Pick a Verse, Any Verse

Psalms 136:5 (KJV) To him that by wisdom made the heavens: for his mercy endureth for ever.

I am actually reading Psalms in the NASB.  The NASB family of translations make this word “mercy” into “loving kindness”.  In the Hebrew that is chesed.  It’s one of those words that just grabs hold of me and shakes me around every time I think about it.  In this chapter, it is impossible not to think about it because it comes out in every single verse.

This is a recurring theme with me and that’s OK.  It is an important theme or concept.  I rank it right up there with agape from the Greek.  It is a loaded word that is at the center of what we believe.  I prefer the translation of loving kindness.  Part of it may be artistic, but I’m not known as being artistic.  I just like the combination and spread of meaning it has in it.  It isn’t conveyed just the word mercy, although that is powerful.

So?  Take a moment to rejoice in the reality of God’s love and kindness.  Let it be a framework for your attitude today.