Whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life.
(John 4:14)


(LIVING WATER)
ISSUE: #194

MEM

(Messianic Email Message)
Psalms 119:97 - 104
Seeking The Truth
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And he showed me a river of the water of life, clear as crystal, coming from the throne of God and of the Lamb
(Rev 22:1)

For His Glory!

Message

What is LOVINGKINDNESS in the Bible?

As found in "Covenant Loyalty"

Featured Article

The word lovingkindness in the King James Version of the bible is from the Hebrew word Hesed. This Hebrew word is in the King James version over 240 times.

Strongs Number H2617
- Original: חסד
- Transliteration: Checed (Hesed)
- Phonetic: kheh'-sed
- Definition:
1. goodness, kindness, faithfulness
2. a reproach, shame

The word, Hesed, does not have a good English translation as you can see from the many English words used for this one Hebrew word.

deeds, 1
favor, 3
goodliness, 1
goodness, 12
kindly, 5
kindness, 40
lovingkindness, 26
loving-kindnesses, 4
mercies, 10
merciful, 3
mercy, 136
pity, 1
reproach, 1
sake, 2
thing, 1

Deuteronomy 7:12 HCSB "If you listen to and are careful to keep these ordinances, the LORD your God will keep His covenant loyalty with you, as He swore to your fathers. (Holman Christian Standard Bible - HCSB)

The above verse reveals the true meaning of the Hebrew word Hesed when the word is used in context of a covenant.

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In a web article on lovingkindness we find.

LOVINGKINDNESS

Lovingkindness (02617) (Hesed/Chesed/Heced) is the idea of faithful love in action and often in the OT refers to God's lovingkindness expressed in His covenant relationship with Israel (His "loyal love" to His "Wife" Israel [cp Hos 2:181920Is 54:5Je 31:32] = His "loyalty to covenant"). God's hesed denotes His persistent and unconditional tenderness, kindness, and mercy, a relationship in which He seeks after man with love and mercy…

(Full article at: https://www.preceptaustin.org/lovingkindness-definition_of_hesed)

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In another internet article:

Question: "What is lovingkindness in the Bible?"

Answer: Lovingkindness is a word found in older, more traditional versions of the English Bible, such as the King James (KJV) and the New American Standard (NASB). The Hebrew word most often translated "lovingkindness" is checed, which literally means "covenant loyalty." Newer English translations of the Bible substitute more common English words such as faithfulnessunfailing lovemercy, or good favor. All of these are viable substitutions, but, as with many Hebrew words, checed has no exact match in English…

(The full article at: https://www.gotquestions.org/lovingkindness.html)

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So, what does all this mean? I am proposing that God’s loyalty to His covenants He made with His people is a good explanation of His undeserved mercy (His lovingkindness - hesed) toward us. Because He is being loyal to the covenant He made with our forefathers. (See Deut. 7:9)

For example:

Jeremiah 32:38-42 (KJV)

38) And they shall be my people, and I will be their God:

39) And I will give them one heart, and one way, that they may fear me forever, for the good of them, and of their children after them:

40) And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from them, to do them good; but I will put my fear in their hearts, that they shall not depart from me.

41) Yea, I will rejoice over them to do them good, and I will plant them in this land assuredly with my whole heart and with my whole soul.

42) For thus saith the LORD; Like as I have brought all this great evil upon this people, so will I bring upon them all the good that I have promised them.

You see here a promise to Jeremiah concerning the future of Israel and the land. While this is referring in part to the New covenant in Christ, it is not completed yet, as our Messiah is not yet ruling in the land. We will see this more clearly in the following verses. But there are two things I would like to point out in the above verses. 1) There ARE consequences for disobedience. Verse 42a. And yet because of God’s covenant loyalty, I.E. God’s loyalty to the covenant promises He has made, He will bring the promises to His people even though the people disregarded His covenant. 2) God will bring on the people all the promises He has made, verse 42b.

Jeremiah 33:14-21 (KJV)

14) Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will perform that good thing which I have promised unto the house of Israel and to the house of Judah.

15) In those days, and at that time, will I cause the Branch of righteousness to grow up unto David; and he shall execute judgment and righteousness in the land.

16) In those days shall Judah be saved, and Jerusalem shall dwell safely: and this is the name wherewith she shall be called, The LORD our righteousness.

17) For thus saith the LORD; David shall never want a man to sit upon the throne of the house of Israel;

18) Neither shall the priests the Levites want a man before me to offer burnt offerings, and to kindle meat offerings, and to do sacrifice continually.

19) And the word of the LORD came unto Jeremiah, saying,

20) Thus saith the LORD; If ye can break my covenant of the day, and my covenant of the night, and that there should not be day and night in their season;

21) Then may also my covenant be broken with David my servant, that he should not have a son to reign upon his throne; and with the Levites the priests, my ministers.

Here again we have the promise from God that He will perform the promises that He made. These verses have not been fulfilled in full. Verse 15 is referencing to our Messiah; however, He is not yet executing judgment in the land. Now notice verse 16, what is this talking about? While the following explanation is far from the full answer. I propose that the promises God made to Israel and to the Levites will be fulfilled in the future because of His Hesed, His "covenant loyalty".

In the book of Numbers, the Levites were taken as God’s servants in place of the firstborn to perform the duties of the tabernacle. (See Numbers 3:12).

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In the book of Ezekiel, starting in chapter 40 through around the end of the book is a description of what is called the third temple and a description of Jerusalem during the millennial reign of Messiah. Notice the description again in the below verses. These are yet to be fulfilled, yet the dialog is that of Hesed, of a God showing us undeserved Mercy.

Ezekiel 36:25-36 (KJV)

25) Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you.

26) A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.

27) And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them .

28) And ye shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; and ye shall be my people, and I will be your God.

29) I will also save you from all your uncleanness’s: and I will call for the corn, and will increase it, and lay no famine upon you.

30) And I will multiply the fruit of the tree, and the increase of the field, that ye shall receive no more reproach of famine among the heathen.

31) Then shall ye remember your own evil ways, and your doings that were not good, and shall loathe yourselves in your own sight for your iniquities and for your abominations.

32) Not for your sakes do I this , saith the Lord GOD, be it known unto you: be ashamed and confounded for your own ways, O house of Israel.

33) Thus saith the Lord GOD; In the day that I shall have cleansed you from all your iniquities I will also cause you to dwell in the cities, and the wastes shall be builded.

34) And the desolate land shall be tilled, whereas it lay desolate in the sight of all that passed by.

35) And they shall say, This land that was desolate is become like the garden of Eden; and the waste and desolate and ruined cities are become fenced, and are inhabited.

36) Then the heathen that are left round about you shall know that I the LORD build the ruined places, and plant that that was desolate: I the LORD have spoken it , and I will do it .

Verse 28 shows the connection to the covenant all the way back to Abraham. Throughout the history of Israel, we see the people, again and again, turning away from God. The consequence was being taken captive by other nations. However, this group of verses shows God’s Hesed in making everything work out, just so He can fulfill the promises He gave to His people.

Verse 36 is a plain and bold statement. It will happen because it was spoken by God.

Ezekiel 44:10-11 (KJV)

10) And the Levites that are gone away far from me, when Israel went astray, which went astray away from me after their idols; they shall even bear their iniquity.

11) Yet they shall be ministers in my sanctuary, having charge at the gates of the house, and ministering to the house: they shall slay the burnt offering and the sacrifice for the people, and they shall stand before them to minister unto them.

The above verses help show that there are consequences for disobedience. Verse 11 shows God’s Hesed by still fulling the promise given to the children of Israel and the Levites.

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Conclusion:

  • Covenants are very important to God.
  • When God makes a covenant with His people, He honors that, even when His people do not uphold their side of the covenant. (This does not mean there are no consequences for disobedience).

God continues to show Hesed to the descendants of the covenant makers because of His covenant with their forefathers. It is a matter of God’s Hesed His timing.

(Deuteronomy 7:9 HCSB) Know that Yahweh your God is God, the faithful God who keeps His gracious covenant loyalty for a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commands.

  • God will yet restore the covenant promises He has made with His people.

May this understanding of Hesed be a blessing to you.

The Father’s loving-kindness (Hesed) be upon all that hope in His "Covenant Loyalty".


Proverbs

Covenant

Proverbs 2:17 (KJV)

Which forsaketh the guide of her youth, and forgetteth the covenant of her God.

(Mal 2:14 Yet ye say, Wherefore? Because the LORD hath been witness between thee and the wife of thy youth, against whom thou hast dealt treacherously: yet is she thy companion, and the wife of thy covenant.

15 And did not he make one? Yet had he the residue of the spirit. And wherefore one? That he might seek a godly seed. Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let none deal treacherously against the wife of his youth.)


Saying(s)

Loving-Kindness

"Love is a mighty power, a great and complete good; Love alone lightens every burden and makes the rough places smooth. It bears every hardship as though it were nothing and renders all bitterness sweet and acceptable. The love of Jesus is noble and inspires us to great deeds; it moves us always to desire perfection. Love aspires to high things and is held back by nothing base. Love longs to be free, a stranger to every worldly desire, lest its inner vision become dimmed, and lest worldly self-interest hinder it, or ill-fortune cast it down. Nothing is sweeter than love, nothing stronger, nothing higher, nothing wider, nothing more pleasant, nothing fuller or better in heaven or earth; for love is born of God and can rest only in God above all created things.

Love flies, runs, leaps for joy; it is free and unrestrained. Love gives all for all, resting in One who is highest above all things, from whom every good flows and proceeds. Love does not regard the gifts but turns to the Giver of all good gifts. Love knows no limits, but ardently transcends all bounds. Love feels no burden, takes no account of toil, attempts things beyond its strength; love sees nothing as impossible, for it feels able to achieve all things. Love therefore does great things; it is strange and effective; while he who lacks love faints and fails.”
― Thomas ΰ
Kempis, The Inner Life

“Jesus has now many lovers of the heavenly kingdom but few bearers of His cross.”
― Thomas ΰ
Kempis, Imitation of Christ


Did you know?

God's Accuracy

Anytime you feel like God does not do everything good, try picking up an egg
without the shell!

God's accuracy may be observed in the hatching of eggs.  For example;
-the eggs of the potato bug hatch in 7 days;
-those of the canary in 14 days;
-those of the barnyard hen in 21 days.
-The eggs of ducks and geese hatch in 28 days;
-those of the mallard in 35 days.
-The eggs of the parrot and the ostrich hatch in 42 days.
(Notice, they are all divisible by seven).

The lives of each of you may be ordered by the Lord in a beautiful way for His glory,

if you will only entrust Him with your life.  If you try to
regulate your own life, it will only be a mess and a failure.  Only the One
Who made the brain and the heart can successfully guide them to a profitable end.

God's wisdom is seen in the making of an elephant.  The four legs of this
great beast all bend forward in the same direction.  No other quadruped is
so made.  God planned that this animal would have a huge body, too large to
live on two legs.  For this reason, He gave it four fulcrums so that it can
rise from the ground easily.

The horse rises from the ground on its two front legs first.  A cow rises
from the ground with its two hind legs first.  How wise the Lord is in all
His works of creation!


Lighter Side?

A Senior Moment

An elderly Florida lady did her shopping and, upon returning to her car, found four males in her vehicle. She dropped her shopping bags and drew her handgun, proceeding to scream at the top of her voice, "I have a gun, and I know how to use it! Get out of the car!" The four men didn't wait for a second invitation. They got out and ran like mad. 
 
The lady, somewhat shaken, then proceeded to load her shopping bags into the back of the car and got into the driver's seat. She was so shaken that she could not get her key into the ignition. She tried and tried, and then it finally dawned on her the reason why. A few minutes later, she found her own car parked four or five spaces farther down. She loaded her bags into the car and drove to the police station. 
 
The sergeant to whom she told the story couldn't stop laughing. He pointed to the other end of the counter, where four pale men were reporting a carjacking by a mad, elderly woman described as white, less than five feet tall, glasses, curly white hair, and carrying a large handgun. No charges were filed. 
 
The moral is........... If you're going to have a Senior Moment, make it a memorable one!


Life in Messiah

Terms of Endearment

There are different types of relationships and they use completely different terminology. The legal system uses terms that are formal and highly structured. Contracts are written to be binding with obligations and penalties clearly spelled out. Friendship is based on affection and shared interests and values. The terms of friendship are the terms of endearment. If you spoke to your friends in legal terminology would you expect them to remain your friends? God’s word distinguishes between the covenants of law and grace. In the covenant of grace, He calls us "My friends". It is appropriate for you to address Him as a friend, in terms of endearment rather than terms of law.

(Adopted from a blog post by Dale Cresap)


Psalms

Covenant Loyalty

YHVH’s Loyalty

Psalm 25:10 (KJV) All the paths of the LORD are mercy and truth unto such as keep his covenant and his testimonies.

Psalm 105:8 He hath remembered his covenant forever, the word which he commanded to a thousand generations.

Man’s failure

Psalm 78:10 They kept not the covenant of God, and refused to walk in his law;

Psalm 78:37 For their heart was not right with him, neither were they steadfast in his covenant.

David

Psalm 89:3 I have made a covenant with my chosen, I have sworn unto David my servant,

Psalm 89:28 My mercy will I keep for him for evermore, and my covenant shall stand fast with him.

Psalm 89:34 My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips.

Abraham - Isaac - Jacob

Psalm 105:9 Which covenant he made with Abraham, and his oath unto Isaac; 10 And confirmed the same unto Jacob for a law, and to Israel for an everlasting covenant:

Loving-kindness

Psalm 106:45 And he remembered for them his covenant and repented according to the multitude of his mercies.

Loving-promises

Psalm 111:5 He hath given meat unto them that fear him: he will ever be mindful of his covenant.

Psalm 111:9 He sent redemption unto his people: he hath commanded his covenant forever: holy and reverend is his name.

Psalm 132:12 If thy children will keep my covenant and my testimony that I shall teach them, their children shall also sit upon thy throne for evermore.

Blessed be YHVH (Genesis 14:20 And blessed be God Most High…)



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