Hi Brian!


The word for this week is "lovingkindness". This is the Hebrew word "checed". Strong's Concordance lists kindness, favor and mercy as meanings. Brown-Drive-Briggs Lexicon lists goodness, kindness and faithfulness. Vine's Expository Dictionary says this:


checed OT:2617, "loving-kindness; steadfast love; grace; mercy; faithfulness; goodness; devotion." This word is used 240 times in the Old Testament, and is especially frequent in the Psalter. The term is one of the most important in the vocabulary of Old Testament theology and ethics.

Here are five passages of Scripture that contain "checed":

Psalm 63:3  Because Your loving-kindness is better than life, my lips shall praise You.


Psalm 103:4-5  Who redeems your life from the pit and corruption, Who beautifies, dignifies, and crowns you with loving-kindness and tender mercy; 5 Who satisfies your mouth [your necessity and desire at your personal age and situation] with good so that your youth, renewed, is like the eagle's [strong, overcoming, soaring]!


Psalm 138:2  I will worship toward Your holy temple and praise Your name for Your loving-kindness and for Your truth and faithfulness; for You have exalted above all else Your Name and Your Word and You have magnified Your Word above all Your Name!


Jeremiah 9:24  But let him who glories glory in this: that he understands and knows Me [personally and practically, directly discerning and recognizing My character], that I am the LORD, Who practices loving-kindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth, for in these things I delight, says the LORD.


Jeremiah 31:3  The LORD appeared from of old to me [Israel], saying, Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore with loving-kindness have I drawn you and continued My faithfulness to you.

When we think of the Truth that God loves us, we can now understand that it isn't just an emotion or even just a decision on His part, but He has put all of Himself into showing forth that love in any and every way that is necessary to care for, provide for and protect us! The more we understand His nature and His attitude toward us, the better we can be at loving our families, friends, relatives, and all of the people that God has placed in our lives! YOUR loving-kindness is continually evident in the way you treat your family, including your extended family! Here is "Loving Kindess" by Miriam Webster and Darlene Zschech:

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!