{RE:} Reflecting Steadfast Love

God loves you. But you probably already know that, right? Or at least you've heard it (and probably sung it) a hundred times! But sometimes the most familiar truths are hard to really grasp. Let's pause to reflect on God's character this morning.


Read: Exodus 34: 2-6

The Lord said to Moses, "Be ready in the morning, and come up in the morning to Mount Sinai and present yourself there to me, on the top of the mountain. No one shall come up with you, and do not let anyone be seen throughout all the mountain; and do not let flocks or herds graze in front of that mountain.”

So Moses cut two tablets of stone like the former ones; and he rose early in the morning and went up on Mount Sinai, as the Lord had commanded him, and took in his hand the two tablets of stone.

The Lord descended in the cloud and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name, “The Lord.”
The Lord passed before him, and proclaimed,
“The Lord, the Lord,
a God merciful and gracious,
slow to anger,
and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness,
keeping steadfast love for the thousandth generation"



Reflect:

Sometimes the English language is so frustrating, especially when it comes to translating certain Biblical words. In this passage, God is revealing his character to Moses and the phrase he speaks become the most frequently used description of God throughout Scripture.

God describes himself as loving and faithful to a thousand generations. The phrase - "steadfast love" - is the word chesed (that CH makes the throaty Hebrew sound, less like "cheese" and more like "HESSead").

Chesed is one of those words that doesn't really have a suitable English counterpart. It is a love that is based in relationship, but it is not dependent on any external circumstances like behavior. Chesed is a love that is loyal, generous, patient, and gracious. Sometimes the word is translated "steadfast love," sometimes "kindness," or "merciful."

• What comes to mind when you think about this word? 
• Why does it matter that this is how God chooses to describe his own character in the Old Testament?

Later in Numbers, the Israelites turn away from God, disobey, and worship other gods. (This happens a lot, yes.)  In this instance, God is fed up with the people and tells Moses that he is going to "dispossess them" and make a new nation from Moses. In return, Moses appeals to God's character by reminding him of his words and then saying " Pardon the iniquity of this people according to the greatness of your (Chesed) steadfast love..." (Numbers 14)

Moses does not ask God to spare the people of Israel because of anything they have done or can do. Instead, Moses reminds God of who he is. He is essentially telling God, "If you disown these people you will be a liar."

And it works! God relents, though that generation does not see the Promised Land. God's love for his people and creation is not based on anything they can do for him. God loves because that is his character.

• Are you ever tempted to believe that you can (or need to) behave your way into God's love?
• Allow yourself to be overwhelmed with the reality that you are loved by God - just you. Not what you can do or have done. God loves you because God is love. 
• Sit with this reality for a while. Give thanks to God for his steadfast, loyal, redeeming love. Don't let this phrase be commonplace this morning.

We are also called to chesed love, and not only in our relationship with God. When God tells the people to "love mercy" in Micah he is telling them to love "chesed." And in the New Testament, that same word is translated as both "mercy" and "kindness". When Jesus tells the man to "show mercy" like the Good Samaritan, he is telling them to show "chesed."

• Have you ever experienced a chesed love in a human relationship? What does that look like?
• What does it look like to have this kind of love for all people - neighbors. How can you so deeply love people you've never met?

Jesus shows us what it looks like to embody and enact this faithful, loyal love. Consider the way the Jesus continues to care for the people around him even as he is crucified - asking God for his executors to be forgiven, promising paradise to the thief next to him, washing the feet of his denier and betrayer. This Holy week is full of snapshots of chesed love.

Whatever is going on in life, God's chesed - his very character - will not abandon you. I believe this is why Paul is so confident that nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ. (Romans 8:28-30)
Let's take time this week to let this word and all it stands for overwhelm us and move us toward one another!


Respond:
Let Psalm 136 be your prayer of reflection!

O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good,
for his steadfast love endures forever.
Give thanks to the God of gods,
for his steadfast love endures forever.
give thanks to the Lord of lords,
for his steadfast love endures forever;

who alone does great wonders,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
who by understanding made the heavens,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
who spread out the earth on the waters,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
who made the great lights,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
the sun to rule over the day,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
the moon and stars to rule over the night,
for his steadfast love endures forever;

who struck Egypt through their firstborn,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
and brought Israel out from among them,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
with a strong hand and an outstretched arm,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
who divided the Red Sea in two,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
and made Israel pass through the midst of it,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
but overthrew Pharaoh and his army in the Red Sea,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
who led his people through the wilderness,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
who struck down great kings,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
and killed famous kings,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
Sihon, king of the Amorites,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
and Og, king of Bashan,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
and gave their land as a heritage,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
a heritage to his servant Israel,
for his steadfast love endures forever.

It is he who remembered us in our low estate,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
and rescued us from our foes,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
who gives food to all flesh,
for his steadfast love endures forever.

O give thanks to the God of heaven,
for his steadfast love endures forever.