One of the most profound words in the Old Testament is chesed (חֶסֶד). This Hebrew word is often translated as "lovingkindness," "mercy," "steadfast love," or "faithful love," but none of these fully capture its depth.
Chesed describes God's covenant love - a love that is loyal, steadfast, and full of grace. The word chesed appears frequently in the Psalms, where it describes God's faithful love toward His people:
"Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His chesed endures forever." (Psalm 136:1)
Unlike human love, which can waver based on circumstances, chesed is rooted in God's unchanging character. It is a love that remains steadfast even when His people are unfaithful. In Exodus 34:6, when God reveals His name to Moses, He describes Himself as:
"The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in chesed and truth."
This means that chesed is not just about kindness; it is a loyal love that keeps its promises, even when the other party fails. This is beautifully demonstrated in Ruth 3:10, where Boaz praises Ruth for showing chesed to Naomi by staying by her side instead of seeking an easier path.
In the New Testament, chesed finds its ultimate fulfillment in Messiah Yeshua, whose sacrificial love embodies the steadfast, covenantal love of God. Understanding chesed helps us grasp the depth of God's love - not just a feeling, but an unbreakable commitment to His people.
Next time you read about God's mercy or steadfast love in Scripture, remember - it's His chesed, His faithful, never-failing, covenant love that will never let you go.
As we come to the end of Winter and Spring in Israel, we understand very well that Israel has been in a severe drought over this last 6 months. Israel lives and exists in God’s agricultural cycle, and the agricultural cycle coincides, and runs in tandem with the annual Moedim (God’s Feast days).
This winter has been a record drought not seen before. We thought we were finished with the rains, as little as there was over this dry winter, but on Wednesday evening God opened the heavens and
When we hear the word "peace," we often think of the absence of conflict or a sense of calm. However, the Hebrew word shalom (???????) carries a much deeper and richer meaning. It is one of the most well-known Hebrew words in the Bible, yet its full significance is often lost in translation.
Tomorrow night (Saturday) Jewish families, both secular and religious, in Israel and in the nations, will gather around their tables for the traditional Passover meal, the first feast of the biblical year. A growing number of believers will also join in retelling the Exodus story of deliverance from bondage and slavery into freedom.
Out of Zion Ministries is here to fulfill the calling on the Jewish people to be light and a blessing to the Body of Messiah in the nations. We do our best to keep you updated from our strategic location near the top of Mt.Carmel. If you have a question or a prayer request or if we can bless you in any other way, please do not hesitate to contact us.
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We encourage you to consider how to utilize the 'fruits' of your life to partner in Israel’s restoration. If cannot become involved personally, you can still be obedient to this call and partner with Out of Zion in supporting our mission to proclaim God's word to the Jewish people and to the nations.
