Today’s reading comes from Psalms 106 and 107. The theme of these two chapters is stated from the opening verse: “His steadfast love endures forever!” This theme is one of the most powerful in the Old Testament. We’ve mentioned this important Hebrew word before—HESED (חֶסֶד). It’s a word rich with meaning, describing God’s loyal, faithful, and everlasting love.
Psalm 106 traces God’s everlasting love (hesed) through Israel’s history, beginning with the exodus from Egypt. Despite the people’s repeated cycles of rebellion and rejection, God remained faithful. The chapter closes with these words in verses 46–48:
“He caused [Israel] to be pitied by all those who held them captive. Save us, O Lord our God, and gather us from among the nations, that we may give thanks to your holy name and glory in your praise. Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting! And let all the people say, ‘Amen!’ Praise the Lord!”
This cycle of rebellion has repeated itself throughout Israel’s history. The current example we see today is the period leading up to and following World War II. Though the Jewish people did not cry out to the Son of God, they did cry out to Father God for rescue. And once again God moved the nations to have compassion on Israel. Could we be witnessing the final repeat of this cycle? Could this be the time when Israel ultimately turns to Jesus and recognizes Him as Messiah? In Romans 11:25–27, Paul speaks of this future hope for Israel,
“Lest you be wise in your own sight, I do not want you to be unaware of this mystery, brothers: A partial hardening has come upon Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. And in this way all Israel will be saved, as it is written, ‘The Deliverer will come from Zion, he will banish ungodliness from Jacob’; ‘and this will be my covenant with them when I take away their sins.’”
I hope and pray that either I personally get to experience this or that my children do. If so, what an amazing time to be alive!
Psalm 107:28–30 also struck a chord with me,
“Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. He made the storm be still, and the waves of the sea were hushed. Then they were glad that the waters were quiet, and he brought them to their desired haven.”
While the psalm describes God’s deliverance of the mariners who had sailed at the time of this psalm’s writing, I couldn’t help but think of Jesus calming the storm on the Sea of Galilee. I wonder if this psalm became especially meaningful to His disciples—it certainly would have been for me. The prophecies, promises, and parables found within Scripture may not have occurred in our lifetime but they are there to encourage us today.
Take-away: The Author of Scripture who has never failed one of His own, is still the same today and will not fail us. His hesed is not just ancient history—it is our present hope and future assurance. His love truly endures forever.