The Lovingkindness of the Lord

I have longed to write about the lovingkindness of God for a while now. And I've decided to focus my study on the Psalms, wherein the Hebrew word "hesed" translated "lovingkindness" in the New American Standard Version appears 176 times in the Old Testament. As is often the case there is no exact translation for this Hebrew word. So you will note the various translations translate it differently. For instance if we look at how some of the major translations translate "hesed" in Psalm 5:7 we will find:

KJV = mercy

RSV = steadfast love

NIV = great love

ESV = steadfast love

NLT = unfailing love

AMP = steadfast love and tender mercy

As I've studied it over the years, it seems to have the idea of God's covenant, faithful, unconditional, never ending love for His covenant people. Few things have helped my walk with God over the years more than meditating on this concept in the Psalms. So I'm going to go on and post what I've done so far. And as I'm able I will continue to add to it until we get through every occurrence in the Psalms. May you and I be ever more grounded in and transformed by His amazing lovingkindness.

I.                             Truths About

A.       It is abundant and it gives us entrance into His presence – “But as for me, by Your abundant lovingkindness I will enter Your house, At Your holy temple I will bow in reverence for You.”Psalm 5:7  Ultimately our ability to enter His presence is not dependent upon our behavior as much as it is on His lovingkindness.

B.       He shows/expresses/makes known His lovingkindness to His anointed ones.“He gives great deliverance to His king, And shows lovingkindness to His anointed, To David and his descendants forever.”   Psalm 18:50

C.      His lovingkindness will be our constant companion through life. “Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life, And I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.” - Psalm 23:6

D.      Everything God does and says is bathed in lovingkindness for those who walk with God in truth. “All the paths of the LORD are lovingkindness and truth To those who keep His covenant and His testimonies.”  Psalm 25:10

E.        His lovingkindness Is marvelous in its scope and impact. And He makes it known to us even in great adversity. “Blessed be the LORD, For He has made marvelous His lovingkindness to me in a besieged city.” Psalm 31:21

F.        God’s lovingkindness will surround and protect those who learn to trust in Him.      “Many are the sorrows of the wicked, But he who trusts in the LORD, lovingkindness shall surround him.” Psalm 32:10

G.      The earth is full of the lovingkindness of the Lord if we have eyes to see it. May He open our eyes to see it everywhere we turn. “He loves righteousness and justice; The earth is full of the lovingkindness of the LORD.” - Psalm 33:5   “Your lovingkindness, O LORD, extends to the heavens, Your faithfulness reaches to the skies. - Psalm 36:5  God wants His lovingkindness to be known and seen and experienced by everyone.

H.      We earthlings tend to put our hope in friends, funds, and lots of other foolish things. God responds to those who put their hope solely in Him and His lovingkindness.       “Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear Him, On those who hope for His lovingkindness,” - Psalm 33:18

I.           There is nothing like God’s lovingkindness in the universe. It melts and soothes and heals wounded hearts. “How precious is Your lovingkindness, O God! And the children of men take refuge in the shadow of Your wings.” - Psalm 36:7

J.           Every thought the Lord has towards us and every action throughout every day will proceed from His lovingkindness towards us. “The LORD will command His lovingkindness in the daytime; And His song will be with me in the night, A prayer to the God of my life.” - Psalm 42:8

K.        

II.                          Prayers For

A.       Save us – “Return, O LORD, rescue my soul; Save me because of Your lovingkindness.” - Psalm 6:4  The basis of his confidence or trust in praying for God to save him was (similar to what we saw in Psalm 5:7) God’s lovingkindness.

B.       Show or reveal it to us - “Wondrously show Your lovingkindness, O Savior of those who take refuge at Your right hand From those who rise up against them.” Psalm 17:7   The Psalmist could have assumed that God being the wonderful God He is would automatically do this. No need to ask. He also could have just asked God to show him His lovingkindness. But he didn’t assume; he asked; and he asked big. So should we.

C.      Remember me with mercy, not judgment. “Do not remember the sins of my youth or my transgressions; According to Your lovingkindness remember me, For Your goodness' sake, O LORD.” Psalm 25:7 There are times where the sins of our youth are ever before us or we see a new and sad shade or angle of them, or perhaps the accuser of the brethren is seeking to oppress us, and our heart just wants to make sure His lovingkindness is not going anywhere.

D.      Save or deliver me.   Make Your face to shine upon Your servant; Save me in Your lovingkindness. - Psalm 31:16

E.        Pour Your lovingkindness all over us. “Let Your lovingkindness, O LORD, be upon us, According as we have hoped in You.”- Psalm 33:22

F.        God promises to do this, but faith acts on His promises and thus the psalmist asks God to continue to extend His lovingkindness to His children. “O continue Your lovingkindness to those who know You, And Your righteousness to the upright in heart.” - Psalm 36:10

G.      Being in a covenant with God that has its foundation in His lovingkindness gives us great authority to ask for His gracious intervention. “Rise up, be our help, And redeem us for the sake of Your lovingkindness.” Psalm 44:26

H.       

III.                       The Psalmist’s Example

A.       “But I have trusted in Your lovingkindness; My heart shall rejoice in Your salvation.” - Psalm 13:5  Deep rooted trust in God’s lovingkindness results in deep rooted joy.

B.       “For the king trusts in the LORD, And through the lovingkindness of the Most High he will not be shaken.” - Psalm 21:7  Knowing and trusting and resting in God’s lovingkindness produces inner stability even when things all around us are shaking.

C.      “For Your lovingkindness is before my eyes, And I have walked in Your truth.” Psalm26:3   King David didn’t take God’s lovingkindness for granted, nor did he lose sight of it. He learned to be fixated on it.

D.       “I will rejoice and be glad in Your lovingkindness, Because You have seen my affliction; You have known the troubles of my soul,” Psalm31:7   The Psalmist vowed to rejoice and be glad in God’s lovingkindness because he saw it at work in his life. When we become grounded in God’s lovingkindness it produces in us a gladness and rejoicing that cannot be messed with.

E.         “I have not hidden Your righteousness within my heart; I have spoken of Your faithfulness and Your salvation; I have not concealed Your lovingkindness and Your truth from the great congregation.” Psalm 40:10  The Psalmist wasn’t content to just experience and revel in God’s lovingkindness. He also committed to proclaiming it and sharing it with others.

F.        “You, O LORD, will not withhold Your compassion from me; Your lovingkindness and Your truth will continually preserve me.” - Psalm 40:11  The Psalmist’s hope and trust was that God’s lovingkindness and truth or faithfulness would continually preserve him from all trouble and evil.

G.      “We have thought on Your lovingkindness, O God, In the midst of Your temple.” Psalm 48:9  This speaks to what God’s people do or should do when they gather to worship.