2. GUILTY OF UNKINDNESS – not loving mercy
In the older English versions it is
referred to as “Loving-kindness
Usage Notes: "loving-kindness; steadfast
love; grace; mercy; faithfulness; goodness; devotion." This word is used 240
times in the Old Testament, and is especially frequent in the Psalter. The
term is one of the most important in the vocabulary of Old Testament theology
and ethics. The Septuagint nearly
always renders ḥesed
with eleos ("mercy"), and that usage
is reflected in the New Testament. Modern translations, in contrast, generally
prefer renditions close to the word "grace." kjv usually has "mercy," although
"loving-kindness" (following Coverdale), "favor," and other
translations also occur. rsv
generally prefers "steadfast love." niv
often offers simply "love."
Three basic meanings of the word,
which always interact: "strength," "steadfastness," and
"love." Any understanding of the word that fails to suggest all three
inevitably loses some of its richness. "Love" by itself easily
becomes sentimentalized or universalized apart from the covenant. Yet
"strength" or "steadfastness" suggests only the fulfillment
of a legal or other obligation.
The word refers primarily to mutual
and reciprocal rights and obligations between the parties of a relationship
(especially Yahweh and Israel). But it is also refers to generosity. It is not
only a matter of loyalty, but also of mercy. The weaker party seeks the
protection and blessing of the patron and protector, but he may not lay
absolute claim to it. The stronger party remains committed to his promise, but
retains his freedom, especially with regard to the manner in which he will
implement those promises.
.The rsv
attempts to bring this out by its translation, "steadfast love."
Hebrew writers often underscored the element of steadfastness (or strength) by
pairing ḥesed with ʾemet ("truth, reliability")
and ʾemûnâ ("faithfulness").
Biblical usage frequently speaks of
someone "doing," "showing," or "keeping" ḥesed. God's "mercies,"
"kindnesses," or "faithfulnesses" are His specific,
concrete acts of redemption in fulfillment of His promise.
Ḥesed has both God and man as its
subject. When man is the subject of ḥesed, the word usually describes the
person's kindness or loyalty to another.
Man exercises ḥesed
toward various units within the community, toward family and relatives, but
also to friends, guests, masters, and servants. Ḥesed toward the lowly and needy is often
specified. The Bible prominently uses the term ḥesed to summarize and characterize a
life of sanctification within, and in response to, the covenant. Thus, Hos. 6:6 states that God desires "mercy
[rsv, "steadfast love"]
and not sacrifice" (i.e., faithful living in addition to worship).
Similarly, Mic. 6:8 features ḥesed in the prophets' summary of
biblical ethics: "… and what doth the Lord require of thee, but… to love
mercy…?"
It is one of His most central
characteristics. God's loving-kindness is offered to His people, who need
redemption from sin, enemies, and troubles. A recurrent refrain describing
God's nature is "abounding in ḥesed" (Exod. 34:6; Neh. 9:17; Psa. 103:8; Jonah 4:2). The entire history of Yahweh's
covenantal relationship with Israel can be summarized in terms of ḥesed. Even the Creation is the result of
God's ḥesed (Psa. 136:5-9). His love lasts for a
"thousand generations" (Deut. 7:9; cf. Deut. 5:10 and Exod. 20:6), indeed "forever"
(especially in the refrains of certain psalms, such as Psa. 136).
—Vine's Expository Dictionary of Old
and New Testament Words
How they showed this -
Micah 3 : 9 – 11 Hear this, you heads of the house of Jacob and rulers of the house of Israel, who detest justice and make crooked all that is straight, 10 who build Zion with blood and Jerusalem with iniquity. 11 Its heads give judgment for a bribe; its priests teach for a price; its prophets practice divination for money; yet they lean on the Lord and say, "Is not the Lord in the midst of us? No disaster shall come upon us."
MESSAGE puts it like this : “The leaders of Jacob and the leaders of Israel are Leaders contemptuous of justice, who twist and distort right living, 10 Leaders who build Zion by killing people, who expand Jerusalem by committing crimes. 11 Judges sell verdicts to the highest bidder, priests mass-market their teaching, prophets preach for high fees, All the while posturing and pretending dependence on God: "We've got God on our side. He'll protect us from disaster."
How WE show this today – ways in which we withhold kindness and do NOT show mercy and kindness.
When man is the subject of ḥesed, the word usually describes the person's kindness or loyalty to another. Man exercises ḥesed toward various units within the community, toward family and relatives, but also to friends, guests, masters, and servants.
Ḥesed toward the lowly and needy is often
specified.
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