7 HEBREW WORDS EVERY CHRISTIAN SHOULD KNOW: HESED

Sermon Notes, January 8, 2017

Rev. Garry McGlinchy

          Pastor Garry began a series of sermons on “Seven Hebrew Words Every Christian Should Know,” based on Isaiah 54:1-10.  Today’s word was Hesed, translated as “loving kindness.”  The best definition for the Hebrew word hesed is love; not just love, but more accurately loving kindness.  John Oswald said that hesed is “a completely undeserved kindness or generosity.”  Lori Tverberg said that “Hesed intervenes on behalf of loved ones and comes to their rescue.” Hesed surpasses feelings.  It is an action. 

In the Old Testament it is used in various ways. Hesed is loving kindness between men, towards men. We see this doing favors for one another or benefitting one another when Abraham asked his wife to tell Abimelech that she was his sister in Genesis 20:13: “This is how you can show your love to me: Everywhere we go, say of me, “He is my brother.”  Some translations say “Do me a favor,” or “show kindness to me.”  Hesed is also used as the kindness extended to the lowly, needy and miserable.  This is the kindness that is often shown through mercy, such as in Job 6:14, “Anyone who withholds kindness from a friend forsakes the fear of the Almighty.”  Mostly it is used to show God’s kindness, His loving kindness to the needs of His creation.  It is especially linked to His loving kindness in redemption from enemies and troubles, in preservation of life from death, in quickening of spiritual life, in redemption from sin, and in keeping the covenants.

In Isaiah 54:1-10 we see this hesed, this loving kindness.  Verse 1 starts off with “Sing, barren woman, you who never bore a child; burst into song, shout for joy, you who were never in labor; because more are the children of the desolate woman than of her who has a husband,” says the Lord.  Remember how disgraceful is was for a woman to be childless during this time of history.  A child meant security, and favor amongst the people.  God compares Israel to a childless woman.  Israel had been unfruitful; however He would permit her to bear fruit once gain and change her song of mourning into shouts and songs of joy! 

In verses 6-8, God said that He abandoned Israel for a brief moment, like a young wife rejected by her husband.  Not only was she childless, but she was rejected as well.  However, God continued to call her His own!  Understand that God, the creator of us all, is holy, and He does not tolerate sin.  With that said, He calls His people to be holy.  So, when His chosen people openly chose sin over Him, His only course of action was to punish them.  I don’t know about you, but being separated from God’s presence would absolutely crush me.  Think about it.  One of the things that kids love more than anything is to be in the presence of the parents.  As a child of God, I love to be in His presence!  But sin separates us from Him.  When we sin we are literally replacing God with pain and suffering.  Think how much it breaks His heart to watch His children choose death over Him. 

In order to come back into His presence, we must confess our sins to God and repent of them.  Repent goes beyond asking for forgiveness.  It is a 180 turn-about without going back!  And when we  return to God, He is FILLED with JOY! (Verse 9)

God recalls the covenant He made with Noah in Genesis 9:8-17; the covenant to never destroy the earth by flood again.  And this covenant has never been broken!  Likewise, God makes a covenant here with Israel.  God makes a covenant of peace with Israel that there will come a time when His anger would relent and He will teach the citizens and make them prosperous once again. (Verse 10).  Here’s the crazy cool promise: God’s hesed is abundant, and it is everlasting.  In other words, no matter how crazy your life might get, God’s hesed, His loving kindness will never cease.

God’s abundant and everlasting loving kindness towards us should be a model for us to follow.  We should treat each other with the same hesed that God shows us.  Remember, hesed is an action.  It is faithful.  It is reliable.  It is a mother praying for her child who is going through painful life lessons.  It’s a brother praying for his sister to have a relationship with Christ.  It’s a landlord bringing groceries to one of his tenants in their time of need.  It’s a teacher extending the deadline on a project for a student whose family is falling apart. 

Some of you have been carrying burdens for your family, your neighbors, for past hurts, or burdens of remorse from afflicting pain on someone else.  Some of you have been bringing these burdens to God for what seems like an eternity, and sometimes the burdens just seem to get heavier and heavier.  Keep bringing these burdens to God, understanding that His loving kindness is shining upon you and working through you.