Promise in the Prophets 179: Lovingkindnesses

179. Lovingkindnesses

Isaiah 63:7 I will mention the lovingkindnesses of the Lord, and the praises of the Lord, according to all that the Lord hath bestowed on us, and great goodness toward the house of Israel, which he hath bestowed on them according to his mercies, and according to the multitude of his lovingkindnesses.

God is Love; God is good; God is kind; God is merciful; God is gracious; God is forgiving; God is benevolent; and God is many more adjectives. All these descriptors describe the character of God. Because God is these things in His character and nature, then this is way He acts and does things. 

Lovingkindness” is the King James English word for translating the important Hebrew word “Chesed.” “Faithful love” may be the best way of translating this elusive word. “Chesed” means that God will be faithful to His covenant promises, He will keep His promises, and He will certainly do what He says according to the integrity and character of God’s very nature. God acts according to this essential character. He will be faithful to His love. The very nature of God is to be loving and kind, merciful and gracious. God will always be loving and kind.

When God revealed His name and glory to Moses He said: “Yahweh, Yahweh, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in “steadfast love” and faithfulness, keeping “chesed” for thousands. [Exodus 34:6}” The “chesed” of God was revealed to us in all His glory at the Cross and at the Empty Tomb. When we believe in Jesus Christ we know the love of God for us is absolutely faithful and sure. We have absolutely no doubt He will keep His promises to us.

The promise in this verse is contained in the plural use of this word, “lovingkindnesses.” Since God is “lovingkind (chesed)” He reveals His lovingkindness to us in Christ. The plural form of this word reveals that there are many individual acts of lovingkindness toward us. These manifold acts and fulfillments of promises are concrete and specific throughout our life. The Lord, out of love and mercy, does so many good things for us and gives so many blessings to us we could not even count them, but it is worthwhile to try to do so. Thank God!

How do we know the multitude of His lovingkindnesses? We look to Jesus and we believe the love and grace poured out for us. We hear the Gospel and we know. How many lovingkindnesses are there? That’s what we are trying to find out by studying this present series of Promises of God. Take hold of them be believIng a loving God.