In April we celebrated the Passover. Toward the end of that meal just as Jesus did (Matthew 26:30) Jewish people sing the Hallel or Praise psalms (Psalm 115-118 and 136). In Psalm 136, each verse repeats the refrain “His love endures forever/His mercy is everlasting”. In the refrain is the word hesed ( חֶ֥סֶד translated loving kindness, mercy or love”). Hesed is an important word in Hebrew found throughout the Old Testament and is difficult to translate accurately.
To help us understand the use of this word in the Psalm, let’s review the wonderful story of friendship between Jonathan, son of Saul, and David, the future king in 1 Samuel 20. David meets up with Jonathan, the king’s son and his friend, and asks why his father Saul is trying to kill him. Jonathan denies this could be true until David swears an oath asking Jonathan to show kindness (hesed) if true and death if false. Jonathan knows that David will eventually become king and asks David to show kindness to him and his family in turn and make a covenant with him. David, in turn, renews his oath (v. 14-17). It is clear that the starting point for the covenant was an already present, deep and abiding friendship between the two young men. The evocation of hesed was to confirm an extension of that friendship across generations and through any future circumstance.
The story picks up again in 2 Samuel 9 when David, after the deaths of Saul and Jonathan, inquires if there are any members of the House of Saul left to whom he may show kindness (hesed). When Mephibosheth, son of Jonathan, is brought to him, David tells him not to be afraid because he will honor the covenant he made with his father and will show him kindness (hesed). Mephibosheth ends up eating at the king’s table.
So, when the Psalmist uses this word in Psalm 136, we can learn something of the very nature of God. It is not because His chosen people are cute or worthy in any way, but only because of the covenant that God has made with them does he do all that He does for his people. We can rest knowing that our God is not arbitrary but very calculated in His love for us.
Pray: "Dear Lord, help us to be more in tune with your lovingkindness."