The concept of God's loving-kindness is a central theme throughout the Bible, reflecting His enduring love, mercy, and compassion towards humanity. The Hebrew word often translated as "loving-kindness" is "chesed," which encompasses steadfast love, loyalty, and faithfulness. This divine attribute is foundational to understanding God's relationship with His creation and His covenant people.

Old Testament Foundations

In the Old Testament, God's loving-kindness is frequently associated with His covenantal promises. In Exodus 34:6-7, God reveals Himself to Moses, proclaiming, "The LORD, the LORD God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion and truth, maintaining loving devotion to a thousand generations, forgiving iniquity, transgression, and sin." Here, God's loving-kindness is linked with His mercy and forgiveness, underscoring His commitment to His people despite their failings.

The Psalms are replete with references to God's loving-kindness. Psalm 136 is a notable example, where each verse ends with the refrain, "His loving devotion endures forever." This repetition emphasizes the eternal and unchanging nature of God's love. Psalm 63:3 declares, "Because Your loving devotion is better than life, my lips will glorify You," illustrating the psalmist's deep appreciation for God's steadfast love.

Prophetic Literature

The prophets also highlight God's loving-kindness, often in the context of calling Israel back to faithfulness. In Hosea 2:19-20, God promises, "I will betroth you to Me forever; I will betroth you in righteousness and justice, in loving devotion and compassion. I will betroth you in faithfulness, and you will know the LORD." This imagery of marriage conveys the depth and intimacy of God's commitment to His people.

New Testament Fulfillment

In the New Testament, the loving-kindness of God is most fully revealed in the person and work of Jesus Christ. The incarnation is the ultimate expression of God's love, as stated in John 3:16, "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that everyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." Through Christ's sacrificial death and resurrection, God's loving-kindness is extended to all humanity, offering redemption and reconciliation.

The Apostle Paul frequently speaks of God's loving-kindness in his epistles. In Titus 3:4-5, he writes, "But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, He saved us, not by the righteous deeds we had done, but according to His mercy, through the washing of new birth and renewal by the Holy Spirit." Here, God's loving-kindness is linked with His saving grace, underscoring the unmerited favor bestowed upon believers.

Practical Implications

The loving-kindness of God calls believers to respond with love and devotion. In Micah 6:8, the prophet exhorts, "He has shown you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you but to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?" This call to love mercy reflects the expectation that God's people will emulate His loving-kindness in their interactions with others.

Furthermore, the assurance of God's loving-kindness provides comfort and hope in times of trial. Romans 8:38-39 affirms, "For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor principalities, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." This passage reassures believers of the inseparable bond of God's love, offering strength and perseverance amidst life's challenges.

In summary, the loving-kindness of God is a profound and enduring theme that permeates the biblical narrative, revealing His unwavering commitment to His creation and His desire for a restored relationship with humanity through Jesus Christ.Psalm 36:7
How excellent is your loving kindness, O God! therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of your wings.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Sky, Earth, and Sea: a Parable of God
... judgments are a great deep: O Lord, Thou preservest man and beast.7. How excellent
is Thy loving-kindness, O God! ... How excellent is Thy lovingkindness, O God! ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture j/sky earth and sea a.htm

"Seek First the Kingdom of God," &C.
... It is a glorious declaration of God's excellent name, that he is good to all, kind
even to the evil and unthankful. ... How excellent is that loving kindness! ...
/.../binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/sermon xix seek first the.htm

Shewing How a Principle of Grace is from the Spirit of God. "
... house, the holy oil of the sanctuary spoken of in the next preceding words, and
is the same with God's love, or God's excellent loving-kindness, spoken of in ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/edwards/treatise on grace/shewing how a principle of.htm

Against those who Say that Demons Govern Human Affairs, and who ...
... This is part of his loving kindness to men ... the soul of the demented: and the
lovingkindness of God ... wished, to have used the longsuffering of God, to accomplish ...
/.../chrysostom/on the priesthood/homily i against those who.htm

How Sowers of Strifes and Peacemakers are to be Admonished.
... Whence the excellent preacher, being overtaken by violent persecution from Pharisees ...
of their impiety exasperates against the loving-kindness of God, may at ...
/.../leo/writings of leo the great/chapter xxiii how sowers of.htm

"But Seek Ye First the Kingdom of God, and his Righteousness, and ...
... When the pious Psalmist was over-charged with the very forethought and apprehension
of this, he says, "How excellent is thy loving kindness, O God! ...
/.../binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/sermon xvii but seek ye.htm

SERMON XIV.
... How excellent is Thy loving-kindness, O God! ... For Thou art the glory of their
strength: and in Thy lovingkindness they shall be exalted. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/butler/human nature/sermon xiv.htm

All My Bones Shall Say
... beast. How excellent is Thy loving kindness, O God! Therefore the children
of men but their trust in the shadow of Thy wings. They ...
/.../traherne/centuries of meditations/76 all my bones shall.htm

May 25 Morning
... How excellent is thy loving kindness, O God! therefore the children of men
put their trust under the shadow of thy wings. They shall ...
/.../anonymous/daily light on the daily path/may 25 morning.htm

The Divine Hunger and Thirst
... Psalm 36:7, 8, 9. How excellent is thy loving-kindness, O God! therefore the
children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings. ...
/.../kingsley/town and country sermons/sermon ii the divine hunger.htm

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