Ultimately, meaning cannot always be contained in syllables.

When You Expect Nothing and Get the Gift of Everything

Posted on by Michele Morin

There’s an old hymn that we don’t sing much any more, but it’s worth re-visiting because the final verse puts words around the futility of language in expressing the inexpressible:

“Could we with ink the ocean fill,
And were the skies of parchment made,
Were every stalk on earth a quill,
And every man a scribe by trade;
To write the love of God above
Would drain the ocean dry;
Nor could the scroll contain the whole,
Though stretched from sky to sky.”
(Frederich M. Lehman, The Love of God)

Singer, songwriter, and author Michael Card describes words (somewhat less poetically) as “clumsy bricks” we attempt to employ in defining concepts. While they enable us to have thoughts and conversations about God and about intangibles such as hope and love, ultimately, meaning cannot always be contained within syllables. In his biblical study, Card has found this to be particularly evident with the Hebrew word hesed. 

The Struggle to Translate Hesed

Inexpressible: Hesed and the Mystery of God’s Lovingkindness is founded on the mystery of this unique word. With no clear path to the English language, hesed has appeared in various versions of the Bible under a number of different labels. In fact, in 1535, Miles Coverdale jerry-rigged the term “lovingkindness” in an attempt to translate hesed, and it is still in use in the American Standard Version. More recently, the English Standard Version has employed the phrase “steadfast love,” and the New Living favors “unfailing love,” but, in reality, the struggle with translation is only a pale adumbration of the true challenge–that of wrapping our minds around a God who hands out second chances to the guilty and opens the door of His life to welcome frail humanity.

Michael Card’s definition of hesed is simple and direct:

“When the person from whom I have a right to expect nothing gives me everything.” (5)

Hesed is put on display richly in God’s Old Testament dealings with the nation Israel, for He met their faithless betrayal with forgiveness and restoration. Then, Solomon stepped into the unbroken stream of hesed  when he ascended to the throne of David:

“LORD God of Israel,
there is no God like you
in heaven or on earth,
who keeps his covenant and hesed
with your servants who walk before you
with all their heart.”  (II Chronicles 6:14)

The temple musicians set to music their wonder at hesed in abundance:

 “Give thanks to the Lord for He is good; his hesed endures forever.”    (I Chronicles 16:34)

And the psalmists vented their outrage over its lack:

“God of my praise, do not be silent, for wicked and deceitful mouths open against me . . .Let no one show him hesed . . . for he did not think to show hesed.” (Psalm 109:1, 2, 12, 16)

The Struggle to Embody Hesed

The prophet Hosea was assigned the task of putting God’s hesed on display in his calling to love and marry a prostitute, in spite of her ongoing unfaithfulness. “Though she has no right to expect anything from Hosea, he will lavish everything on her. Their relationship will incarnate the meaning of hesed.” (89)

The Apostle John picks up the theme in the New Testament with his description of Jesus, the Word, who came to us “from the Father, full of hesed and truth.” In eight of Jesus’s thirty parables, he defines hesed either by its lack (the unforgiving servant) or by its rich exemplification (the Good Samaritan). 

Card warns readers who seek to embody hesed that our own experience will be like Jesus’s:  misunderstanding and rejection. While we are often unclear about God’s expectations for us, the example of Jesus bore out the truth that “hesed is always something you do.” (116) This has vast implications in a world where “doing justly, loving mercy (hesed), and walking humbly with God” may be subject to wildly disparate interpretations.

And since hesed is something we do, what are the implications of such a counter-cultural doing?

  • How faithfully is my “doing” flowing from my “loving?” Is my “love” in keeping with the love of God toward the undeserving?
  • How would my actions and motives be different if I understood–and trusted–God’s deep and never failing love, mercy, and kindness toward me?
  • Can 21st century believers find the sweet spot where our compassionate outrage over injustice is both offered to God with trust and paired with action on behalf of the oppressed?

Many thanks to InterVarsity Press for providing a copy of this book to facilitate my review, which, of course, is offered freely and with honesty.

Because of the LORD’s hesed,

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Published by Michele Morin

Michele Morin is a Bible teacher, writer, reader, and gardener committed to the truth that women can become confident Christ-followers and students of God's Word. She has been married to an unreasonably patient husband for thirty-plus years, and together they have four sons, four daughters-in-love, and five adorable grandchildren. Michele loves hot tea and well-crafted sentences, poems that stop her in her tracks, and days at the ocean with the whole family. She laments biblical illiteracy and advocates for the prudent use of “little minutes.” She blogs at Living Our Days, and you can connect with her on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter.

41 thoughts on “When You Expect Nothing and Get the Gift of Everything”

  3. Michele, I very much appreciated this post. I’ve been reading Hosea for a few weeks now so this spoke to my heart. But I don’t want to just read Hosea, I want Hosea to change me, making me into a person who faithfully and consistently extends love to the undeserving. Thank you for a thought provoking post and review.

    Like

  4. Thank you for the information about “hesed”. I learned something new today. We are lucky to have a God who gives second (and third, fourth…) chances.

    Like

    1. I’ve been following Michael Card’s thinking along the lines of hesed for some time now via podcasts, etc. It always seemed to bubble up in the conversation, so I was not surprised when he wrote a book about it.

      Liked by 1 person

  6. An excellent intellectual review of what I need to ponder more but even more than that, do. As in Bob Goff s Love Does. Bec real love did.

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  11. How interesting to learn more about hesed. I love learning the background of ancient Hebrew and Greek words. Sounds like Michael Card’s book is one I would like to read, too. Thanks for sharing, Michele!

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  13. This sounds like a fascinating book! Thank you for bringing it to my attention :). You ask such an important question at the end–I struggle to give my ‘compassionate outrage’ to Jesus. I’m more likely to go off half-cocked on my own trajectory.

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    1. It’s certainly second nature to start spewing words and heated emotion when we encounter injustice — or just plain ignorance. The psalms of lament give us a pattern for where to take our outrage, and I wonder if more actual solutions would come of that.

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  14. Michele, as soon as I saw your title I thought of Michael Card and the word “hesed” before I even read your post! This book has been long in coming and it is great. I’ve only read a little of it so far, but plan to get back to it. Thanks for this wonderful review. Blessings to you! xo

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    1. I wondered if you would get to read this review, because I know we both share a love for Michael’s music and his writing. This is one I’ve been waiting for because he’s been alluding to “hesed” for such a long time. I’m glad he finally had the chance to write a whole book about it.
      And I guess IVP is interested in publishing more of his work, so we’re in for some more good stuff in the future!

      Liked by 1 person

  15. I LOVE THAT HYMN! So glad we attend a church that still sings these timeless, precious gems! And the thought, “When the Person from whom I have a right to expect nothing gives me everything.” That person is my God! I have the right to expect (and I deserve) NOTHING, yet He gives me EVERYTHING! FREELY! What a beautiful and encouraging thought that gives me both peace and eternal security. Thank you for this post, Michele. and thanks for linking up at InstaEncouragements! You are a blessing! 🙂

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  16. This sounds like an interesting book. I’ve heard of the word “hesed” before but didn’t really know what it meant. I love the hymn lyrics at the start of your post too! It’s so true that words are inadequate to describe God’s love.

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  17. […] When You Expect Nothing and Get the Gift of Everything –Singer, songwriter, and author Michael Card describes words as “clumsy bricks” we attempt to employ in defining concepts. While they enable us to have thoughts and conversations about God and about intangibles such as hope and love, ultimately, meaning cannot always be contained within syllables. In his biblical study, Card has found this to be particularly evident with the Hebrew word hesed, and his latest book (Inexpressible: Hesed and the Mystery of God’s Lovingkindness) is founded on the mystery of this unique word. […]

    Like

  21. Wow! You’ve reviewed so many great books this month! I want to read and study this one too. I love Hebrew word studies so much, and this one looks amazing, also very in line with what the Lord has been teaching me lately through my study of Ephesians! Thanks for sharing this at Booknificent Thursday on Mommynificent.com!
    Tina

    Like

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