“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is thy faithfulness. “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him” (Lamentations 3:22-24, RSV).
Those who say that the God of the Old Testament was a God of hate have never studied God’s chesed. This is the Hebrew word translated by various words – love, kindness, mercy, grace, goodness, loyalty. The Revised Standard Version often translates it as “steadfast love” because chesed never falters or ends. It endures forever. This word in the original language of the Old Testament is only three letters long and yet it speaks volumes about God’s relationship with you.
Even when betrayed … even when He needed to punish His people, God’s love-kindness-mercy-grace-goodness-loyalty never ceased. That’s how much He loves you! Even when we break God’s laws and sin against Him, He still loves us.
Yes, indeed, God’s chesed is amazing!
“O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever” (Psalms 136:1).
“Thou hast led in thy steadfast love the people whom thou hast redeemed, thou hast guided them by thy strength to thy holy abode” (Exodus 15:13).
‘Know therefore that the Lord your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations” (Deuteronomy 7:9).
“Thy steadfast love, O Lord, extends to the heavens, thy faithfulness to the clouds” (Psalms 36:5).
“For thou, O Lord, art good and forgiving, abounding in steadfast love to all who call on thee” (Psalms 86:5).
Larry Fitzgerald
Woodlawn church of Christ
Abilene, TX