What is Lovingkindness?

Here's something to meditate on. I found it in "Vine's Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words," of all places. I believe that, whenever I meditate on God's lovingkindness, turning it over and over in my mind and letting it sink into my innermost being, I am being changed into His likeness.

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind [be metamorphosed by the renovation of your understanding], so that you may discern what is the good [beneficial], acceptable [well-pleasing] and perfect [complete] will of God. – Romans 12:2

Here is the Vine's quote. It's lengthy, but worth the meditation:

Loving-kindness [Hebrew hesed] – “loving-kindness; steadfast love; grace; mercy; faithfulness; goodness; devotion.” The term is one of the most important in the vocabulary of Old Testament theology and ethics.

In general, one may identify three basic meanings of the word, which always interact: “strength” [Greek dunamis], “steadfastness” [from everlasting to everlasting], and “love” [Greek agape]. Any understanding of the word that fails to suggest all three inevitably loses some of its richness. [It appears to include God’s omniscience, omnipresence and omnipotence.]

The word refers primarily to mutual and reciprocal rights and obligations between the parties of a relationship (especially Yahweh and Israel). But hesed is not only a matter of obligation; it is also of generosity. It is not only a matter of loyalty, but also of mercy. The weaker party seeks the protection and blessing of the patron and protector, but he may not lay absolute claim to it. The stronger party remains committed to his promise, but retains his freedom, especially with regard to the manner in which he will implement those promises. Hesed implies personal involvement and commitment in a relationship beyond the rule of law.

“Devotion” is sometimes the single English word best capable of capturing the nuance of the original. Hebrew writers often underscored the element of steadfastness (or strength) by pairing hesed with emet (“truth; reliability”) and emunah (“faithfulness; certainty”).

The concrete content of the word is especially evident when it is used in the plural. God’s “mercies,” “kindnesses,” or “faithfulnesses” are His specific, concrete acts of redemption in fulfilment of His promise. An example appears in Isaiah 55:3: “. . . And I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.” [Clearly referring to Jesus!]

Hesed is God’s most central characteristic. God’s loving-kindness is offered to his people, who need redemption from sin, troubles, and enemies [the flesh, the world, the devil]. A recurrent refrain describing God’s nature is “abounding/plenteous in hesed” (Exo. 34:6; Neh. 9:17; Ps. 103.8; Jon. 4:2). The entire history of Yahweh’s covenantal relationship with Israel can be summarized in terms of hesed. It is the one permanent element in the flux of covenantal history. (Woohoo!  Isn't God good?)

The association of hesed with ‘covenant” keeps it from being misunderstood as mere providence or love for all creatures; it applies primarily to God’s particular love for His chosen and covenanted people. “Covenant” also stresses the reciprocity of the relationship; but since God’s hesed is ultimately beyond the covenant, it will not ultimately be abandoned, even when the human partner is unfaithful and must be disciplined (Isa. 54:8, 10). Since its final triumph and implementation is eschatological [referring to the final destiny of all humankind], hesed can imply the goal and end of all salvation-history (Ps. 8:7, 10; 130:7; Mic. 7:20).

Life in the Word

“I find nothing in the Bible but holiness, and nothing in the world but worldliness. therefore, if I live in the world, I will become worldly; on the other hand, if I live in the Bible, I will become holy [like God].

“You cannot be strong in God unless you are diligently and constantly listening to what God has to say to you through His Word. You cannot know the power and the nature of God unless you partake of His inbreathed Word. Read it in the morning, in the evening, and at every opportunity you get. You will find that the more of God’s Word you hide in your heart, the easier it is to live a holy [power-filled!] life. As you receive God’s Word, your whole physical being will be given life, and you will be made strong. As you receive the Word engrafted, with humility [knowing you can’t make it happen] (James 1:21), you will find faith springing up within. You will have life through the Word.” – S. Wigglesworth

But what does it say? The word is near you, even in your mouth, and in your heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; that if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved.

As the Scriptures tell us, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced.” For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, “How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!” So faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Word of Christ. – Romans 10

Some people may read the Bible in Hebrew or Greek. Be the kind of person who reads it in the Holy Spirit. You can read with your mind, but by meditating, turning it over in your mind and speaking it out loud again and again, it will get into your spirit and become more and more a part of who you are. If you are a believer in Jesus, His Spirit lives within you. Ask Him to engraft the Word into your very being. Receive every Word that He speaks to you.

Grab hold of a little Word of power that gets lit up to you when you are reading. Repeat it out loud, and think about it. Ask the Lord to expand it to fill your heart and to be implanted in your being and bear fruit in your life. Hold onto that Word, and ask Holy Spirit to pivot you and spin you and wrap you around that Word, to see it from different angles. Ask Him to bring into your awareness other words in Scripture that hook up to that word and explode it into your understanding, and ask Him to make your life a fulfillment of the Word.

Are you Motivated?

Day 133
What are your core values? What is the motivation for your actions? Is it about being comfortable in this world and being accepted and loved by people? Why do you do the things you do?

If you are compelled to do and say things in order to make a way for yourself in this world, that is what you will have: the temporary, decaying teasures of this world. Nothing of this world will last. It is fading away before your eyes -- you can't deny it. Every material thing will be used up.

The Last Clematis Blossom

Then what should you be spending your time and energy on? Watch for Me. I am pure love. My everlasting love transcends time, heals all wounds, brings joy to the oppressed, feeds the hungry, mends the broken, and makes all things new. Watch for Me. See where I am moving, and move with Me. You will be my partner in these things.

Is that good motivation?

People who don't know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don't worry about missing out. You'll find all your everyday human concerns will be met. -- Matthew 6:32-33 [The Message]

The Spirit of God, the Master, is on me because God anointed me. He sent me to preach good news to the poor, heal the heartbroken, announce freedom to all captives, pardon all prisoners. God sent me to announce the year of his grace—a celebration of God's destruction of our enemies—and to comfort all who mourn, to care for the needs of all who mourn in Zion, give them bouquets of roses instead of ashes, Messages of joy instead of news of doom, a praising heart instead of a languid spirit.

Rename them "Oaks of Righteousness" planted by God to display his glory. They'll rebuild the old ruins, raise a new city out of the wreckage. They'll start over on the ruined cities, take the rubble left behind and make it new. You'll hire outsiders to herd your flocks and foreigners to work your fields, but you'll have the title "Priests of God," honored as ministers of our God. You'll feast on the bounty of nations, you'll bask in their glory. "Because you got a double dose of trouble and more than your share of contempt, your inheritance in the land will be doubled and your joy go on forever. Because I, God, love fair dealing and hate thievery and crime, I'll pay your wages on time and in full, and establish my eternal covenant with you. Your descendants will become well-known all over. Your children in foreign countries Will be recognized at once as the people I have blessed."

I will sing for joy in God, explode in praise from deep in my soul! He dressed me up in a suit of salvation, he outfitted me in a robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom who puts on a tuxedo and a bride a jeweled tiara. For as the earth bursts with spring wildflowers, and as a garden cascades with blossoms, so the Master, God, brings righteousness into full bloom and puts praise on display before the nations. -- Isaiah 61 [The Message]

Cold Weather -- Mum!

Infinity

Day 132
Why do you think I gave you an imagination? So you can meditate on Me. With your finite mind, you cannot comprehend my thoughts. My ways of thinking are far beyond you. But if you give your imagination to Me, let my Spirit take the wheel and drive you into the deep of my heart, you will begin to experience more of Me.

What do you enjoy in my creation? Basking in a beautiful sunset at the ocean's shore? Riding the exhilerating white waters of a mighty river that splits through a formidible canyon? Resting in the peaceful quiet of the great redwood forest, sparking sunlight gently falling on your shoulders through the treetops? Reaching the peak of a Rocky mountaintop, sharing the eagle's view, miles of amazing beauty stretching out beneath my sky of blue? Staring into the black, star-speckled night, resting in perfect peace on a hilltop far away from every manmade thing? Walking through a beautiful garden, fragrant breezes flowing over flowers and grasses, hedges and shrubs of every pastel and brilliant color, size and shape?

Let these places be doorways of your imagination for my Spirit to take you into new discoveries of who I am and how I long to reveal myself to your heart. Fix your mind and heart on the immensity of Me.

Deep calls to deep in the roar of your waterfalls; all your waves and breakers have swept over me. -- Psalm 42:7

He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams. -- Psalm 23:2

And he carried me away in the Spirit to a mountain great and high, and showed me the Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God. -- Revelation 21:10

For as the earth bursts with spring wildflowers, and as a garden cascades with blossoms, so the Master, God, brings righteousness into full bloom and puts praise on display before the nations. -- Isaiah 61:11

The wall was jasper, the color of Glory, and the City was pure gold, translucent as glass. The foundations of the City walls were garnished with every precious gem imaginable: the first foundation jasper, the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald, the fifth onyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, the twelfth amethyst. The twelve gates were twelve pearls, each gate a single pearl. The main street of the City was pure gold, translucent as glass. -- Revelation 21:17-21