Hesed (Psalm 13)

Today’s Passage: Psalm 13

Ever had one of those days, weeks, seasons—when it seems like you are living under a cloud? Of course you have. We’ve all had them.

When I think of my life, and those of some of my family and friends, it is clear that many of them have faced much more difficult seasons.

It is in those seasons, when how we know God, makes all the difference.

Psalm 13 is one of those Psalms for when you are really struggling and down and out. “How long, O Lord...” begins the Psalm and then the author goes deeper is his lament. We have all been there, those moments of darkness, those moments of doubt when we are so beat up, or so beat down, or so discouraged, that we are not sure it will ever get better. But then, like all but one of the Psalms, it ends on a positive statement. A statement that is not about us or humankind, but about God: “But I have trusted in your steadfast love.”

The Hebrew word that we often read or translate as “steadfast love” is hesed. I am not a Hebrew scholar, but as I read them they create a rich tapestry of words which seek to describe hesed. The hesed of God is this kind of amazing, divine, never-ending, never- failing love. It is the love of God that is always there, even when we cannot feel it or see it, but we believe in it because we believe in God. Hesed can make all the difference. It is the one strand that you can hold onto when all else has been stripped away.

You might ask, “Why? Why can I hold onto the idea of hesed?” The answer is- because of all you have read about God, and all you know about God. If you have been reading the Bible, then ponder a few things. How faithful were the Israelites? Not very faithful. Yes, there were seasons, but on the whole they often walked away from God. How many times did God walk away from them when they called out to Him? Zero times! Why? Because of God’s hesed.

Take the story of a few of the kings, who after they sinned would have a prophet come to them and call them out. Some of the kings (e.g., David with Bathsheba and Hezekiah) would repent and seek God, and God would immediately show up. Why? Because of God’s hesed. Even when we are fools, God will restore (Psalm 14).

I could go on, but let me just cut to the chase and ask “What does Jesus show us?” God’s hesed. He came and gave and healed and taught and loved. And in return we, humanity, killed Him. Did He come back with wrath? No, He came with hesed.

Hesed challenges the world. The world points us away from God’s hesed. The world tells us to chase after pleasure, or position, or power…and when we think we have achieved any one of them, the world says we need more. The idols of this world never satisfy us, they continually “move the finish line”. Yet, we foolishly keep straining towards their false promises. Hesed in contrast, stands by us, constantly present, and invites us to come and be surrounded by God’s love.

I came across one definition of hesed I consider to be a good, working definition: “The consistent, ever-faithful, relentless, constantly-pursuing, lavish, extravagant, unrestrained, furious love of our Father God!”

And now, may God’s hesed envelop you.