Every year, February 14th comes as a reminder that we, as humans made in God’s image, are wired to give and receive love.
We’re inundated with media messages about love–what it should look like, how it should be expressed. We talk about love languages and how we can love our partners, family, and friends better. But at the end of the day, human love is imperfect. We experience disappointment, and when there appears to be an absence of love, we struggle with questions like “am I actually loved?” “Am I lovable?”
God didn’t design us with unmeetable needs. When human love falls short, God is there to meet us–as he has always already met us–with his unfailing devotion. So amid the rush of chocolate boxes, red roses, and valentines dates, it’s worth remembering: you are inherently loved.
Hesed: A Covenant Love that Defies Definition
While many are familiar with New Testament words that describe love, such as agape, few are familiar with words like hesed, which appears over 250 times in the Old Testament. Not only that–it’s such a complex and multi-faceted word that one translation is not enough; in English, it is translated 100 different ways.
Hesed expresses the core of God’s nature and promise to us–a “sticky,” unconditional love that can’t be revoked. A love that encompasses mercy, compassion, justice, favor, faithfulness, and righteousness. The place we see this expressed most obviously is Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross, but it is present throughout all of the Bible.
One place we see this enacted between people in community is the story of Ruth. As we follow her journey, here are a few things we learn about hesed:
- Hesed means devotion. When Ruth’s husband and family died, she could have returned to her homeland and likely remarried, which would have been the most comfortable and secure option. Instead, she devoted herself to serving Naomi, putting her first.
- Hesed means deep compassion for others. In the book of Ruth, no one calls on God to act in their own interests; instead, we see individuals petitioning God on behalf of others. Ruth acts out of compassion for Naomi, and Boaz acts out of compassion for Ruth.
- Hesed means loving through action. Hesed goes beyond an expression of goodwill. It concerns itself with actively doing something for or with another person out of genuine concern.
Love in Action Beyond One Special Day
As we reflect on God’s exquisite, unfailing love for us, we can also remember that–as humans made in his image–we have the chance to reflect all of his attributes. So how do we reflect his hesed love?
Valentines Day focuses on romantic partnerships, but love can be expressed in a family or any community. Remember what is demonstrated in the book of Ruth: devotion, compassion, and practical action. These things have the power to transform individuals, teams, and whole communities.
Where do you see a need today? This could be in one person or an entire community. Take some time to notice where your compassion stirs. How are you uniquely gifted or positioned to address the need that you see?
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