Then the LORD passed by in front of [Moses] and proclaimed, “The LORD, the LORD God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and truth; who keeps lovingkindness for thousands, who forgives iniquity, transgression and sin; yet He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished, visiting the iniquity of fathers on the children and on the grandchildren to the third and fourth generations.” (Exodus 34:6–7)

Lovingkindness carries great significance. Some have suggested it is the OT equivalent of the NT word “agape.” But this comes short. The Hebrew term is “hesed,” and along with “truth” is translated variously as lovingkindness and truth (NAS), love and faithfulness (NIV), steadfast love and faithfulness (ESV), loyal love and faithfulness (NET), unfailing love and faithfulness (NLT) or goodness and truth (NKJV).

The sense of the word combination lends itself to that affection and action of God toward those with whom He has entered into a covenant. In that sense, the emphasis is on His faithful loyalty. The first time the word occurs in Scripture, we find it in the mouth of Abraham’s servant, when he was looking for a wife for Isaac: “O LORD, the God of my master Abraham, please grant me success today, and show lovingkindness [hesed] to my master Abraham” (Gen 24:12). The servant was recalling in his request to God to act toward Abraham with love because of the promise God had made to the patriarch of a line of blessing through Isaac. If the blessing through Abraham’s seed was to continue on, then his only legitimate son must have children, and therefore would need a wife. So the use of “hesed” was significant; God’s love toward Abraham was based on His covenant with the patriarch.

The Lord “extended [hesed]” to Joseph (Gen 39:21), for the divine plan to preserve the descendants of Abraham was to raise up Jacob’s second-youngest son to rescue the whole family from famine and death; thus the promise to Abraham would continue on to fulfillment.

Yet it may be that God’s love is rooted in His character and that His covenant relationship with people is an expression of His “hesed.” Because He loves, He uses a covenant to formalize the commitment. We see through the OT God showing Himself as One who loves and is loyal to those He loves and will steadfastly keep His commitment to them, as expressed in the covenants.

Our belief in a God of “hesed” strengthens us to resist the normal human responses to suffering of bitterness, complaint, anger. His goodness (to use the NKJV translation) anchors in eternity. For NT Christians, that love finds its expression in God’s ultimate act of love, the death of Jesus Christ for us.

Lord, no matter how difficult my life, Your “hesed” is working for my good.