NISAN 28
Follow Me
“Only goodness and kindness follow me …” (Ps 23:6)
‘Goodness’ has been defined by Noah Webster as “the physical qualities which constitute
value, excellence or perfection; Kindness; benevolence.”[1] Goodness is also listed as one of the nine
fruit of the Ruach, the Set-Apart
Spirit, fruit that we are to cultivate and display in our lives, and in our
relationship with others (see Gal 5:22-23).
We know and understand that when we walk in and with this
character trait, we are pleasing to our Elohim (Rom 12:2), for He Himself is “good” (Mat 19:17).
The Hebrew word that has been translated in this verse as ‘kindness’ is
the word chêsêd (Strong’s H2617) and implies much more than just ‘kindness’. Found within this word is the sense of
commitment to the individual you are showing kindness to, such as a mother to her baby, or even the relationship that our
Elohim has with us, those of us who walk in right relationship with Him. The
KJV translates chêsêd, for
the most part, as either “loving-kindness” (Ps 17:7; 25:6) or “mercy” (Deu
5:10; Ps 100:5; Lam 3:22), and both are correct.
What has very much jumped out at me in our opening
passage is the word that has been translated as ‘follow’. The Hebrew word is râdaph (Strong’s H7291), and means to chase after, pursue
with the intent of overtaking. With this
thought in mind, let us look again at this portion of Scripture. Goodness (kindness and benevolence) and
kindness (mercy and loving-kindness) are chasing after me, with the intent of
overtaking and capturing me in their pursuit.
I cannot answer for the rest of you, but I believe for this type of
scenario, I would willingly stand still, that I might be overtaken …
“And יהוה passed before him and
proclaimed, “יהוה, יהוה, an Ěl compassionate and showing favour, patient, and GREAT IN KINDNESS and
truth, WATCHING OVER KINDNESS for thousands,
forgiving crookedness and transgression and sin, but by no means leaving
unpunished, visiting the crookedness of the fathers upon the children and the
children’s children to the third
and the fourth generation.” (Ex 34:6-7, emphasis
mine)
“For You, יהוה, are GOOD, and ready to
forgive, And great in KINDNESS to all those who call upon You.” (Ps 86:5, emphasis mine)
©2021
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