Psalm 23: Now...and Forever...

My cup overflows. 

Surely goodness and lovingkindness 

   will follow me all the days of my life, 

And I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever. 

—Psalm 23:5-6

The shepherd David viewed himself as a sheep in the care of the Great Shepherd. After considering all the care, provision, and protection of the Great Shepherd he could draw only one conclusion: My cup overflows.

While the word “cup” is often used in scripture to indicate trials, it is used here to describe bountiful blessings given by God. His cup was not merely filled with enough, his cup was not merely full to the brim, his cup overflowed, being unable to contain all the blessings being poured out by the Great Shepherd. Such was the condition of this sheep...for now.

The final verse in this beautiful psalm completes the picture by looking forward, even to eternity.

The word ‘follow’ more often describes the action of ‘falling in behind someone in order to go where they lead.’ Sheep follow their shepherd. However, in this verse it is not the sheep that is following. The sheep is being followed, or more accurately according to the Hebrew, it is being pursued.

Generally, this term was used in the Psalms to describe the enemies of David as they pursued him. If you were to tell a shepherd that something or someone was in pursuit of his sheep, he would automatically think of the natural enemies of sheep: wolves, mountain lions, etc.

The greater danger was that the pursuit was continual. The enemy of the sheep would not give up until its hunger was satisfied.

An amazing contrast is seen in the life of the sheep in the flock of the Great Shepherd. The Psalmist describes a pursuit, but not by an enemy. Instead, the sheep of the Great Shepherd are chased by goodness and lovingkindness. These two are in hot pursuit and will not give up until their hunger is satisfied. The scene in our minds is almost comical as we picture the embodiment of goodness in hot pursuit continually overflowing the cup of the sheep.

Lovingkindness describes the love of God that motivated Him to make covenant promises to Abraham. At the same time it is the guarantee that He will never break His promises. It is a steadfast love on which the sheep knows it can rely. And this love is in pursuit of the sheep!

As if that is not enough, the final statement conveys a scene that transcends anything our minds can comprehend. Words like infinite, endless, eternal, everlasting, and forever are easily used, yet we cannot possibly understand beyond a trite acceptance of dictionary definitions. How can we truly understand endlessness!?

We can begin counting until we exhaust our language of words to name the next number. Yet the next number exists even if we cannot name it; it is one value beyond the last and there is always another. Eventually, we must simply turn our attention elsewhere because the finality of endlessness does not exist. Perhaps as we consider this thought we would do well to leave off the period at the end of the psalm.

It is within this framework of endlessness that David describes his life in the presence of God. He will not live in a physical structure such as the earthly tabernacle or temple where God’s presence was seen on earth. Rather, he will go to have permanent residence in the true house of God…without end...eternal rest...eyes open...

  And I will dwell in the house of the Lord...

 

 

Mark Stinnett

December 1, 2024

"I AM": Lovingkindness

     Be gracious to me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness....
     --Psalm 51:1

What is lovingkindness?
It sounds sweet, but what does it really mean?

You can separate the compound word into two words, loving + kindness, and get an idea. However, the full meaning is masked by translation and ancient usage. The English language really does not have a good word to translate the full meaning of the simple Hebrew term: chesed. (Sounds like KEH-sed.)

Different translations of the Bible use terms such as kindness, lovingkindness, mercy, steadfast love, enduring love, and others to express the meaning of chesed.

Many writers have described chesed as 'covenant love.' It is true that chesed often appears in the context of a covenant. However, one Hebrew scholar has accurately observed that chesed is not tied to the covenant, rather, the covenant is tied to chesed.

The picture painted by the term chesed is that of a deep love that would motivate someone to make a covenant promise to another. Once the promise is made, the covenant promise acts as a reminder of the original love. More specifically, God's lovingkindness [chesed] moved him to make a covenant promise with man, and it also described his loyalty to that covenant promise. He will never forget a covenant promise that He has made. He will not leave it unfulfilled.

After King David had committed adultery with Bathsheba and had her husband killed to cover up his sin, he was confronted by the prophet Nathan. David confessed his sin and prayed to God for forgiveness by appealing to God's lovingkindness. [Read this in Psalm 51.]

David understood that there was no sacrifice that he could offer to take his sin away. According to the justice of the Law of Moses, there was no forgiveness. So, he appealed to God's chesed. He was not trying to back God into a corner as if to force God's loyalty to His covenant promise. Rather, David was crying out in desperation for God to love him with the same love that moved Him to make the covenant promise in the first place.

David appealed to the very nature of God. He recognized the enduring love of God that had moved Him to make promises to his forefathers Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and to the nation Israel. David appealed to the divine kindness of God that would motivate him to initiate a covenant promise. David's appeal was that God would continue his steadfast love toward him because He had already loved him.

     Be gracious to me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness [chesed]....
     --Psalm 51:1

God does not try to love [chesed]. It is not his 'second' nature. He does not analyze and synthesize a situation, wrestle with his will, and then finally decide to love. It is his nature, his identity. It is just who he is.

It is as if God had said to Moses, "I AM who I am...I am chesed."

Oh, wait...He did!

     The LORD God...abounding in lovingkindness [chesed]....
     --Exodus 24:6

The Importance of a Necklace

What are the kinds of things that a person wears 'around the neck'? Aside from simple jewelry, some may wear a necklace with a special locket, or perhaps a cross, or a ring, etc. These objects usually represent things of value such as a cherished memory, a strong belief, or a valued relationship.

What are the kinds of things that are ‘written on the heart'? These are not things that are merely memorized. They are etched onto the mind and heart as a permanent reminder of something of great importance. Things written on the heart affect the way a person thinks, affect day-to-day decisions, affect behavior and speech.

Do you know what God wants you to wear around your neck? Do you know what God desires for you to have etched onto your heart? Do you know the things that God regards as having the deepest meaning and value, that should mold your character and define your being?

   Do not let kindness and truth leave you; 
   Bind them around your neck, 
   Write them on the tablet of your heart.
   --Proverbs 3:3

The word ‘kindness’ in this verse is more often translated ‘lovingkindness.’ It comes from a Hebrew love word that is connected to the idea of ‘covenant.’ God’s lovingkindness, or covenant love, is his steadfast love which is demonstrated by his commitment to his promises.

When the Hebrew word ‘truth’ is paired with lovingkindness it generally carries the idea of ‘loyalty.’ With respect to God, it is his loyalty to his covenant promises.

In His declaration of His divine nature, God revealed Himself as “abounding in lovingkindness and truth.” (Exodus 34:6) He extended his love to his people because of his promises and his undying loyalty to his covenant. It is His nature.

God’s ‘lovingkindness and truth’ should give us insight into Solomon’s words. With respect to man, ‘lovingkindness and truth’ refer to man's commitment to the covenant he has made with God. Man’s commitment is expressed through his holiness toward God and his love and kindness toward his fellow man. His loyalty is demonstrated through an undying devotion to God throughout life regardless of life’s difficulties and temptations.

What is it that you wear around your neck?
What is etched onto your heart?
What is it that truly defines your character?