Scriptures
The Pillar of Wisdom - Kindness - Checed - {kheh'-sed}
1st What is Kindness - Checed
HEBREW LEXICON -- STRONG'S NUMBER 2617 Checed
2617 checed {kheh'-sed} d,s,x from 2616; TWOT -- 698a,699a; n m
1) tov, kindness, faithfulness
2) a reproach, shame
Strongs: 2617 checed kheh'-sed from 2616; kindness; by implication (towards
YAHWEH) piety: rarely (by opposition) reproof, or (subject.) beauty:--(KJV words
used)- favour, tov deed(-liness, -ness), kindly, (loving-)kindness, merciful
(kindness), mercy, pity, reproach, wicked thing.
Vines: checed (2617), "loving-kindness; steadfast love; grace (grace is a roman
goddess) (free unmerited love and favor); mercy; faithfulness; tov;
devotion." This word is used 240 times in the Old Testament, and is especially
frequent in the Psalter. The term is one of the most important in the vocabulary
of Old Testament theology and ethics.
The Septuagint nearly always renders checed with eleos ("mercy"), and that usage
is reflected in the New Testament. Modern translations, in contrast, generally
prefer renditions close to the word "grace." KJV usually has "mercy," although
"loving-kindness" (following Coverdale), "favor," and other translations also
occur. RSV generally prefers "steadfast love." NIV often offers simply "love."
In general, one may identify three basic meanings of the word, which always
interact: "strength," "steadfastness," and "love." Any understanding of the word
that fails to suggest all three inevitably loses some of its richness.
"Love" by itself easily becomes sentimentalized or universalized apart from the
covenant. Yet "strength" or "steadfastness" suggests only the fulfillment of a
legal or other obligation.
The word refers primarily to mutual and reciprocal rights and obligations
between the parties of a relationship especially Yahweh and Yisrael. But checed
is not only a matter of obligation; it is also of generosity. It is not only a
matter of loyalty, but also of mercy (checed). The weaker party seeks the protection and
blessing of the patron and protector, but he may not lay absolute claim to it.
The stronger party remains committed to his promise, but retains his freedom,
especially with regard to the manner in which he will implement those promises.
Checed implies personal involvement and commitment in a relationship beyond the
rule of law.
Marital love is often related to checed Marriage certainly is a legal matter, and
there are legal sanctions for infractions. Yet the relationship, if sound, far
transcends mere legalities. The prophet Hosea applies the analogy to Yahweh's
checed to Yisrael within the covenant (e.g., 2:21). Hence, "devotion" is
sometimes the single English word best capable of capturing the nuance of the
original. The RSV attempts to bring this out by its translation, "steadfast
love." Hebrew writers often underscored the element of steadfastness (or
strength) by pairing checed with 'emet ("truth, reliability") and 'emunah
("faithfulness").
Biblical usage frequently speaks of someone "doing," "showing," or "keeping"
checed The concrete content of the word is especially evident when it is used in
the plural. YAHWEH's "mercies," "kindnesses," or "faithfulnesses" are His
specific, concrete acts of redemption in fulfillment of His promise. An example
appears in Isa. 55:3: "...And I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even
the sure mercies of David."
Checed has both YAHWEH and man as its subject. When man is the subject of checed,
the word usually describes the person's kindness (checed) or loyalty to another; cf. 2
Sam. 9:7: "And David said...I will surely show you (Mephibosheth) kindness
(checed) for
Jonathan your father's sake".
Only rarely is the term applied explicitly to man's affection or fidelity toward
YAHWEH; the clearest example is probably Jer. 2:2: "Go and cry in the ears of
Yerusalem, saying, thus saith YAHWEH; I remember you, the kindness (checed) of your
youth, the love of your espousals, when you wentest after me in the wilderness.
..."
Man exercises checed toward various units within the community - toward family
and relatives, but also to friends, guests, masters, and servants. Checed toward
the lowly and needy is often specified. The Scripture prominently uses the term
checed to summarize and characterize a life of sanctification within, and in
response to, the covenant. Thus, Hos. 6:6 states that YAHWEH desires "mercy
(checed)
[RSV, "steadfast love"] and not sacrifice" (i.e., faithful living in addition to
worship). Similarly, Mic. 6:8 features checed in the prophets' summary of
biblical ethics: " ...and what doth YAHWEH require of you, but...to love
mercy (checed)... ?"
Behind all these uses with man as subject, however, stand the repeated
references to YAHWEH'S checed It is one of His most central characteristics.
YAHWEH'S loving-kindness (checed) is offered to His people, who need redemption from sin,
enemies, and troubles. A recurrent refrain describing YAHWEH's nature is
"abounding / plenteous in checed" (Exod. 34:6; Neh. 9: 17; Ps. 103:8; Jonah 4:2).
The entire history of YAHWEH's covenantal relationship with Yisrael can be
summarized in terms of checed It is the one permanent element in the flux of
covenantal history. Even the Creation is the result of YAHWEH's checed (Ps.
136:5-9). His love lasts for a "thousand generations" (Deut. 7:9; cf. Deut. 5:10
and Exod. 20:6), indeed "forever" (especially in the refrains of certain psalms,
such as Ps. 136).
Words used in synonymous parallelism with checed help to define and explain it.
The word most commonly associated with checed is 'emet ("fidelity; reliability"):
" ...Let your loving-kindness (checed) [checed] and your truth ['emet] continually
preserve me." 'Emunah with a similar meaning is also common: "He hath remembered
his mercy (checed) [checed] and his truth ['emunah] toward the house of Yisrael. ..." This
emphasis is especially appropriate when YAHWEH is the subject, because His
checed
is stronger and more enduring than man's. Etymological investigation suggests
that hesed's primitive significance may have been "strength" or "permanence." If
so, a puzzling use of checed in Isa. 40:6 would be explained: "All flesh is
grass, and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field."
The association of checed with "covenant" keeps it from being misunderstood as
mere providence or love for all creatures; it applies primarily to YAHWEH's
particular love for His chosen and covenanted people. "Covenant" also stresses
the reciprocity of the relationship; but since YAHWEH's checed is ultimately
beyond the covenant, it will not ultimately be abandoned, even when the human
partner is unfaithful and must be disciplined (Isa. 54:8, 10). Since its final
triumph and implementation is eschatological, checed can imply the goal and end
of all salvation-history (Ps. 85:7, 10; 130:7; Mic. 7:20).
The proper noun HasdiYah (1 Chron. 3:20) is related to checed The name of
Zerubbabel's son means "YAHWEH is faithful/," a fitting summary of the prophet's
message.
2nd Do we have this Pillar of kindness (checed) of our Ruach?
TEITUS - TITUS 3:2
2 To speak evil of no man, not to be brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness to all men.
TIMOTHIYAH -2- TIMOTHY 2:24
24 And the servant of YAHWEH must not strive; but be gentle to all men, skilled to teach, patient,
TESLONIQYAH -1- THESSALONIANS 2:7
7 ¶ But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherishes her children:
8 So being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted to
you, not the message of YAHWEH only, but also our own souls, because you were
dear to us.
3rd What are the Acts manifestation of this Pillar of kindness (checed) of Ruach?
MISHLE - PROVERBS 31:25-26
25 Strength and honor are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to
come.
26 She opens her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the torah of
kindness (checed).
TEHILLIM - PSALMS 136:5-16
5 To HIM that by wisdom made the heavens: for HIS mercy (checed) endures
forever.
6 To HIM that stretched out the earth above the waters: for HIS mercy (checed)
endures forever.
7 To HIM that made great lights: for HIS mercy (checed) endures forever:
8 The sun to rule by day: for HIS mercy (checed) endures forever:
9 The moon and stars to rule by night: for HIS mercy (checed) endures forever.
10 ¶ To HIM that smote Egypt in their firstborn: for HIS mercy (checed) endures
forever:
11 And brought out Yisrael from among them: for HIS mercy (checed) endures
forever:
12 With a strong hand, and with a stretched out arm: for HIS mercy (checed)
endures forever.
13 To HIM which divided the Red sea into parts: for HIS mercy (checed) endures
forever:
14 And made Yisrael to pass through the midst of it: for HIS mercy (checed)
endures forever:
15 But overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the Red sea: for HIS mercy (checed)
endures forever.
16 To HIM which led HIS people through the wilderness: for HIS mercy (checed)
endures forever.
4th How do we get or obtain this Pillar of gentle Ruach of kindness (checed)?
YERMEYAH - JEREMIAH 32:39-42
39 And I will give them one heart, and one way, that they may fear me forever,
for the tov of them, and of their children after them:
40 And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away
from them, to do them tov; but I will put my fear in their hearts, that they
shall not depart from me.
41 Yes, I will rejoice over them to do them right and kindly, and I will plant
them in this land assuredly with my whole heart and with my whole soul.
42 For thus saith YAHWEH; Like as I have brought all this great evil upon this
people, so will I bring upon them all the tov that I have promised them.
Praise For YAHWEH's tov
TEHILLIM - PSALMS 31:19-24
19 ¶ Oh how great is YOUR tov, which YOU have laid up for them that fear YOU;
which YOU have wrought for them that trust in YOU before the sons of adam-man!
20 YOU shall hide them in the secret of YOUR presence from the pride of man: YOU
shall keep them secretly in a pavilion from the strife of tongues.
21 Blessed be YAHWEH: for HE has shown me HIS marvelous kindness (checed) in a
strong city.
22 For I said in my haste, I am cut off from before YOUR eyes: nevertheless YOU
heard the voice of my supplications when I cried to YOU.
23 O love YAHWEH, all you HIS chaciyd saints: for YAHWEH preserves the faithful
remnant, and rewards the proud ten fold.
24 Be of tov courage, and HE shall strengthen your heart, all you that hope in
YAHWEH.
5th The conclusion of the Matter
The Beginning Of Wisdom
TEHILLIM - PSALMS 111:10
10 The fear of YAHWEH is the beginning of wisdom: a tov understanding have all they that do HIS commandments: HIS praise endures forever.
The Address Of Wisdom To Sinners
MISHLE - PROVERBS 1:20
20 ¶ Wisdom cries without; she utters her voice in the streets:
SIRACH 1:11-15
11 With him who fears YAHWEH it will go well at the end; on the day of his
death he will be blessed.
12
To fear YAHWEH is the beginning of wisdom; she is created with the faithful in
the womb.
13
She made among men an eternal foundation, and among their descendants she will
be trusted.
14
To fear YAHWEH is wisdom's full measure; she satisfies men with her fruits;
15
she fills their whole house with desirable goods, and their storehouses with her
produce.
Wisdom 7:22-30
22 For wisdom, which is the worker of all things, taught me: for in her is
an understanding Ruach ha Kodesh, one only, manifold, subtil, lively, clear,
undefiled, plain, not subject to hurt, loving the thing that is tov quick, which
cannot be letted, ready to do tov,
23
Kind to man, steadfast, sure, free from care, having all power, overseeing all
things, and going through all understanding, pure, and most subtil, spirits.
24
For wisdom is more moving than any motion: she passes and goes through all
things by reason of her pureness.
25
For she is the breath of the power of YAHWEH, and a pure influence flowing from
the splendor of the Almighty: therefore can no defiled thing fall into her.
26
For she is the brightness of the everlasting light, the unspotted mirror of the
power of YAHWEH, and the image of HIS tov.
27
And being but one, she can do all things: and remaining in herself, she makes
all things new: and in all ages entering into kodesh souls, she makes them
friends of YAHWEH, and prophets.
28
For YAHWEH loves none but him that dwells with wisdom.
29
For she is more beautiful than the sun, and above all the order of stars: being
compared with the light, she is found before it.
30
For after this comes night: but vice shall not prevail against wisdom.