Yesterday we ran across the Hebrew word hesed (translated “steadfast love” in the ESV). We said today we would come back and look at what it means, and so we will.
First, the word hesed always implies relational faithfulness. For the people in the Old Testament, it meant God's goodness and grace toward them because they were his people redeemed out of Egypt. For us, it means God's goodness and grace toward us in Christ, because of the cross. Hesed is God's intentions for good toward his people, anchored in his character and covenant.
We are the covenant people of God. Just as God redeemed his people out of Egypt with his right hand and his stretched out arm, and said, “You shall be my people, and I will be your God,” and made a covenant with them at Mount Sinai, and just as they were his chosen people, and to be holy as he was holy, and just as he promised to do good to them…
…so we ourselves are God's chosen people in Christ. He went to the cross to purchase our redemption with his blood, and he has delivered us from the power of darkness with a mighty hand and a stretched out arm, and he has promised that we will be his people and he will be our God, that we will be holy as he is holy. And he has promised to work all things together for our good (Romans 8:28)
What is Romans 8:28? It is an expression of God's hesed, his steadfast love, his covenant faithfulness in relation to his people. God will do us good and not evil all the days of our life—that is, wonderfully show us his steadfast love. And that’s what David is asking for.
(7) Wondrously show your steadfast love,
O Savior of those who seek refuge
from their adversaries at your right hand.
The word hesed is unique to Hebrew. There's no cognate for it that exists anywhere, which is why translators use different ways to try to translate it. Nothing we have in English fully relates the idea conveyed by the word, which is why I have to give you a paragraph or two of explanation. Hesed is God’s single defining attribute in relationship to his people. It has been described this way: “when the one who owes me nothing gives me everything.” Was not God's hesed wondrously shown when God became flesh and dwelt among us? when he went to the cross on our behalf? when he hung between heaven and earth making satisfaction for our sin?
“Wondrously show your hesed,” David prayed, and how wondrously God answered in the person of Jesus Christ. Look at the rest of verse 7:
O Savior of those who seek refuge
from their adversaries at your right hand.
Those two lines are a noun of direct address. In other words, it’s a title or name David gives to God.
O Savior of those who seek refuge
from their adversaries at your right hand.
Charles Spurgeon wrote about that line,
“The title here given to our gracious God is eminently consolatory. He is the God of salvation; it is his present and perpetual habit to save believers; he puts forth his best and most glorious strength, using his right hand of wisdom and might, to save all those, of whatsoever rank or class, who trust themselves with him.”—Excerpt From: Spurgeon, Charles. “The Treasury of David.”
I think this is one of the most important things to keep in mind when we approach God in prayer. His relationship to us is one of Father, and Savior. And it is in that relationship that he acts toward us. This is what hesed is describing.
Tomorrow we get to the heart of this psalm (and beyond).