Kingdom Foundation
For I have said, “Graciousness will be built up forever; in the heavens You will establish Your faithfulness.” Psalm 89:2 NASB
Graciousness – I don’t mind telling you that this translation misses the point entirely. “Graciousness” is not being built up forever. In fact, graciousness isn’t even part of this description of the coming Kingdom. The Hebrew word for “grace” is ḥannûn, from the root ḥānan. You can find the primordial example in Exodus 34:6 (“The LORD compassionate and gracious . . .”). That word doesn’t even appear here. Instead, the word that describes the foundation of the Kingdom is ḥesed.
Are you surprised? You shouldn’t be. If the foundation of the Kingdom were grace, then the current Christian conception of God’s forgiveness would seem to be the logical bedrock of the Kingdom. It would follow that confession and repentance are the cornerstones of our entry into that blissful realm. But that ignores the essential reciprocity of divine commitment. God does forgive, of course, but that doesn’t mean forgiveness is given without expectations. When God forgives, ḥesed is attached. The foundation of the Kingdom isn’t an open-door invitation. It’s a contractual offer to enter into a covenant, and covenants have consequences.
If ḥesed is the basis of the Kingdom, then reciprocity, transitivity, and action follow. God forgives—we obey. God enters into a relationship with us—we demonstrate the same benevolence toward others. God moves heaven and earth on our behalf—we act as His agents on earth. That’s ḥesed.
Notice that this verse ties ḥesed to “faithfulness,” that is, ʾĕmûnâ. Another critically important word not fully captured in the English translation.
This very important concept in biblical doctrine gives clear evidence of the biblical meaning of “faith” in contradistinction to the many popular concepts of the term. At the heart of the meaning of the root is the idea of certainty. And this is borne out by the nt definition of faith found in Heb 11:1.[1]
But we should immediately add that this is not certainty in logical deduction. It is certainty in action. It is constancy, reliability, and unwavering support. It is not an abstract mathematical derivative, as if God’s ʾĕmûnâ was an immutable attribute. God decides to exercise covenant constancy, and at times that requires judgment, chastisement, and exile. But His commitment never wavers. He is always seeking a ḥesed relationship.
So, reread this verse. Then reread Scott’s comment about Hebrews 11:1 and realize that the “New Testament” concept of “grace” and “faith” is just as Hebraic as anything you find in Psalms. ḥesed and ʾĕmûnâ are eternally linked.
Topical Index: ʾĕmûnâ, ḥesed, faithfulness, graciousness, Psalm 89:2
[1] Scott, J. B. (1999). 116 אָמַן. R. L. Harris, G. L. Archer Jr., & B. K. Waltke (Eds.), Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament (electronic ed., p. 51). Chicago: Moody Press.
Yes, ḥesed and ʾĕmûnâ are eternally linked… and they are most exactly and actually presented in form of living human agency in Christ, Yeshua. This life is actual covenant constancy — the bond of ḥesed and ʾĕmûnâ— and this bond is the exact representation of the character of God’s essence, which is love. Indeed, this is the image of God whose being is constant in His inter-penetrating and inter-relational love that is demonstrated in the bond of ḥesed and ʾĕmûnâ.
How, then, can fallen man be constitutionally restored to such image— the image the first Adam was intended to convey, yet failed to guard? Only through incorporation into the second Adam, whose death on the cross becomes our own when we believe/trust in God’s own constancy of ḥesed and ʾĕmûnâ bound by his love as it was manifest on the cross of Christ, whereby that atonement confirmed this Son (cf. Psalm 82:6) as Christus Victor!