October 4, 2016 WWJWMTD by Steve the son of John

Hesed

Guest Author’s Series: David Hauser, Regional Director of International Healing Rooms

Hesed is a Hebrew word commonly translated as "loving-kindness, kindness, or love" but it means so much more.

Various Bible translations often define hesed to mean faithfulness, mercy, goodness, steadfast love, and loyalty.

Normally this word describes something that happens within an existing relationship, either between man and God or two people. Some scholars also translate it to mean ‘covenant love’.

Hesed is a quality of life that should characterize those who know God. We see it in Abraham, Moses, Ruth, David, and many other Christians throughout the ages expressing hesed (loyalty love).

The purpose of ‘Loyal Love’ is to describe the ‘dependability or loyalty’ that we as Christians should have towards one another.

Without a doubt it is one of the richest, most powerful words in the Old Testament. We, who are committed to God and to each other, should reflect this Christ-centered love for each other. One scholar has said, “It (hesed) is not a mood or feeling but an ‘action attribute’.

Loyal love is often scarce in Christendom today.

Three times we see Covenantal Love in Exodus, and in each case we find the tribes of Israel not holding up ‘their end of the bargain’. They make idols and fall short in both Exodus 32 and 33.

But what is amazing is God saying, “I will still go with them.” This to me is a mystery in Scripture, ‘God says I will destroy them, but Moses reminds Yahweh of his Covenant.’ God then says, “Your right, even though they have not held up ‘their end of the bargain’, I will still go with them.”

A Covenant broken by Israel is not so easily dismiss by Yahweh.

Hesed truly means “great loyalty; over the top”. It is beyond fairness, to keep covenant with people who keep pushing God away. To show Hesed is above and beyond what most people do. It is extremely rare.

The proper response to Hesed is to show it to others. Acts 2 is a ‘living example’, a picture of those who shared meals together. It is staying true when we have differences of opinions. It says I need you and you need me. It says I am with you, and you are with me. It is ‘over the top’ even in contrary situations. It is loyalty love!

There is a song which lyrics say: "Your love never fails, it never gives up on me, this one thing remains, it never runs out on me, on and on it goes, cover by the power of your great love.”

May God grant us all Hesed (the love of loyalty) towards each other. May we guard what we say about each other. May we support each other, and be loyal to His Coming. May we be a faithful community of hesed.

Written by David Hauser

WWJWMTD

What would Jesus want me to do?

Dr. Steven J. Wentland www.wwjwmtd.com

This e-mail, including attachments, may include confidential and/or proprietary information, and may be used only by the person or entity to which it is addressed. If the reader of this e-mail is not the intended recipient or his or her authorized agent, the reader is hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution, or copying of this e-mail is prohibited. If you have received this e-mail in error, please notify the sender by replying to this message and delete this e-mail immediately.