Spreading Light

Meditations: Hesed Blesses Forever

How does the hesed of the LORD bless individuals and all Humanity? The LORD gives us his words of hesed. He gives us the Word—the Suffering Servant—who embodies hesed.

The hesed of the LORD blesses forever.

The word hesed in Hebrew is translated a number of ways in English:

—Faithfulness. (Psalm 117:2 NIV).

—Love. (Psalm 136 NIV).

—Mercy. (Psalm 136 KJV).

—Steadfast love. (Psalm 136 ESV; Exodus 34:6-7).

—Lovingkindness. (Psalm 136 NASB).

—Kindness. (Micah 6:8).

Since no one English word captures the richness of the Hebrew word hesed, I use the Hebrew word hesed in three of my morning meditations:

—the hesed of the LORD endures forever;

—the hesed of the LORD redeems forever; and

—the hesed of the LORD blesses forever.

These three meditations are roughly in the middle of my meditations each morning. This position emphasizes that the hesed of the LORD—the Amazing Grace of the LORD—is the pivot on which my life and all Humanity turns.

How does the hesed of the LORD bless individuals and all Humanity?

From the very first chapter of Genesis, the words of the LORD bless individuals and all Humanity, creating a world—and a Humanity—that is good, that is very good (Genesis 1:1-2:2).

Unfortunately, the history of this “Interstate Highway of Hesed” is full of examples when individuals and all Humanity crashed after missing curves and got lost after turning off the “Interstate Highway of Hesed”.

Why?

Because individuals and all Humanity didn’t hear the words of the LORD. (Isaiah 6:9-10).

Because individuals and all Humanity disobeyed the words of the LORD. (Genesis 3:1-24; Isaiah 53:6).

Fortunately, the Bible assures us that the words of the LORD will eventually overcome our deafness and our disobedience. (Isaiah 6:13; Isaiah 45:22-23).

As the Prophet Isaiah commanded:

Seek the LORD while he may be found;

call on him while he is near.

Let the wicked forsake their ways

and the unrighteous their thoughts.

Let them turn to the LORD, and he will have mercy on them,

and to our God, for he will freely pardon.

(Isaiah 55:6-7).

Indeed, not only will God freely pardon and freely redeem.

God will freely bless individuals and all Humanity forever!

How?

By giving us his words of hesed. By giving us the Word—the Suffering Servant—who embodies hesed.

Why?

For my thoughts are not your thoughts,

neither are your ways my ways,

declares the LORD.

As the heavens are higher than the earth,

so are my ways higher than your ways

and my thoughts than your thoughts.

(Isaiah 55:8-9).

What are these ways and thoughts of the LORD that infinitely surpass Humanity’s ways and thoughts?

The ways and thoughts of hesed. The Way and the thoughts of the Suffering Servant who embodies hesed.

What are these ways and thoughts of hesed? What are the Way and the thoughts of the Suffering Servant who embodies hesed?

—Faithfulness. (Psalm 117:2 NIV).

—Love. (Psalm 136 NIV).

—Mercy. (Psalm 136 KJV).

—Steadfast love. (Psalm 136 ESV; Exodus 34:6-7).

—Lovingkindness. (Psalm 136 NASB).

—Kindness. (Micah 6:8).

This pivot of hesed—this pivot of Amazing Grace—not only redeems individuals and all Humanity forever.

This pivot of hesed and Amazing Grace blesses individuals and all Humanity forever.

For the LORD has promised that his words of hesed embodied in the Suffering Servant (the Word of the LORD (John 1:1-5,11)) are like the rain and the snow that come down from heaven.

The rain and the snow do not fail to water the earth,

making it bud and flourish,

so that it yields seed for the sower

and bread for the eater.

So is my word that goes out from my mouth:

It will not return to me empty,

but will accomplish what I desire

and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.

(Isaiah 55:10-11).

And what does the LORD say is the purpose for which he sent us his words of hesed—his Word that redeems and blesses us forever? What is the ultimate destination of the LORD’s enduring “Interstate Highway of Hesed”?

You will go out in joy

and be led forth in peace;

the mountains and hills

will break into song before you,

and all the trees of the field

will clap their hands.

Instead of the thornbush

will grow the juniper,

and instead of briers

the myrtle will grow.

This will be for the LORD’s renown,

for an everlasting sign

that will be forever.

(Isaiah 55:12-13, emphasis added).

Each morning, the rising of the sun and the singing of the birds reminds me of these everlasting blessings of the LORD.

Each morning, as the sun rises and the birds sing, I rejoice that the Hesed of the LORD blesses me and all Humanity forever.

Just as the Prophet Jeremiah rejoiced 2,500 years ago, I rejoice anew with each sunrise and each birdsong that the “steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning” (Lamentations 3:22-23 ESV).