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One of the deepest pains we experience in this life is that of betrayal. In a breach of trust, we are hurt by the unfaithfulness of another. Sometimes we even see it in ourselves. The truth is, we've all proven to be unfaithful to God. Yet, the precious truth remains that God is immovably faithful to Himself and to us, His people.
God's faithfulness is expressed by the Hebrew word "hesed", an all encompassing quality that may be translated as lovingkindness, steadfast love, mercy, or faithfulness. This is an identity marker God reveals to Moses in Exodus 34:6, which becomes a vital creed of who God is that Scripture repeats over and over again. The word "hesed" appears in the Psalms over 150 times and in every verse of Ps. 136 alone! It is the subject of praise (89:1), dependence (109:26), confession (Ps. 51:1), comfort (36:7), identity (30:4), forgiveness (86:5), and more. God's lovingkindness is what His people cling to as the very foundation of His promises. So, it's no surprise that it fills their lips in song.
And how is this lovingkindness shown most vividly? On the cross, when God Himself in Jesus Christ went to the uttermost length to prove His faithfulness to us: "the greatest gift there ever was of lovingkindness." May God's lovingkindness be an abundant subject of our worship.
-Jonathan
Lovingkindness
Written by Matt Papa, Matt Boswell, & Matt Redman
Lyrics:
Let praises now awake the dawn
We’ll greet Your mercy with a song
Your people stand and sing for all
Your lovingkindness
You’ve carried us in faithfulness
Upon the paths of righteousness
Our gracious King You’ve crowned us with
Your lovingkindness
How great is Your lovingkindness
O God of goodness
Our joy forever to sing the glad refrain
Of grace that saved us
Of sweet forgiveness
O how great is Your lovingkindness
You lift us with a Father’s hand
You shelter us with Your commands
What heart could fully comprehend
Your mercies endless
You lead us through the shadows deep
Where doubts trace every step it seems
But as the darkness breaks we’ll see
The morning promise
A life laid down to rescue us
With arms outstretched upon the cross
The greatest gift there ever was
Of lovingkindness
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