Exodus 34:6 NIV
“The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness”
1 Samuel 20:14-15a NIV
“But show me unfailing kindness like the Lord’s kindness as long as I live, so that I may not be killed, 15 and do not ever cut off your kindness from my family…”
2 Samuel 9:3 NIV
The king asked, “Is there no one still alive from the house of Saul to whom I can show God’s kindness?”
God describes himself as hesed – compassionate, gracious, abounding in love and faithfulness. God shows himself by “doing” hesed in his relationship with his people, often translated as showing kindness or grace.
“What makes hesed an act of ‘kindness’ is often the fact that one member in the relationship is in a position to render help or aid to the other, who is for one reason or another in need and unable to help or aid the other.” [Bill T. Arnold. 1&2 Samuel. The NIV Application Commentary, 506.]
The story of David and Mephibosheth in 2 Samuel 9 is a beautiful picture of God’s loving kindness in action. We were utterly helpless and lost in sin without hope until God “did” hesed – he poured out immeasurable grace, coming to us and saving us through Jesus. Now we too can show this same kindness to others.
Prayer: Father, may your immeasurable grace abound to us that we may express your hesed kindness to others. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Let’s worship to the song, “Same Jesus” by Matt Redman (click here).
– CH
