The Concept of Hesed

I've been stuck in 1st and 2nd Kings for a couple months.

That's embarrassing to admit. I'm a man who writes about biblical truths weekly. I'm supposed to have insights and wisdom to share. But these two books have been kicking my butt.

Every chapter feels like watching a train wreck in slow motion. Another king rises. Another king falls. Another king "did evil in the sight of the Lord." Another kingdom gets closer to destruction.

It's exhausting. It's heartbreaking. And honestly, it makes me angry.

Not at God. At us. At how we keep messing up the same way, over and over again.

But then something hit me while I was reading. Something that changed everything. Something about a Hebrew word that reveals the most beautiful truth about God's character.

The word is hesed. And it explains why God didn't give up on His people when He had every right to.

What I Was Actually Reading

First, let me explain what 1st and 2nd Kings actually is. Because it's confusing.

These books tell the story of two kingdoms that used to be one. After King Solomon died, God's people split apart. The northern part kept the name Israel. The southern part became Judah.

Why did they split? Solomon's son Rehoboam was an idiot. The people asked him to be easier on them than his father. Instead, he threatened to be even harsher.

So ten tribes said, "We out!" They made their own kingdom called Israel.

Two tribes stayed loyal. They became Judah.

From that point on, you have two separate kingdoms with two separate kings ruling at the same time.

The books of Kings bounce back and forth between them. One chapter talks about what's happening in Israel. The next chapter jumps to Judah. Sometimes they're fighting each other. Sometimes they're working together. It's like watching two divorced parents who can't get along.

Israel had 19 kings total. Judah had 19 kings too. That's 38 kings to keep track of.

And here's where the numbers got depressing.

The Numbers That Made Me Sick

I decided to count. I needed to know exactly how bad it was.

Out of those 38 kings, 31 of them "did evil in the sight of the Lord."

That's 82%.

Only 5 kings consistently "did what was right in the eyes of the Lord."

That's 13%.

But here's the really sad part. In Israel, the northern kingdom, ALL 19 kings were evil. Every single one. Not one good king in the entire history of that kingdom.

Judah did a little better, but not much. They had 5 good kings out of 19. That's still only 26%.

Think about that. God chose these people. He rescued them from Egypt. He gave them a land. He made promises to them. He sent prophets to guide them.

And 82% of their leaders chose to rebel against Him.

If this was any other relationship, it would be over. If your employees ignored you 82% of the time, they'd be fired. If your friends betrayed you 82% of the time, you'd find new friends.

But God doesn't work like us.

What Hesed Really Means

Hesed is a Hebrew word that shows up all through the Bible. It gets translated different ways: steadfast love, loyal love, unfailing love, mercy.

But here's the best definition I've found:

"When the person from whom I have a right to expect nothing gives me everything."

Think about that. God had every right to expect nothing good from His people. They proved over and over they couldn't be trusted. They broke every promise. They ignored every warning.

But instead of giving them nothing, He gave them everything.

Patience. Mercy. Second chances. Third chances. Chances beyond counting.

That's hesed. That's God's unfailing love.

The Difference Between God and Everyone Else

While I was struggling through Kings, I started researching what other nations were doing during this same time.

The Assyrians? They conquered cities and erased them so completely that people forgot where they used to be.

The Carthaginians? They sacrificed their own children to their gods.

The Babylonians? They built their empire on the backs of slaves and called it divine will.

All these nations did the same evil things Israel did. Some did worse things.

But here's the difference. When God judged those nations, it was swift and final. Total destruction. No warnings. No second chances.

With Israel and Judah, God sent prophets for centuries. He gave warning after warning. He delayed judgment over and over. He kept His promises even when they broke theirs.

What This Means for Us

Reading Kings used to depress me. Now it encourages me.

Not because the kings were good. They weren't.

But because God's love doesn't depend on us being good.

His hesed - His unfailing love - is bigger than our failure.

When I mess up, I don't have to wonder if God is done with me. When I disappoint Him again, I don't have to question if He still loves me.

The same God who showed patience to 82% evil kings shows patience to me.

The same God who kept His promises to rebellious people keeps His promises to me.

The Real Story

I finally understand what Kings is really about.

It's not a story about how bad people can be. We already knew that.

It's a story about how good God is. How His love never fails. How His hesed never runs out.

82% of the kings chose evil. But 100% of the time, God remained faithful.

The kings broke the covenant. God kept it.

The people forgot their promises. God remembered His.

The leaders failed their calling. God fulfilled His.

That's the concept of hesed. That's God's unfailing love.

And that's why I don't have to be afraid when I read about my own failures. Because the same God who loved rebellious kings loves rebellious me.

His hesed is bigger than my sin. His faithfulness is stronger than my weakness.

His unfailing love never fails.

Even when we do.

That’s it for today

keep JOY, live Disciplined