The Power of His Love

This is what I call a ‘concentrated’ bible verse. So much truth is such a small space! And it’s not just truth for the mind – this is heart-warming, heart-restoring truth. It’s truth which, if we let it penetrate into the very depths of our being, will become the source of the greatest blessing.

Three key words: lovingkindness, salvation and word.

The Hebrew word for lovingkindness is hesed. No single English word can possibly contain the fulness of its meaning. It’s unwavering love, which never gives up, and has a strength that will never be overcome. It’s not sentimental. It’s powerful and active. It’s God’s covenant love.

Then there’s salvation. That’s deliverance from everything that has captured people and holds them imprisoned. More than that, it’s victory!

And then there’s God’s word. The Hebrew of Psalm 119 has more than a dozen different words for it – each one with its own flavour. Here the emphasis is on the spoken word.

But there’s a fourth key word; and it’s the most important: Yahweh. Most English translations avoid using it. It’s God’s name as He revealed it to Moses. Jewish translations (like this one) use Adonai (Lord). Most others use Lord. But it comes well over 6,000 times in the Hebrew Old Testament. It means I Am who I Am. ‘Adonai’ is His title. But Yahweh is His name, and the fullest expression of who He is.

Today’s verse puts in a nutshell the fulness of what God offers every one of His children.

First, His covenant love. Here, uniquely, it is in the plural, lovingkindnesses. As John puts it, one blessing after another (John 1:14).

Then, His salvation: freedom and release from all that would hold us captive, and victory over the enemy.

How can we be sure that He will give us these things? Because of His word, His word spoken into our lives, His word that He always keeps.

Are our problems, our situations too difficult for Him? Of course not! He’s Yahweh, the One True God, who was, and is and is to come. The One True God who created the universe and holds all things in His powerful hand. Tho One who loves His children with an everlasting love. The One to whom we can come and call ‘Abba, Father!’.