“O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: for his mercy endureth forever” (Ps. 136:1).
What I’m about to share with you, more than any single revelation, has changed my life. It has changed the way I read the New Testament. It has settled every question I have ever had—or could have—about prosperity, healing and every other blessing of God.
The revelation I’m referring to is as big as eternity, yet it can be summed up in one small, Hebrew word—hesed. That word may mean nothing to you right now, but once you gain insight into it, your spirit will take off like a bird out of a cage.
What truth could be that powerful? Read it for yourself: “For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings. But they like men have transgressed the covenant” (Hosea 6:6-7).
The word mercy in that verse is actually the Hebrew word hesed (spelled chesed, pronounced kheh’-sed). It is translated in the Old Testament as “mercy, kindness, tender mercies, lovingkindness and fidelity.” Its counterpart in the Greek language is agape. Although agape was in the Greek language in Jesus’ day, until He used it, most people didn’t know what it meant. It was not heard on the streets.
To be quite honest, people still don’t know what it means. You talk to most of them about unconditional love or real mercy, and they just bat their eyes at you like a frog in a hailstorm. Yet, without that understanding, we can’t even begin to grasp the nature of our relationship with God.
If you doubt it, take some time and read all of Psalm 136. Hesed is mentioned in all of the 26 verses. Obviously the psalmist was driving home a point. He was telling us that the compelling force behind all of God’s actions was hesed. More than just a quality He possesses, hesed is God’s very nature. The New Testament puts it this way: “God is agape” (1 John 4:16).
In the natural realm, hesed can be compared to that tender yet fiercely protective love a mother has when she holds her baby in her arms and her heart goes out to it. It’s the love that causes her to say, “I’ll nurse you, little one. I’ll care for you. I’ll teach you all that I know. I’ll see to it that no one harms you.”
That is a picture of hesed. It’s a picture of God Almighty saying to you, “I’ll never leave you nor forsake you.”
No matter how you feel today, you are loved. Your feelings may tell you otherwise, but your Heavenly Father has loved you with His hesed from the beginning of your life. He loves you unconditionally, just the way you are, every day of your life. He never changes…He never leaves nor forsakes you. Receive His embrace today. Receive His love.
Speak the Word: I give thanks to the Lord for He is good. His love and mercy endure forever. (Ps. 136:1)
For Further Study: Psalm 136
Daily Scripture Reading: Leviticus 4-5; Luke 7
Eagle Mountain International Church, Inc.
aka: Kenneth Copeland Ministries
For the last 50 years Kenneth and Gloria Copeland have been passionately teaching Christians all over the world how to apply the principles of faith found in God's WORD to their lives.
They have seven ministry offices around the world: United States, Canada, Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, Ukraine and Latin America. Their God-given directive is to preach and teach the uncompromised WORD of God on every available voice, which is being accomplished through a variety of channels, including our Believer's Voice of Victory TV and radio broadcasts, podcast and magazine; Believers' Conventions, Victory Campaigns and Living Victory meetings; published books, website, and social media channels, to name a few.
With the expansion of technology, they have more work to do now than ever. They are determined to let the world know Jesus is LORD, and they are not slowing down anytime soon!