Monday Night Study Papers

9-26-05

What Is Lovingkindness

After reading more than 25 Psalms using these words, I have concluded KJV and others have made an inaccurate interpretation. The way it sounds by saying “tender mercies ” it implies gentleness, or immaturity. It means most often, looking after, to care for.

Lovingkindness means: Goodness kindness or faithfulness. If we look at several other transl. I find a better meaning. Since we must say what we mean and be understood in simple language, I think the following 2 examples say it best.

Psalms 51:1 (Jewish Publ. Society) Be gracious unto me, O God, according to Thy mercy; according to the multitude of Thy compassions blot out my transgressions.

Psalms 51:1. (Youngs Literal Translation) Favour me, O God, according to Thy kindness, According to the abundance of Thy mercies, Blot out my transgressions.

The sentences are confusing because of the verbs describing the actions of mercy and kindness. There are over 25 scriptures that use the word lovingkindness. In each case it is the same root word.

It is only meaning that God is tender—meaning He takes care and looks over us, His children, and fair in His administration of mercy. He does not blot us out of the book of life for the first time and every time we sin. The KJV has done a softening of the intent of God’s faithfulness, He cannot change, He has to follow the law that He has laid out. We are to follow His example and obedience.

Jeremiah 9:24 But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD.

This is a gift from God that is granted only as long as we fulfill our part.

He will take protection from us if we turn our back on what we know to do. He will no longer grant us forgiveness, because He has turned away from us and will no longer hear our prayers.

Jeremiah 16:5 … I have taken away my peace from this people, saith the LORD, even lovingkindness and mercies.

The word is translated as “mercy” 149 times, kindness 40, and lovingkindness only 30. The same word. Moreover, this word is different from the mercy we studied a few months ago. It is not the forgiveness of sin, but simply “niceness”. In fact, sin disqualifies you from receiving “lovingkindness”. The best translation for this word is probably kindness.

Deuteronomy 7:9 Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy [Kindness] with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations; And repayeth them that hate him to their face, to destroy them: he will not be slack to him that hateth him, he will repay him to his face. Thou shalt therefore keep the commandments, and the statutes, and the judgments, which I command thee this day, to do them. Wherefore it shall come to pass, if ye hearken to these judgments, and keep, and do them, that the LORD thy God shall keep unto thee the covenant and the mercy [Kindness] which he sware unto thy fathers:

It is very highly conditional. God only gives this to certain people – and he never gives it to them simply because they ask. He gives it to them because they have fulfilled THEIR PART of the bargain.

Nehemiah 1:5 And said, I beseech thee, O LORD God of heaven, the great and terrible God, that keepeth covenant and mercy [Kindness] for them that love him and observe his commandments:

And there comes a time when God is simply sick of you not fulfilling that part of the bargain. He no longer has any intention to show you “lovingkindness”

Jeremiah 16:5 For thus saith the LORD, Enter not into the house of mourning, neither go to lament nor bemoan them: for I have taken away my peace from this people, saith the LORD, even lovingkindness and mercies.

Strong’s # 2617—of 248 occurrences, 149 times it’s translated MERCY; 40 times as KINDNESS; goodness 12, kindly 5, merciful 4, favour 3, good 1, goodliness 1, pity 1; only 26 times as lovingkindness.

Translating ancient Hebrew isn’t a skill easily mastered, even for those Jews who grew up in Israel. Even in English, there’s the Simple tense - present, past and future; the Progressive tense - present, past and future; Perfect tense - present, past and future; Perfect Progressive tense - present, past and future; Then there’s Future in Past—Active / Passive Forms -- Gerunds, Participles, and Infinitives, Subjects, Subject Complements, Direct and Indirect Objects, and Objects of Prepositions, Present participles, Verbs acting as modifiers etc. This is just in English—other languages can be complicated!

Consider the English word kindness: We could use Compassion, Sympathy, Gentleness, Favor, Benevolence, Pity, Commiseration, Understanding, Empathy, Concern, Consideration, Warmth, Caring, Affection, Leniency, Humanity, Charity, Clemency, Tolerance, Mercy, Patience, Nice, Tenderness, Easygoing, Beneficent, Goodness, or dozens of others, and still retain the basic meaning. Strong’s Concordance doesn’t even list the variations in Hebrew tenses. While a wonderful tool, it is virtually useless in understanding subtle shades of meaning.

Much also depends on the context, as well as the mood and the national condition at the time the work was written. You not only need an intimate knowledge of the language, but also of the document being translated and contemporary history as well. For example, Jonah’s belligerent attitude would make no sense at all, unless you understood the prophecies of the coming Assyrian captivity of Israel, then it makes perfect sense.

I cringe whenever self-styled scholars decide to meddle with the fantastic work of the King James translators, based on twenty minutes of research in a Strong’s Concordance. The KJV chose Lovingkindness over Mercy 26 times, because of subtle variations in style, verb tense and form and because 1500 years of religious insanity had ravaged the earth, and created a society, which created them. And all things considered, it wasn’t a bad choice. Although I think kindness, without the loving added to it, would have been a better choice, but my first choice would have been simple goodness!

The important question for us to understand in this syrupy, religious, evil world today is why, and under what conditions, does God bestow this lovingkindness upon men.

Psalms 36:10 says, “O continue thy lovingkindness unto them that know thee; and thy righteousness to the upright in heart.” Them that refuse to obey God can never know him!

Jeremiah 16:5 say, “…Enter not into the house of mourning, neither go to lament nor bemoan them: for I have taken away my peace from this people, saith the LORD, even lovingkindness and mercies.” He did this because they had know Him and then forsaken Him (Verse 11-12)!

Jeremiah 31:3, “From afar Jehovah hath appeared to me, With love age-during I have loved thee, Therefore I have drawn thee with kindness.”

In scripture after scripture, the word lovingkindness is packaged together with, mercy, faithfulness, righteousness, judgment, truth and obedience. It always stands starkly contrasted or opposed to iniquity and self-will.

Lovingkindness is simply God’s goodness; extended to those who are Him willing to serve Him, according to the degree He has revealed Himself to them. He draws people to the truth by His lovingkindness and withdraws it from them, if they continually resist or turn away.

God is good – tenderhearted – full of mercy and quick-EAGAR-Almost Desperate to forgive and forget it ever happened, if you will just allow Him to do so. He just cannot feel these emotions for those who are bent on evil.