This
variety is not strange or problematic in itself. It is a Hebrew word and so it just may have a
variety of uses or it may be a difficult term to state in just one English
word. That happens from time to time in Scripture, and the task of the
translator as well as the student is to state and understand the concept as
well as possible. So again, this is not
a problem.
But
here is something that I wonder about with the NKJV. In 2 Sam. 9:1 the word appears again,
translated “kindness” this time, but with a footnote. The footnote says it means “covenant
faithfulness.” That makes sense in 9:1
because David is seeking to keep his covenant with Jonathan. In 1 Sam. 18:3-4 the two made a covenant of
friendship. It was further described as
a “covenant of the Lord” (20:8), and included Jonathan requiring David to show “kindness”
(again, chesed) to Jonathan and his descendents when he, David, became
king (20:14-15). There is no footnote in
these verses to remind us that what is obligated is “covenant faithfulness.” It’s not a big problem nor will it keep me
from the NKJV as my translation of choice as it is these days.
But 2
Sam. 7:15 is another place where I wonder why there is no footnote. In that passage, God is covenanting with
David to establish his house and throne forever. And if David’s sons happen to be disobedient,
God will chasten them, but His “mercy” (chesed) will not depart from
him. That would seem like an essential
place to remind us that the meaning of the term is “covenant faithfulness.” Even the sins of successive sons of David
will be sufficient for God to cancel His gracious, unconditional covenant with
David.
And
by the way, if you go back to the first paragraph and all the different English
terms that help understand chesed, if you plug each of them in to 7:15
or 9:1 you might say that any of those terms could fit. Chesed is just an amazing concept in
the OT, one that needs to be part of our lives.
We can understand how David wanted to show chesed to Mephibosheth
because of his covenant with Jonathan.
But what about 2 Sam. 10:2? David
wanted to show chesed to the son of Nahash, king of Ammon because Nahash
had shown chesed to David. We
know nothing of the relationship of these kings, except that Nahash made war
with Saul (1 Sam. 11:1ff). Maybe when
David was running from Absolom he was helped by Nahash, although the Bible
doesn’t tell us about it. Still, David
felt a need to show chesed to Nahash’s son like he showed chesed
to Jonathan’s son.
I believe
all this wondering should bring us to a Biblical conclusion about chesed. This is a quality that is to be part of any
person of God. Let not mercy/chesed and truth/faithfulness/emet forsake you;
bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart, and so find
favor and high esteem in the sight of God and man (Prov. 3:3-4). I think this explains a lot of what it means
that David was a man after God’s own heart.
God showed chesed to David, and then David turned around and
showed chesed to Mephibosheth and Hanun.
And
in those two sons we also see that chesed does us no good if we do not
receive it. Mephibosheth did, and ate at
the king’s table the rest of his life.
Hanun rejected it and suffered accordingly. In Christ mercy/chesed and truth have
met and righteousness and peace have kissed (Ps. 85:10). God shows His covenant faithfulness to all
mankind by the gospel of Christ. May we
receive it today!
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