The Love of God

The following are excerpts from a series of good articles from Answers In Genesis Hebrew Word Study on the Love of God.

Defining “Love”
חֶסֶד (ḥéseḏ)—Part 1
by John C. P. Smith

According to John Lennon, “All you need is love!”

Certainly we all need love. But whose love? And is it really all you need?

Is human affection sufficient? Is the love of a spouse, parent, child, sibling, relative, or friend enough to meet all your needs? Love such as this can be truly wonderful. I know full well! I’ve been happily married for more than 20 years and have six loving children.

But the love of fellow humans doesn’t last forever. It wavers and sometimes fails. It may be tainted by selfishness or pride. Try though it might, it cannot heal every disease or every broken heart. It can’t cure every addiction or transform all wayward behavior. Ultimately it can’t help us avoid the consequences of death.

But the love of God can do all of these things!

The Quality of God’s Love 

The word חֶסֶד (ḥéseḏ), occurring around 250 times in the Old Testament, is the main term used to describe the love of God. But to translate חֶסֶד (ḥéseḏ) simply as “love” doesn’t adequately convey its richness and depth. The love of God far surpasses that of humans. His חֶסֶד (ḥéseḏ) incorporates mercy, kindness, goodness, grace, and loyalty—and each aspect finds its supreme expression in Him . . .

To try to get this breadth of meaning across in translation is challenging. One approach is to combine two words. For example, the NASB predominantly renders חֶסֶד (ḥéseḏ) as “lovingkindness,” the RSV as “steadfast love,” and the NIV as “unfailing love.” The NKJV, like the KJV, usually translates חֶסֶד (ḥéseḏ) with the single word “mercy,” though in a couple of verses it uses the two-word phrase “merciful kindness.” In two verses where חֶסֶד (ḥéseḏ) occurs twice, the NKJV uses different English words:

And Solomon said:

“You have shown great mercy [חֶסֶד (ḥéseḏ)] . . . ; You have continued this great kindness [חֶסֶד (ḥéseḏ)] . . . .” (1 Kings 3:6)

Mercy [חֶסֶד (ḥéseḏ)] and truth preserve the king, and by lovingkindness [חֶסֶד (ḥéseḏ)] he upholds his throne. (Proverbs 20:28)

Seeing the different ways in which חֶסֶד (ḥéseḏ) is translated helps to build up a deeper understanding of God’s love.

The Magnitude of God’s Love

It’s not just in quality that God’s love is supreme; it’s also in magnitude. Here’s what God said about Himself, including the abundance of His חֶסֶד (ḥéseḏ), when He appeared in a very special way to Moses on Mount Sinai:

And the Lord passed before him and proclaimed,

“The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness [חֶסֶד (ḥéseḏ)] and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin . . . .” (Exodus 34:6–7)

The words “abounding in goodness” here are a translation of the Hebrew רַב־חֶסֶד (raḇ-ḥéseḏ), a phrase which occurs eight times in Scripture, always with reference to the Lord. Once again, the variety of English wording used to convey this single Hebrew couplet sheds light on its rich meaning, as is here exemplified by the NKJV renderings:

“abounding in goodness” (Exodus 34:6)

“abundant in kindness” (Nehemiah 9:17)10

“of great kindness” (Joel 2:13)

“abundant in lovingkindness” (Jonah 4:2)

“abounding in mercy” (Psalm 103:8)

“abundant in mercy” (Numbers 14:18; Psalm 86:5, 15)

Unlike the English noun “love,” חֶסֶד (ḥéseḏ) can comfortably be used in the plural, חֲסָדִים (ḥăsāḏîm), reminding us that authentic, faithful love is composed of numerous, practical acts of kindness.

I will mention the lovingkindnesses [חֲסָדִים (ḥăsāḏîm)] of the Lord and the praises of the Lord, according to all that the Lord has bestowed on us, and the great goodness toward the house of Israel, which He has bestowed on them according to His mercies, according to the multitude of His lovingkindnesses [חֲסָדִים (ḥăsāḏîm)]. (Isaiah 63:7)

This is reminiscent of the popular old hymn, “Count Your Blessings,” whose refrain went,

Count your blessings, name them one by one,

Count your blessings, see what God hath done!

Count your blessings, name them one by one,

And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.

Similarly, Jews are encouraged to recite 100 blessings daily. Certainly, if we try, we can all think of many ways in which God’s faithful love, kindness, goodness, and mercy have touched our lives and blessed us. Indeed, if our eyes are open we will see that

. . . the earth is full of the goodness [חֶסֶד (ḥéseḏ)] of the Lord. (Psalm 33:5)

For His merciful kindness [חֶסֶד (ḥéseḏ)] is great toward us . . . . Praise the Lord! (Psalm 117:2)

Having a thankful heart can dramatically transform our outlook and attitudes, as well as make a positive impact on those around us.

The Longevity of God’s Love

Another key aspect of God’s amazing חֶסֶד (ḥéseḏ), in addition to its quality and magnitude, is its longevity. The phrase “His mercy endures forever” is used in the NKJV to translate לְעוֹלָם חַסְדּוֹ (le ôlām ḥasdô), which occurs no less than 42 times. God’s kindness is not transient. His love is faithful and never grows cold. This is exceedingly good news and another great reason to give thanks:

Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy [חֶסֶד (ḥéseḏ)] endures forever. (1 Chronicles 16:34; Psalm 106:1, 107:1, 118:1, 118:29, 136:1) . . ."

. . . 

God of Love?
חֶסֶד (ḥéseḏ)—Part 2
by John C. P. Smith

". . . Anyone genuinely seeking the truth will discover that the more you get to know about the God of the Bible, the more you come to understand how important חֶסֶד (ḥéseḏ) is to Him, along with justice/judgment and righteousness:

“But let him who glories glory in this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord, exercising lovingkindness [חֶסֶד (ḥéseḏ)], judgment, and righteousness in the earth. For in these I delight,” says the Lord. (Jeremiah 9:24)

God Loves to Love!

It is abundantly clear from both Old and New Testaments that God loves to love! In fact, in one of his New Testament letters John even goes so far as to say that

“God is love” (1 John 4:8, 16)!

It follows that all human expressions of genuine love originate from, and take their lead from, His supreme חֶסֶד (ḥéseḏ).

In His great love, God does not want any, even the godless and heathen, to perish—a truth expressed in both Old and New Testaments:

“For I have no pleasure in the death of one who dies,” says the Lord God. “Therefore turn and live!” (Ezekiel 18:32; similarly, Ezekiel 33:11)

The Lord . . . is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9)

This element of His חֶסֶד (ḥéseḏ) is wonderfully exemplified in His dealings with Nineveh, a place of wickedness and idolatry. Jonah, the famous prophet of Israel, was reluctant to go to this enemy city to warn its citizens of God’s wrath, knowing, unlike Richard Dawkins, that He is

“a gracious and merciful God, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness [חֶסֶד (ḥéseḏ)], One who relents from doing harm” (Jonah 4:2).

The prophet Micah exclaimed,

Who is a God like You, pardoning iniquity and passing over the transgression of the remnant of His heritage? He does not retain His anger forever, because He delights in mercy [חֶסֶד (ḥéseḏ]). (Micah 7:18)

Even some Christians adhere to the misconception that the Jesus of the New Testament is completely different from what they perceive as the wrathful God of the Old Testament. But in this study we have seen clearly that the God presented in the Hebrew Scriptures perfectly balances love with justice:

Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne; mercy [חֶסֶד (ḥéseḏ]) and truth go before Your face. (Psalm 89:149)

. . . 

“For God So Loved . . .”
חֶסֶד (ḥéseḏ)—Part 3
by John C. P. Smith

Part 1 defined the meaning of the rich Hebrew word חֶסֶד (ḥéseḏ), the main term used to describe the love of God. Part 2 answered the accusation that the God of the Old Testament is not a God of love. We now turn our attention to the ultimate expression of God’s love in the person of Jesus Christ.

On into the New Testament

In light of all the references in the Hebrew Scriptures to the rich quality, magnitude, and longevity of God’s חֶסֶד (ḥéseḏ) the opening words of John’s gospel are completely natural, following on seamlessly from the message of the Old Testament:

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. . . . And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace. (John 1:14, 16)

Jesus, the Word, fully expressed the loving heart of the Father:

I and My Father are one. (John 10:30)

Indeed, the very reason Jesus came into the world was as a result of the great love of Israel’s God, and on a mission to fully express His mercy:

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)

God’s Love Takes the Initiative

In Jesus, God was fully taking the initiative. He did not wait for us to attempt to claw our way back to Him. In any case, all such attempts are futile. In comparison to the holiness, purity, and perfection of God, “all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags” (Isaiah 64:61). Indeed,

. . . God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)

The believer, therefore, can say along with Paul,

For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another. But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy [ἔλεος (éleos)] He saved us . . . (Titus 3:3–5)

Grace upon Grace

But God’s love goes even further than pardoning sin:

But God, who is rich in mercy [ἔλεος (éleos)], because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ . . . that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. (Ephesians 2:4–5, 7)

He desires to richly and abundantly bless the repentant sinner. That’s grace! Someone once defined grace using the acronym:

God’s

Riches

At

Christ’s

Expense.

It’s a good explanation. Through the precious blood of Christ the repentant sinner is not only redeemed (1 Peter 1:18–19), not only washed from his sins (Revelation 1:5), not only cleansed in his conscience (Hebrew 9:14),

But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. (Ephesians 2:13)

God’s love, in Jesus, can bring us back into the rich blessings of a close relationship with Him.

The Ultimate Offense

Some people may feel that they are unworthy of such attention from God, that they are beyond forgiveness—a hopeless case. The fact is that none of us is deserving of God’s astonishing חֶסֶד (ḥéseḏ). But it dishonors and displeases Him if we do not accept it with thankful, trusting hearts. God actually takes pleasure in saving, delivering, redeeming, forgiving, healing, cleansing us from a guilty conscience, drawing us close to Him, and empowering us with His wonderful Holy Spirit! To spurn such love is the ultimate offence.

God’s Apotomia

In this article, we have so far contemplated God’s goodness as expressed in His חֶסֶד (ḥéseḏ). Many contemporary preachers will gladly proclaim this doctrine, while at the same time striving to avoid offending unbelievers with the threat of judgment and hell. But a Christian message that presents only God’s love is not the whole truth, and is not therefore honoring to the One who is full of both love and truth. Sadly, universalism—the belief that ultimately everyone will be saved and have a place in heaven—is becoming increasingly the vogue, even among many evangelicals. Popular pastor and teacher Rob Bell denies being a universalist, but his best-seller, Love Wins, certainly represents a big step away from orthodox teaching about hell.

It is only right and balanced, in addition to His love, to seriously ponder God’s severity:

Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God . . . (Romans 11:22)

By “severity” Paul is not meaning that God is too strict, or that He punishes unjustly or inconsistently; neither is he implying that God shows favoritism. The word here translated as “severity,” ἀποτομία (apotomía), might equally be rendered “steepness” or “sharpness.” The former is reminiscent of the “great gulf” or chasm that Jesus mentions as existing between heaven and hell (Luke 16:26). The latter is consistent with the picture of a decisive and accurate cutting action, like a scythe at harvest-time; indeed, in the very same verse, Paul writes of unbelievers being “cut off” (Romans 11:22).

God’s judgment is flawless. He makes no mistakes. Hell is a deeply tragic, but nevertheless appropriate, outcome for any human beings whose hearts are hardened against the conviction of the Spirit of God in their conscience, failing to acknowledge Him; neglecting to thank, honor, praise and worship Him; rejecting His Son and spurning His love; rebelling against Him, flouting His standards, and breaking His laws; despising His glory; belittling Him, maligning Him, misrepresenting Him, and even blaspheming and cursing Him. If people choose to live a God-less life, enjoying all the benefits and blessings of His creation, yet preferring to remain alienated from Him, how could they expect anything other than a God-less eternity, together with His justified anger?

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful . . . (Romans 1:18–21)

Worth Pondering

Consider, then, God’s severity: how utterly terrible to be cut off completely from His presence and suffer the horrors of hell! Consider, also, His goodness and love: how wonderful to be offered a let-off; how kind and merciful He is to allow our deserved punishment to fall upon His most precious Son!

Yes,

For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. He who believes in Him is not condemned . . . (John 3:17–18)

But,

. . . he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. (John 3:18)

Coming Judgment

Jesus lived “full of grace,” demonstrating the complete extent of God’s mercy; yet He was also “full of . . . truth” (John 1:14), warning of the horrors of hell (e.g., Mark 9:43–48). His mission in first-century Israel was “to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10). But He will one day return with a different mission—as Judge and King:

For He is coming to judge the earth. With righteousness He shall judge the world, and the peoples with equity. (Psalm 98:9)

He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him—the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day. (John 12:48)

And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment. (Hebrews 9:27)

[Men] will give an account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. (1 Peter 4:5)  . . .

How shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation (Hebrew 2:3)

Since Adam and Eve’s transgression in Eden, all of humanity has gotten itself into a mess because of rebellion against God and breaking His laws. None is exempt. All have sinned, and no one is fit to enter the presence of God’s glory (Romans 3:23). Individually and collectively we are “sinking.” But God, in His supreme love and mercy, was willing, at great cost, to launch the ultimate rescue operation. Jesus took the full weight of punishment for our wrongdoing upon Himself when He laid down His life. He purchased for us the means of avoiding hell, of being forgiven, and of being made right with God:

For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. (1 Corinthians 15:22)

But there is no agency of rescue other than Jesus Christ:

Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved. (Acts 4:12)"

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