea of hope is also active. It means “to wait with constant expectation.” It is a verb the expresses confidence in outcome. Those who fear YHWH are in constant anticipation of His hesed. And what does that mean? Well, as we know, hesed expresses four simultaneous actions. It expresses relationship. Whoever experiences hesed has already entered into some connection with the other party in the arrangement. Hesed expresses reciprocal obligation. To fear YHWH is to enter into an obligation to obey Him. Faithful loyalty to God’s purposes and instructions is not optional for those who fear Him. Hesed is also transitive, that is, it must be passed on to another. We owe God obedience and we owe others the same benefit we experienced in God’s favor toward us. This is why forgiveness means nothing unless we also forgive. And finally, hesed is always active. It isn’t good intentions, well wishes or passing praise. Hesed does something. Those who fear the Lord take action to change the world because they must!
Do you hope in His hesed? Do you hope that YHWH will show you favor, include you in His sphere of relationships, be faithfully connected to you, be active on your behalf? If this is what you want, then you fear the Lord – and that means you must exhibit the same actions toward Him and toward others. This is not grace. This is the direct result of grace and without it grace does not apply. You are either living out hesed or you are fooling yourself about your relationship with God. There is no alternative.
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. That means that hope in hesed is the beginning of understanding the purposes and plans of the Creator. You can’t know what the world is all about until you enter into this four-part Hebrew expression. Understanding does not come from contemplation or information. It comes from doing hesed. Time to get going.
Topical Index: hesed, steadfast love, lovingkindness, fear, hope, yahal, Psalm 147:11
When I think of “his steadfast love,” I don’ think of lovingkindness
Lovingkindness is what I think people learn to display, when they experience “his steadfast love”
But in the “here and now,” his steadfast love often seems more like a curse than a blessing
When we look back, we see that he has given us great “gifts” that we might not have deserved
Movies from my childhood taught me that we must change the world, whether or not God existed
Gunfight at OK Corral and Paul Newman in Hombre come to mind
Reading today’s Word made me think of the role of the Imaginary (vrs the Real) in Sartre and Jung
Much of the time, I don’t think I’m doing anything in the real world, but my imagination is active
And God is Other to us in this world, but don’t think he is part of the Real world
On the other hand, his steadfast love is very real to me
To enter the Kingdom make the two things one
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oIwWqYSbzGA
Linkin Park – In The End
In addition to movies and philosophy, I have also learned a lot from literature and music
On the one hand, we have Shakespeare’s romantic commentary on “this world”
Such as “parting is such sweet sorrow” from Romeo and Juliet
And on the other, we have Linkin Park’s comic commentary above
Which I find uplifting as well
I agree that we are called to action. But what God wants is a mutual heart. Contracts are written instructions which obligate you to specific actions, and they are not optional. failure to fulfill your duties bring punishment. Contracts are for people on opposite sides of the table. Love on the other hand, is like the handshake deal. We are on the same side, purposed together. I’m for you, not again’ you. I’m giving you all i’ve got. There was a time when my children were not mature and I wanted them to obey “because I said so”. They are grown now and that no longer applies. I don’t want it to. I don’t want them doing anything because they owe it to me. I want them to be loving. The relationship with my wife is not mutual obligation either, and never has been. I didnt write up a prenup; that would be against the concept of marriage. Neither does God want us doing anything because we must! Love is voluntary, but its efforts exceed anything you do under law because it strives for the others best good. Love doesn’t keep accounts. Love doesn’t pay back nor does it seek payback. Love gives forward; it fore gives. The law looks back and judges the results. Faith , hope, and love look forward. They are positive. They are a better covenant. Even the rabbis say that the end goal of Torah is circumcision of the heart. Jesus didn’t say to Peter three times “you owe me, pay me back”. He ASKED three times “do you love me?”. If yes then be purposed with me, be a fellow worker with me. When you focus on the person of Jesus Christ and what he has done for the sake of love you are compelled alright! But you are not compelled by law or duty or force. You are compelled by a heart on fire. A heart inclined to do good. That is what God is after.
Brett R,
How is it going?
Hesed is expressed with those who are in relationship with YHWH and His covenant. Obedience and obligation are words that we may be uncomfortable with, but they are part and parcel of the Biblical language and narrative. We adjust and come into alignment with the revelation of Scripture, and we learn to live within the structure of covenant.
It seems to me you are struggling with the terms of obligation and obedience, and you wrestle with the idea of God demanding us to live in His ways. These are the struggles and wrestlings of a Christian worldview who have left their home of the ancient and Semitic world of Scripture, and all the while trying to live in the foreign soil of grace without hesed. What kind of fruit has this produced?
In relationship to your use of children. You wrote: “There was a time when my children were not mature and I wanted them to obey “because I said so”. They are grown now and that no longer applies. I don’t want it to. I don’t want them doing anything because they owe it to me. I want them to be loving.”
There is a BIG difference in relationship to your children, and the relationship with our Abba. We will always be His sons and daughters, and we will never outgrow our need to simply do what our Abba demands and commands. We are in the Father’s house, and we surrender to the rules of His glorious abode.
Hi Brian. We are all trying to figure things out and i am sure that i agree with you on more than you think. I ditched all preconceptions a long time ago and have been reading all i have time to on the hebraic perspective. I don’t have a problem with obedience; if Jesus comes back and says “we’re eating sawdust and wearing steel wool” i’ll be ok with it. But I don’t think that’s the point. If perfect obedience were the end goal, God would have stopped with the angels. He would just create robots; a stepford wife for Jesus. Union through mutual love is the end goal. A lot of what I believe i have never heard preached or taught by anyone and i will try to state those things when they are relevant to the days topic. I value everyone’s thoughts and take no offense if someone shoots down something I throw out there.
That “struggle” you mention Brian is something I encounter in those I am closely associated with here. There is very little to no “Christian” paradigm for obligation and obedience. Well, we do obey but to the extent that it is culturally comfortable for us to obey. Anything beyond the ten (make that nine) that are general rules for most western societies is just termed as legalism. I cannot understand how any obligation to Abba is not desired. Heck I am obligated to my wife, my children, and just because I am obligated does not mean I don’t love them. I have an obligation to work, provide food, shelter, clothing, nourishment…..and I LOVE to fulfills those obligations! Just because I enjoy it doesn’t mean that its not obligation! There are some days, I do not feel like it and on those days I do it any way because it is my obligation! I owe it to them! I owe it to Him! I love them! I choose them.
The more my wife and I walk this narrow, (and lonely road), the more I realize that love is a choice that I make every day. The “love” that is talked about in most Christian circles is about “my feelings.” My obedience is based upon my “feeling of love.” My relationship with Abba is based upon my feelings of love! Sadly this is how most people’s Christian journey begins so they are entirely dependent upon feelings. I obey when I feel like it and when I don’t I am being “led by the Spirit” (or vice-versa). Don’t get me wrong, I was raised very “charismatic” so I love the feeling of His Presence. I love those overwhelming times spent with Abba in the Secret Place but I cannot base my love on those times.
Brett you said, “Jesus didn’t say to Peter three times “you owe me, pay me back”. He ASKED three times “do you love me?”. If yes then be purposed with me, be a fellow worker with me……. alright.”
In essence Jesus said, Do you love me? Then obey me. “Be a fellow WORKER with me…..seeing Jesus compels me…” Sounds like obedience to me. You are right, it is being “purposed” with him and my being “purposed” with him is seen in my obedience to the words, “feed my sheep”.
Remember 1 John 5:3 says, “This IS love, that we keep His commands and His commands are not burdensome,” I am not arguing with you. I honestly believe that we are seeing different sides of the same coin.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JoC1ec-lYps
Deep, Deep as the Ocean
“Hesed” or “lovingkindnesses” or “tender mercies” is a covenant word. Deep, deep and deeper still, we MUST know this. Our Father’s “steadfast-unchangeable-forever” love towards us is because we ourselves, have entered into a “blood-covenant” relationship with YHWH, the I AM, and THE God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
tHis love, the love of God is:
abiding
adamant
ardent
dedicated
faithful
inflexible
intense
relentless
resolute
rigid
single-minded
staunch
stubborn
true
unflinching
unqualified
unswerving
unwavering
unyielding
allegiant
boundless
changeless
constant
dependable
enduring
established
fast
firm
fixed
immobile
immovable
inexorable
intent
liege
never-failing
obdurate
persevering
reliable
stable
sure
tried-tested-and-true
true-blue
unbending
unfaltering
unmovable
unquestioning
How do we enter into this blood-covenant relationship of Friendship? ~ This is the new testament (a far better word is “covenant” (written) in My blood ~ Very real, very rich, very precious, real red blood was given as an atoning sacrifice for you and for me on the tslav or execution stake of Calvary.
We do not remember or speak much of Calvary’s cross, neither do we act or live according to the New Covenant scriptures:
(we are) ~ persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying about in the body (our bodies) the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. For we who (now) live are constantly being delivered over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.…~ (we have this “treasure” in jars of clay- our flesh!).
What treasure do we possess? – ~ It is Christ in you,- (and in you and in you!) the hope of glory!) ~
And if any man (of any language, culture, ethnicity, etc..) have not the Spirit (or Ruach) of Christ The Living Messiah) he (or she) is none of His!
Please pardon my “crassness,” but “Got Jesus?” AND ALSO… Does He have you? Is Jesus, who is the Christ, the saving, satisfying, sanctifying Sovereign Lamb of God, LORD of “your” life? Is He LORD of all?
Are you a twenty four seven Christian? Twenty four hours of every day and seven days a week, is Christ the LORD of ALL?
Concerning the body, (yes, the one we now live in)
from 1 Corinthians 6:15-20 (ESV)
~ Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? Never! Or do you not know that he who is joined to a prostitute becomes one body with her? For, as it is written, “The two will become one flesh.” But he who is joined to the LORD becomes one spirit with Him. Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body. (and the body of Christ!) Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Ruach HaKodesh within you, whom you have from God? You are NOT your own, for YOU were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body ~
You, dear friend, (and I) were ALL *bought with a price*
This is redemption, brought to you and brought to me by, (sponsored by), the redemptive work of our Christ our Redeemer when blood (His blood) was freely given (He was wounded for our transgressions,
He was bruised for our iniquities;the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed) on the tslav, the execution stake of Calvary.
Have you ever been (by faith) to Calvary’s cross? Have you see Him (by faith) wounded and bleeding?
Friends, that Man, the Son of God and God the son, Son of God AND son of man, died in my place and in my stead. ~ Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down His life for his friends ~ (John 15.13) and this was (and is) exactly the mission of our Messiah. There is (nor ever will be) a greater love, nor a greater sacrifice than Calvary’s love.
~ Yes, God demonstrated His love (hesed) towards us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us ~ (Romans 5.8)
Yes, we who are His, have been “paid for in full” by the blood of the Lamb. We are (now) His “purchased possession” and I am today one bought one. I am (today) His by right or authority of creation (it is He who has made us, and NOT we ourselves) and His again, by right or authority of the cross.
Redeemed, how I (too) love to proclaim it!! I am thine, O LORD- I have heard Thy voice.. and it told Thy love to ME! Oh, Hallelujah for the cross!!
A short “back-story” of the hymn “What a Savior..”
Written…shortly before his death, this was the last hymn I heard Mr. Bliss sing. It was at a meeting in Farwell Hall in Chicago [Illinois], conducted by Henry Moorehouse. A few weeks before his death Mr. Bliss visited the State prison at Jackson, Michigan, where, after a very touching address on “The Man of Sorrows,” he sang this hymn with great effect. Many of the prisoners dated their conversion from that day.
When Mr. Moody and I were in Paris, holding meetings in the old church which Napoleon had granted to the Evangelicals, I frequently sang this hymn as a solo, asking the congregation to join in the single phrase, “Hallelujah, what a Saviour,” which they did with splendid effect. It is said that the word “Hallelujah” is the same in all languages. It seems as though God had prepared it for the great jubilee of heaven, when all His children shall have been gathered (with the saints of the ages!) home to sing “Hallelujah to the Lamb!”
Man of Sorrows! what a name
For the Son of God, who came
Ruined sinners to reclaim.
Hallelujah! What a Savior!
Bearing shame and scoffing rude,
In my place condemned He stood;
Sealed my pardon with His blood.
Hallelujah! What a Savior!
Guilty, vile, and helpless we;
Spotless Lamb of God was He;
“Full atonement!” can it be?
Hallelujah! What a Savior!
Lifted up was He to die;
“It is finished!” was His cry;
Now in Heaven exalted high.
Hallelujah! What a Savior!
When He comes, our glorious King,
All His ransomed home to bring,
Then anew tHis song we’ll sing:
Hallelujah! What a Savior!
Friend, why are we alive (and kickin’!) today? – It is only because:
The steadfast love of our LORD never ceases;
(It is only because:) His tender mercies never come to an end;
(Yes) – they are new every morning;
(And) great is Your faithfulness. (Lamentations 3.22-23)
A wise man once said, “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven”. Children enjoy and know how to experience and reciprocate “lovingkindness”. So we are wise to become born again by receiving Yeshua, become a child and exchange “lovingkindness”. Thank you for your insight and post.