The Hebrew Refrain

I will sing of steadfast love and justice; to you O LORD, I will make music.  Psalm 101:1  ESV

Steadfast love/ justice – What are the themes of David’s praise and worship music?  What motivates David to sing to the Lord?  The answer is found in this psalm.  It’s an answer that can set out voices to God’s tune every day.  David extols steadfast love and justice.

Of course, you have probably already guessed that “steadfast love” is the Hebrew word hesed.  The ESV’s attempt to translate this thoroughly Hebraic concept is as good as any of the other English translations, but it doesn’t really capture the meaning, does it?  When David sings hesed, he really is singing the first part of the Bible’s constant refrain.  Hesed is the action of reciprocal obligation passed on to others.  You can’t sing this word without obeying God and blessing others.  It isn’t simply one of the lyrics in a song.  It is a call to act as God acts.  Sing hesed with your feet and hands.

And then there’s the second part of David’s refrain: justice.  The Hebrew is mishpat.  We already know this word too.  It doesn’t mean legal fairness.  It is the word that summarizes the entire government of God.  It extends from grace to judgment.  It encompasses everything that God is doing to bring about the restoration of His kingdom on earth.  Mishpat is a word about my whole attitude toward life–an attitude that views everything in terms of God’s purposes.

Between hesed and mishpat there isn’t much more to say. 

So let’s raise a song today.  It will have to be a dancing tune.  After all, hesed means movement toward God and others.  You can’t sing hesed and stand still.  Open your mouth and move your feet.  Hold hands with someone in need.  Sing hesed by doing what God would do today.

Then set your heart toward mishpat.  Consider the privilege of God’s invitation to join Him in bringing righteousness to the earth.  Ask yourself if your tune is aimed at bringing about His purposes.  Ah, you might have to even march around a bit.  You will have to set a direction and begin to travel.  There is no singing confined to the sanctuary.  You will have to take this song to the streets.

Go forth, you blessed of the Lord, singing His prasies – His hesed, His mishpat.  Not ours.  Our song only echoes the symphony of the universe.  It adds one more voice to the call of the ages.  Today let the anthem pour forth.  It is His universe and we are His children, a chorus in motion toward Him.

Topical Index:  song, hesed, mishpat, Psalm 101:1