Rabbi’s Reflections – Saturday, June 22, 2024
Shabbat Shalom,
His Chesed-חֶסֶד Endures Forever
by David Harwood
Before Solomon’s temple was dedicated Adonai’s chesed-חֶסֶד was celebrated. It was an integral part of Israel’s worship. We have a record of His intervening love being brought to the corporate soul of Israel in David’s psalms.
Here are two examples of David’s revelation of God’s chesed-חֶסֶד.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You have anointed my head with oil, my cup overflows. Surely goodness and chesed-חֶסֶד will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the House of Adonai forever. (Psalm 23:5–6)
No king is saved by his great army, no warrior is delivered by great strength. A horse is a false hope for victory, nor can its great strength save. Behold, the eyes of Adonai are on those who fear Him, waiting for His love, to deliver their souls from death, and to keep them alive in famine. Our soul waits for Adonai— He is our help and our shield. Our heart rejoices in Him, because we trusted in His holy Name. Let Your chesed-חֶסֶד, Adonai, be upon us, as we have waited for You. (Psalm 33:16–22)
Through the devotional life of the nation, founded upon the revelatory nature of the Psalms, God’s people hoped in His chesed-חֶסֶד. The soil of Israel’s soul had been planted with a rich appreciation of God’s intervening love. It was the foundation of the nation’s origin. God’s chesed-חֶסֶד was seen in their everyday life and was startlingly revealed in amazing sacred stories of heroism and deliverance.
The revelation of the everlasting nature of God’s chesed-חֶסֶד was memorialized during one of the worst crises in Judah’s history.
Here’s the background: Judah was about to get wiped out. Their neighbors had united with the intent to war against Jehoshaphat.
Now it happened after this that the Moabites and the Ammonites together with other Ammonites came to make war against Jehoshaphat. Some came and reported to Jehoshaphat saying, “A great multitude is coming against you from beyond the sea, from Aram, and are already in Hazazon-Tamar” (that is En-Gedi).
Jehoshaphat was afraid so he resolved to seek Adonai, and he proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. Judah assembled to seek help from Adonai; indeed, they came from all the cities of Judah to seek Adonai. (2 Chronicles 20:1–4)
Fear motivated them to fervently seek God. He was found by them and they received a prophetic word that God would fight for them.
Then in the midst of the congregation, the Ruach Adonai came upon Jahaziel son of Zechariah, son of Benaiah, son of Jeiel, son of Mattaniah the Levite, of the sons of Asaph, and he said: “Listen all Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem and King Jehoshaphat. Thus Adonai says to you, ‘Do not be afraid or be dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God’s. Tomorrow go down against them as they come up the ascent of Ziz. You will find them at the end of the valley in front of the wilderness of Jeruel. You will not fight in this battle. Take your positions, stand and see the salvation of Adonai with you, O Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid or be dismayed. Tomorrow go out to face them, for Adonai is with you.’ ” (2 Chronicles 20:14–17)
This is what Jehoshaphat did:
After consulting with the people, he appointed singers to Adonai praising the splendor of His holiness, as they went out before the army saying, “Praise Adonai, for His chesed-חֶסֶד endures forever.” (2 Chronicles 20:21 TLV)
This was a Red Sea moment. Would God deliver them? Would their trust be rewarded? They’d soon find out.
Refusing to rely upon themselves, Judah’s choir represented the nation and demonstrated the nation’s trust. They chanted that Adonai’s chesed-חֶסֶד is everlasting. Through this faith-filled response to God’s word, the nation was rescued (2 Chronicles 20:21). The enemy self-destructed.
That was one time that Judah really needed to rely upon His chesed-חֶסֶד. It was not presumptuous. These were a consecrated people who had sought God and obtained His promise and direction.
Today I’m going to concentrate on this reality: In times when there seems to be no hope, His chesed-חֶסֶד can always be relied on.
Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
16 Sivan Shabbat 22-Jun-24 Parashat Beha’alotcha
Numbers 11:30-12:16 Zechariah 2:10[14]-4:7