God’s Loving kindness – Chesed
My lectio this week directed my attention to the Hebrew word hesed (chesed), this week and as I am getting ready in a couple of weeks to talk about God, the meaning of hesed caught my attention. Hesed is a Hebrew word that means loving-kindness, loyalty, and mercy, often describing the faithful love that God has for His people. It encompasses actions of kindness and generosity that go beyond what is expected in a relationship. I am also studying Thomas J Ord’s work on amipotence and when we consider his work in conjunction with this Hebrew word, I find that it dismantles completely the notion of an omnipotent and distant God.
Definition and Meaning of Chesed
Chesed has its origin in the Hebrew language. Chesed is one of those Hebrew words that doesn’t really translate well. People try with “lovingkindness,” “mercy,” or “steadfast love,” but honestly…chesed is bigger than all of those. It’s that kind of love that sticks around – even when it’s hard or even when it costs something. It’s love that doesn’t give up on you. Perhaps we can think it of the Rick Roll version of love.
In reading about this concept from the Jewish perspective, I found an article that called chesed as the heart of the Torah. In this article, the opening offered these thoughts: “n Netzarim Judaism, chesed, commonly translated as “kindness” or “lovingkindness,” stands at the very heart of what it means to live a life of Torah. More than a good deed or a moral virtue, chesed is a fundamental spiritual orientation—a way of being in the world that reflects the nature of God and our highest ideals as a covenantal people.”
Hesed in the Old Testament
I am drawn to three passages from the Old Testament that point us towards chesed: “In Exodus 34:6-7, when God reveals His character to Moses, He declares Himself ‘abounding in hesed and faithfulness.” This self-description sets the tone for how Israel understands God: not as a distant judge, but as a compassionate and committed partner.
The Psalms are rich with references to God’s hesed. Psalm 136, for example, repeats the refrain, “His hesed endures forever,” underscoring the idea that God’s love is unwavering and eternal. Psalm 23:6 famously concludes, “Surely goodness and hesed shall follow me all the days of my life.”
Another crucial passage is Micah 6:8, where the prophet summarizes the ethical requirements of God’s people: “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love hesed and to walk humbly with your God.” Here, hesed is not only something God shows, but also a virtue for His people to embody.”
Chesed also has a significant role in covenants and God’s relationship with Israel. This steadfast love is the foundation upon which the covenant between God and His people is built. Throughout the Hebrew Bible, God promises to remain faithful to Israel, not because of their perfection, but because of God’s chesed—God’s unwavering commitment and mercy. The covenant is not merely a legal contract; it is a relationship sustained by compassion, generosity, and enduring loyalty. Even when Israel falters or turns away, God’s hesed persists, offering forgiveness and restoration. This dynamic is evident in passages like Exodus 34:6-7, where God describes Himself as “abounding in hesed,” and in the repeated refrain of Psalm 136, “His hesed endures forever,” reminding the people that their relationship with God is grounded in love that does not fail. As a result, hesed becomes both a divine promise and a call for humans to reflect the same faithfulness and kindness in their relationships—with God and with each other.
Hesed and God’s Character
Throughout the Hebrew Bible, God is consistently portrayed as embodying chesed: “The LORD, the LORD, a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger and rich in chesed and truth” (Exodus 34:6). This theme recurs across the Tanakh, where chesed is shown not just as a feeling, but as an enduring dedication to the covenant, marked by loyalty, compassion, and grace.
From a Netzarim perspective, God’s chesed isn’t random mercy, but a steady faithfulness: sustaining life, extending forgiveness, and guiding people toward righteousness. We learn that God’s sense of justice is always balanced by mercy—and it’s this harmony that makes the world possible.
At it’s heart, chesed is about God’s faithful love and generosity. It describes God’s unwavering commitment and compassion toward humanity. This reminds me of the notion of amipotence, as defined by Thomas J Ord, refers to God’s power expressed through uncontrolling love—a relational and non-coercive force rather than absolute domination. This perspective challenges the classical notion of omnipotence by proposing that God’s power is fundamentally relational and non-coercive. Rather than being a distant, all-powerful judge, God is depicted as intimately involved and committed, acting out of faithful love and generosity. When we emphasize amipotence and hesed, we gain a deeper understanding of God as a compassionate partner whose power is exercised through loving-kindness and relational commitment, offering an alternative to traditional views centered on power and authority.
In Closing – Practical Applications
We are called to emulate chesed into our daily lives. As the prophet Micah said: “He has told you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly, to love chesed, and to walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8). Chesed is not just a suggestion—it’s essential, one of the three foundations that support the world (Pirkei Avot 1:2).
Although Netzarim Judaism differs from Talmudic Judaism in several respects, this central principle remains unchanged: being Jewish means dedicating yourself to acts of lovingkindness. Chesed is expressed not just in belief, but through tangible, ongoing actions that help create a world that is more just, compassionate, and sacred.
When we reflect on chesed in our daily life, we observe in a much deeper way God’s love for God’s people. This means all people. When we do this it has a profound impact on our communities and our relationships.
Embracing chesed transforms ordinary interactions into opportunities for kindness, generosity, and understanding. It encourages us to see the divine spark in everyone, inspiring us to offer support, forgiveness, and compassion even when it is difficult. By actively practicing lovingkindness, we foster an environment where trust and empathy flourish, healing divisions and strengthening bonds among neighbors, friends, and family.
In a practical sense, chesed calls us to respond to need, comfort those who are hurting, and uplift those who feel isolated. Whether through small gestures—like listening patiently or helping someone in distress—or larger acts of service, each moment of chesed has ripple effects that contribute to a more just and harmonious society. As we make chesed a cornerstone of our daily routine, we become agents of positive change, embodying the values that sustain and enrich our communities.
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