“Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His ‘hesed’ endures forever.” (Psalm 118:1)
At my seminary, there was a woman named Hesed. I had not yet taken any Hebrew at that point, so it was my first time hearing the word. She explained that her parents wanted to give her a name that reflected the heart of God.
I later learned that this word occurs repeatedly in the Bible as a quality of God. Its meaning is so vast and encompassing that Bible translators use many different English words to capture the essence of hesed.
For example, in Psalm 118:1, Hesed is translated as “steadfast love,” “loving kindness,” “enduring love,” “enduring mercy,” “eternal love,” or “a love that never quits.” Graciousness, kindness, faithfulness, and loyalty are all wrapped up in the word ‘hesed’. It represents a pure and loyal love that is selflessly ever-giving and never-ending.
In contrast, our human love can be fickle, fading, and faltering. God’s love, on the other hand, is immovable, unshakable, and invincible.
God’s Hesed reminds us that, “Surely His love will pursue you all the days of your life.” (Ps. 23:6).
God really does love you.
