Understanding God's Hesed: The Power of Covenant Love

 

Summary

Psalm 25 serves as a profound entry point into understanding the concept of "Hesed," a Hebrew term that encapsulates the essence of God's covenantal love and loyalty. This sermon delves into the transformative power of comprehending Hesed, which is often inadequately translated as mercy, grace, or loving-kindness. The richness of Hesed goes beyond these terms, embodying a covenant loyalty that obligates God to act on behalf of His people, not based on their merit, but on His unwavering commitment to His covenant.

The sermon draws a parallel between modern contracts and biblical covenants, emphasizing that the kingdom of God operates on a covenantal basis rather than a religious one. This covenant, signed in the blood of Jesus, is not just a promise of eternal life but a comprehensive contract that includes spiritual, emotional, and physical well-being. Understanding the fine print of this covenant is crucial, as it reveals the full inheritance available to believers through Christ.

The sermon also highlights the importance of recognizing the difference between merely knowing about Jesus and truly understanding who He is. This understanding transforms the way believers pray and live, as they realize that God's Hesed is not contingent on their actions but is a guaranteed aspect of His character. The story of Bartimaeus in Mark 10 illustrates this point vividly. When Bartimaeus calls out to Jesus, invoking His Hesed, Jesus stops and responds, demonstrating that a revelation of God's covenantal love compels divine action.

In essence, the sermon encourages believers to expand their spiritual horizons by deepening their understanding of God's covenant and His Hesed. This understanding is not just about avoiding hell but about living a life fully enriched by the promises of God, made accessible through the new covenant in Christ.

Key Takeaways:

1. Understanding Hesed: Hesed is a profound Hebrew concept that goes beyond mercy or grace. It represents God's covenant loyalty, obligating Him to act on behalf of His people based on His covenant, not their merit. This understanding transforms our relationship with God, as we realize His actions are rooted in His character and covenant, not our performance. [21:07]

2. Covenant vs. Contract: The kingdom of God operates on a covenantal basis, akin to a contract, where God has obligated Himself to fulfill His promises. This covenant, signed in the blood of Jesus, offers a comprehensive inheritance that includes spiritual, emotional, and physical well-being. Understanding this covenant is crucial for experiencing the fullness of God's promises. [10:13]

3. The Power of Revelation: Knowing who Jesus is, rather than just what He can do, is key to experiencing the fullness of God's covenant. This revelation transforms our prayers and lives, as we invoke God's Hesed, compelling divine action. The story of Bartimaeus illustrates how recognizing Jesus as the Messiah and invoking His Hesed leads to holistic healing and transformation. [58:47]

4. Expanding Spiritual Horizons: The sermon challenges believers to expand their spiritual horizons by deepening their understanding of God's covenant and His Hesed. This involves moving beyond a limited view of salvation as merely avoiding hell, to embracing a life enriched by the promises of God, accessible through the new covenant in Christ. [12:15]

5. Living in the New Covenant: The new covenant, based on better promises, offers believers access to a life of abundance and fulfillment. Understanding the fine print of this covenant and God's Hesed allows believers to live with confidence, knowing that God's actions are guaranteed by His character and covenant, not their merit. [45:39]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [02:27] - Contracts and Covenants
- [04:38] - Kingdom vs. Religion
- [06:41] - The Two Kingdoms
- [10:13] - The Fine Print of God's Covenant
- [12:15] - New Horizons and Perception
- [14:44] - The Misunderstanding of Salvation
- [18:19] - The Richness of Hebrew Language
- [21:07] - Understanding Hesed
- [23:00] - God's Obligation Through Hesed
- [27:43] - Blood Covenant and Obligatory Action
- [33:06] - Loyalty and Covenant Relationships
- [34:36] - Hesed in Scripture
- [36:16] - God's Loyalty and Our Response
- [45:39] - Invoking the Covenant
- [50:10] - The Power of Chesed in Prayer
- [58:47] - Bartimaeus and the Revelation of Hesed
- [01:05:42] - Living in the New Covenant

Study Guide

Bible Reading:

1. Psalm 25:10 - "All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth, to such as keep His covenant and His testimonies."
2. Mark 10:46-52 - The story of Bartimaeus calling out to Jesus for mercy.
3. Deuteronomy 7:9 - "Therefore know that the Lord your God, He is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments."

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Observation Questions:

1. What does the term "Hesed" mean in the context of Psalm 25, and how is it different from the English translations like mercy or grace? [21:07]

2. How does the story of Bartimaeus in Mark 10 illustrate the concept of invoking God's Hesed? What was Bartimaeus' understanding of Jesus that led to his healing? [58:47]

3. In Deuteronomy 7:9, what is the relationship between God's covenant and His Hesed? How does this verse emphasize God's faithfulness? [36:16]

4. How does the sermon describe the difference between a contract and a covenant, and why is this distinction important for understanding God's promises? [10:13]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does understanding God's Hesed change a believer's perspective on their relationship with God and their prayer life? [23:00]

2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that modern believers might misunderstand the concept of salvation, and how does a deeper understanding of Hesed address this misunderstanding? [12:15]

3. How does the concept of covenant loyalty, as described in the sermon, challenge or affirm your understanding of God's commitment to His people? [33:06]

4. What does the sermon suggest about the role of revelation in experiencing the fullness of God's covenant, and how does this relate to the story of Bartimaeus? [58:47]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on your current understanding of God's Hesed. How might this understanding influence the way you approach prayer and your relationship with God this week? [23:00]

2. The sermon emphasizes the importance of knowing who Jesus is, rather than just what He can do. How can you deepen your understanding of Jesus' identity in your daily life? [58:47]

3. Consider the idea of covenant loyalty. Are there areas in your life where you struggle to trust in God's unwavering commitment to you? How can you address these doubts? [33:06]

4. The sermon challenges believers to expand their spiritual horizons. What practical steps can you take to deepen your understanding of God's covenant and promises? [12:15]

5. How can the story of Bartimaeus inspire you to call upon God's Hesed in your own life situations? What specific area of your life needs God's covenantal love and loyalty right now? [58:47]

6. Reflect on the distinction between a contract and a covenant as discussed in the sermon. How does this understanding affect your view of God's promises and your response to them? [10:13]

7. The sermon suggests that God's Hesed is not based on our merit. How can this truth free you from performance-based spirituality and lead you to a more authentic relationship with God? [23:00]

Devotional

I'm ready to provide the 5-day devotional based on the steps outlined. Here it is:

Day 1: Understanding God's Covenant Loyalty
God's Hesed, a profound Hebrew concept, transcends simple translations like mercy or grace. It embodies God's covenant loyalty, obligating Him to act on behalf of His people based on His covenant, not their merit. This understanding transforms our relationship with God, as we realize His actions are rooted in His character and covenant, not our performance. By grasping the depth of Hesed, believers can approach God with confidence, knowing that His love and loyalty are unwavering and not dependent on human actions. This realization invites a deeper trust in God's promises and a more intimate relationship with Him. [21:07]

Psalm 89:33-34 (ESV): "But I will not remove from him my steadfast love or be false to my faithfulness. I will not violate my covenant or alter the word that went forth from my lips."

Reflection: In what areas of your life do you struggle to trust in God's unwavering loyalty? How can you remind yourself of His covenant promises today?


Day 2: The Kingdom's Covenant Foundation
The kingdom of God operates on a covenantal basis, akin to a contract, where God has obligated Himself to fulfill His promises. This covenant, signed in the blood of Jesus, offers a comprehensive inheritance that includes spiritual, emotional, and physical well-being. Understanding this covenant is crucial for experiencing the fullness of God's promises. It shifts the believer's perspective from a transactional relationship with God to one rooted in His unchanging commitment. This covenantal understanding encourages believers to explore the full extent of their inheritance in Christ, leading to a life enriched by His promises. [10:13]

Hebrews 8:6 (ESV): "But as it is, Christ has obtained a ministry that is as much more excellent than the old as the covenant he mediates is better, since it is enacted on better promises."

Reflection: How does understanding God's covenant change the way you view your relationship with Him? What steps can you take to explore the fullness of your inheritance in Christ today?


Day 3: Revelation of Jesus' True Identity
Knowing who Jesus is, rather than just what He can do, is key to experiencing the fullness of God's covenant. This revelation transforms our prayers and lives, as we invoke God's Hesed, compelling divine action. The story of Bartimaeus illustrates how recognizing Jesus as the Messiah and invoking His Hesed leads to holistic healing and transformation. This understanding encourages believers to seek a deeper revelation of Jesus' identity, which in turn enriches their spiritual journey and empowers their prayers. [58:47]

Mark 10:51-52 (ESV): "And Jesus said to him, 'What do you want me to do for you?' And the blind man said to him, 'Rabbi, let me recover my sight.' And Jesus said to him, 'Go your way; your faith has made you well.' And immediately he recovered his sight and followed him on the way."

Reflection: How can you deepen your understanding of who Jesus is beyond what He can do for you? What specific steps can you take to seek a revelation of His true identity today?


Day 4: Expanding Spiritual Horizons
The sermon challenges believers to expand their spiritual horizons by deepening their understanding of God's covenant and His Hesed. This involves moving beyond a limited view of salvation as merely avoiding hell, to embracing a life enriched by the promises of God, accessible through the new covenant in Christ. By broadening their spiritual perspective, believers can experience a more abundant and fulfilling life, rooted in the richness of God's promises and His covenantal love. [12:15]

Ephesians 1:18-19 (ESV): "Having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might."

Reflection: What areas of your spiritual life feel limited or stagnant? How can you actively seek to expand your understanding of God's promises and His covenant today?


Day 5: Living in the New Covenant
The new covenant, based on better promises, offers believers access to a life of abundance and fulfillment. Understanding the fine print of this covenant and God's Hesed allows believers to live with confidence, knowing that God's actions are guaranteed by His character and covenant, not their merit. This assurance empowers believers to embrace a life of purpose and joy, fully trusting in the promises of the new covenant and the steadfast love of God. [45:39]

Jeremiah 31:33-34 (ESV): "For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people. And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the Lord. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more."

Reflection: How does the assurance of God's covenant promises impact your daily life? What practical steps can you take to live more fully in the abundance of the new covenant today?

Quotes

The word hesed is not just mercy. When you have hesed for somebody, you will be merciful to them because you are hesed towards them. Now, I'm going to use this word like it's English today until you catch the revelation of it. It's also not simply grace. Some people will say, well, mercy is grace. Yes, you have grace for people or you favor people for whom you have hesed for, but it's not encapsulated completely in the definition of grace. But it's a better definition than mercy. [20:16]

It's the prerequisite to many of the words. There is actually no word in English that can properly convey the mindset or the idea of chesed in Hebrew. That's why many translations pick a word because you can't have every time the word chesed is in the Bible, which is hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of times, maybe even almost a thousand times, you can't have two, three, four, five, six paragraphs, an entire chapter for one word, so they pick one. [21:07]

When you understand chesed, you understand that what Jesus did on the cross is not only legally yours. Are you ready for this? God has obligated himself to provide these things for your life. No one can obligate himself. No one can obligate God except himself, and he said, I want to show you the power of covenant or contract. I'm going to obligate myself through chesed that when I sign this covenant with you in blood, then I have to. [21:53]

That's idolatry because you don't want Him, you want what He can do for you. But once you understand chesed, you know that God's obligated to give that to you and it's not based on your merit system. And so you don't have to have fake relationship with God. You can spend time with Him. When you understand chesed, you're going to want to spend time with God. Some of you will probably shed tears this morning when you catch the revelation because you'll recognize how good our God really is. [23:44]

Hesed is an obligatory action because of a covenant relationship. It's an obligatory action that comes as the result of a covenant relationship so because there's a contractual covenant relationship then I'm obligated to do certain things or to treat you a certain way and if you begin to study the old covenant and ancient times contracts or covenants were made through blood the shedding of blood in Exodus 21 it even talks about whenever someone decides to become a bond servant of somebody. [27:43]

The obligations and rights acquired through a covenant are translated into corresponding actions through hesed. Now, here's the final definition that really wraps it all up. It can be defined simply as two words, covenant loyalty. Covenant loyalty. Loyalty is interesting because, like we always say, man's best friend, dogs are loyal. They're the most loyal animals, right? Cat lovers, sorry, there's no loyalty in a cat, right? Dogs are loyal, man. [32:05]

Psalm 25 10 says, all the paths of the Lord are mercy. You see that word mercy? That's the word hesed. So I'm going to start saying hesed instead of how it's translated in English. Because when I say mercy, most of us in modern Western society immediately think of not getting something you deserve, right? Like if I have mercy on you, that means I'm not going to do something to you that I could have done. That is the worst definition possible. [34:53]

Once you understand that, you will begin to understand his character. And at that point, you will fall in love with him. At that point, you'll never be bored another day in your life reading the word. At that point, you'll never be empty, spiritually speaking. Joy becomes unspeakable, and it becomes past your circumstance when you understand God's loyalty to you. Because loyalty and the fear of a lack thereof stops us in our relationships. We don't realize we do that with God too. [35:52]

Through the Lord's chesed, we're not consumed. That means the consuming of the enemy is halted through chesed. So once you understand God's chesed for you, then the destruction of the enemy is stalled and it has stayed in your life. The enemy can't touch you when you have a revelation of his chesed. Let's keep going. Because his compassions fail not. Verse 23. Thank you, Chris. That's chesed right there. I felt it. All right. They are new every morning. [37:47]

The truth sets us free. But if you just think it's the truth that sets us free, then everybody on earth that has a Bible will be free completely. But it's the truth that we know will set us free. And so, I'm going to preach this for many years, and when God showed me that scripture, I said, you know, it's the truth that sets us free. It's the truth that of course, we know that it sets us free. But if you just think it's the truth that sets us free, it's the truth that sets us free. [43:32]

And so as we have faith in your hesed, then God, he's obligated. He says, I've obligated myself to respond and act in accordance with the covenant. the contract. So it wasn't them singing the latest CeCe Winans song. By the way, if you don't have That's My King by CeCe Winans, get it. I listen to it every day, 30 times a day. It'll change your life once you get the revelation of it. And it sounds good too. But anyways, side note there, just free. [44:58]

He wasn't looking at just what Jesus could do. He said, you're the son of David. And Jesus said, what? And then when he said hesed, Jesus said, I got to stop. He stopped, verse 49, and said, call this man. So they called to the blind man, cheer up on your feet. He's calling out of all the people. For some reason, no one could see it. He's calling you. And verse 50, throwing his cloak. [58:47]

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Transcript
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