She Laughs. She Prays.

The Pilgrimage Reliant Upon the Hesed of God (Reading #1)

How many times has my heart failed or how many times have I fallen into sin? How many choices have I made that displeased God and led my earthly pilgrimage away from the heavenly target? Why when I want to do right, do I choose to do wrong? It’s at these times that the mercy of God flows unfailing measures. Oh, I need His mercy.

When sorrow and discouragement overwhelm me, and I feel I can't take another step down this journey, God’s mercy carries me through. When I can barely get out of bed for fear of what the day holds, Christ takes my hand and walks with me. When my heart fails, the hesed or mercy of God becomes my strength for the completion of my pilgrimage called life.

When I make a right move closer to God, the evil one steps in tempting and taunting me. When I make a decision to follow after God, without fail, the evil one says sin one more time. At that moment it’s only by the mercy of God that I don’t relapse or fall away from God. But when I do falter or stumble, God picks me up and mercifully leads me back to him.

The meaning of "hesed," transliterated “checed” according to Vine’s Hebrew and Aramaic Dictionary, comes from three terms that converge and interact--strength, steadfastness, and love. God offers these to his children even when they are not deserved. Hesed is translated in the King James Version of the Bible as “mercy” about 149 times.

God chooses Israel as a nation and makes a covenant with them. God promises David, “My mercy will never depart away from him,” (2 Samuel 7:15). The NIV translates mercy as love or loving kindness in most incidents. The word hesed is actually a step beyond love or loving kindness. Mercy is love when it’s not deserved. Mercy is a love that under girds and upholds. Mercy is given by a lover who sees the wretchedness and loves even when others offer only disdain. Mercy is unrestricted, relinquishing, unfailing love.

The NIV translates “mercy” or hesed as “love” in the Davidic covenant passage (2 Samuel 7:15). In this covenant God begins a new thing. Prophetically now and in the future, God does want to do a "new thing." But the first new thing is the old thing that began with the Davidic covenant, continued through the death of Jesus on the cross and goes on to his millennial reign as King.

The promise of a Messiah began with David (Psalm 2 and the Davidic Covenant in 2 Samuel 7) and continued with Jesus who said in I Corinthians 11:25, “This cup is the new testament in my blood.” Thus we have one reason to call the new thing God wrote down the “New Testament.” The Old Testament tells us about the “Old Thing” God was doing, mercy and justice distributed by the law. The New Testament tells us about the “New Thing” he is doing and plans to accomplish in this world. So, God is doing a new thing in exercising mercy for all, not just the Jews. We as Gentiles are a part of God's new thing.

A “testament” is a covenant, contract or agreement. Probably one of the few well-known covenants left in contemporary world is the marriage covenant. This too is a covenant of love and mercy. When a couple enters a marriage, they say “I do” with the presupposition of “unconditional love and mercy.” The world teaches that love and marriage are based on conditions. If you satisfy my desires, if you stay young and pretty, if you continue to make a salary large enough, I will stay married. But God’s character demonstrates the covenant love that must be a part of marriage if it’s to be a long term, permanent relationship—the hesed.

Most people believe a covenant requires two people to keep the conditions, but many of the covenants God made were one sided. In the Davidic covenant there are no conditions dependent on man. God promises rest for the Israelite nation (2 Samuel 7:11); God promises that the throne of David will live forever (2 Samuel 7:13); God promises unconditional mercy (2 Samuel 7:15).

When God makes a new covenant or testament with us, he creates a contract that he doesn’t plan to break. Mercy is a large part of the New Testament contract.

Mercy is also an attribute of God’s character that is unchanging. God is a merciful God, and when in trouble we can turn to God reliant upon his mercy, just like David. In David’s journey, his pilgrimage, his adventure of a lifetime he knew he served a merciful God. David relied fully on the mercy of God in his sin, when obedience seemed difficult, and in hope or despair.

Relying on the Hesed in Our Sin and its Consequences (Reading #2)

David ran to the mercy of God amidst all his trials and sin. David showed his understanding of God’s mercy during even the consequence of God’s wrath against his sin. David says, “I am in deep distress. Let us fall into the hand of the Lord, for his mercy is great; but do not let me fall into the hands of men.” (2 Samuel 24)

David understood the great mercy of God. He verbally chose to let the consequences of his sin come directly from God over the merciless hand of men. In David’s heart he knew that God loved him and his people. He remembered most of all the covenant God made with Israel. God would not break his covenant. He would have mercy.

David lived a far from perfect life. Adultery, murder, direct disobedience of God’s commands. Yet God restored his life again and again. God did not keep the consequences or punishments connected with sin away from David. This would not have been merciful.

In a pilgrimage, the path of righteousness includes training through the pattern of mistakes and consequences. A merciful God would not deny a person the consequences. It would be like a parent going to the judge and asking that an adult child not be tried for murder, that the adult child not be forced to face the consequences of their sin. Only by facing the consequences do humans learn. If when we touched fire, we didn’t feel the pain. We’d touch it and not realize how badly it damages the flesh. Sin damages the heart and the relationship with God. We need to be burnt. A merciful God forgives the sin and accepts a repentant heart but allows the sinner to suffer the consequences.

A man works two jobs to keep his family in food and a home. When he comes home, he spews anger out over his children. He loves his family, but he doesn’t show it. His character distributes hate, demands escapism through television watching, and lives lacking consistency in all areas of godliness. Although God has mercy for that man, the consequences of how he led his life will be reaped in his children. Without God’s intervention they too will convey stubbornness and escapism, hate and yelling. Like father, like son. This Christian man may repent of how he led his life, but he still reaps the consequences of how he raised his children as he watches them fall into similar habits. But it’s at this point that we rely on the mercy of God for ourselves and our family. We turn our sins and the consequences over to a merciful God.

David reaped in his children the sins of his life. Absalom rebelled and committed murder. Tamar was raped by her brother and lived in disgrace the remainder of her life. David recognized his sin and repented, but the consequences continued. By God’s mercy, we can look at David’s life and the consequences of sin. Then we can learn and choose to make adjustments early in many areas of our life.

A friend would come to my house and borrow items without asking. She thought nothing of it. I’d go to her house and find my missing items. At a young age her child began taking toys from homes without asking. She had unknowingly taught her child to steal.

Another friend stretched the truth, exaggerated or changed the story to fit the conversation. Soon the little boy became known for telling stories. You could never tell the truth from fiction.

In both these areas the children picked up on the sins of their parents, and the parents reaped the consequence of dealing with the same sins in their children.

But God is merciful. If we change, if we pray over our children, if we’re honest with our families about our faults, God works miracles. He won’t always change the consequences, but he always gives us the strength to live a powerful, repentant life when we ask.

As a favor to an elderly lady in my life, I blind dated her nephew one weekend when he visited. We were 25 years old and ready to have good, Christian fun, I thought. I noticed that her nephew's conversations were streaked with morbid and solemn thoughts. I tried to be jovial and create an atmosphere of happiness. On the last date of the weekend, I could hear strongly the bitterness in his words. How I wanted him to turn to God, but nothing but negativity.

A few years later I learned this young man died from the disease known as Aids. He had reaped the grave consequences of the life of a drug user. But God still loved him and called to him in his time of bitterness. He poured out a desire to apply mercy and forgiveness to the young man through not only my words but the prayers of his aunt and other elder Christians in his life.

As a child, teenager, and adult we all have choices to make. We can honor our parents’ requests to stay away from drugs and sinful lives that leads to grave consequences. We can choose to relate in godliness to our children or see the long-lasting effects of our words. We can repent and a merciful God will be by our side as we make adjustments.

Relying on the Hesed of God when Obedience Seems Most Difficult (Reading #3)

I sighed once again when I heard the news. I couldn’t rescue her if I wanted. I didn’t even know at what motels prostitutes lingered or which bars catered to her clients. A counselor once told me that relapse is common when people prepare to enter rehabilitation. It still staggered me. I sat down in that transitional living home, watched the transient populace make their plans for the day, and prayed. Then I went to the church and prayed some more.

Afterwards I contemplated human nature and God’s understanding of it. I considered the pain, both undeserved and self-wrought, of this woman and many others like her. God understands the pain. God’s mercy covers people stuck in a pattern of moving forward, fighting the pain in positive ways, and the sudden relapse into sin associated with the climb. He doesn’t give a stamp of approval on the sin. No, just the contrary. But He does rain mercy on the sinner who truly returns with a repentant heart from a moment or extended time of relapse. God’s mercy is unconditional.

In the above transitional time of life, this woman relapsed. She sinned. She disobeyed. She needed God’s mercy to forgive her sin and help her get back on the path to recovery and a life under God’s blessing. Next time she’s tempted it would benefit her to remember that just too was tempted by the evil one. With the knowledge of how Jesus resisted temptation in the wilderness (Matthew 4), Perhaps she can resist and slay the giant.

Tempting and taunting can either be resisted or submitted to. Although the love and mercy of God is great when a heart repents, only by God’s mercy does one resist as well. In resisting the evil one’s snare we walk obediently, not straying from the path God’s desires for us.

Unknown to David, he was about to make a transition in his life from shepherd to living in the house of the King, a move forward in the plans of God. That’s when the giant began his taunting. David filled with the Spirit of God didn’t give in to the flesh and run the opposite way. He fought against the giant and won. David knew his winning only came at the merciful hand of God.

The attacks of the evil one are meant to keep us from moving closer to God. The closer we move, the stronger the attacks. The larger the giant, the more we need the mercy of God. So God’s mercy works on our behalf at all times during the pilgrimage home. David transitioned from shepherd to giant slayer, then from armor bearer of Saul to a captain over 10 thousand, and finally King. During the time of this transition, Saul tried to slay David. By the mercy of God, Saul never accomplished his goal. David became a well-known warrior.

Before moving from warrior to King, David found himself hiding in a cave. In this cave, David wrote great number of Psalms requesting the mercy of God to be with him. “Be merciful to me, O God, for men hotly pursue me.” (Psalm 56:1) Do you feel pursued by people who could lead to your downfall? Persevere and rely on the mercy of God.

“Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me, for in you my soul takes refuge. I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed.” Has disaster of not your making come your way? Think of yourself as a baby bird and run to God asking him to cover you with his wings as the storm surrounds you. Find a closet or quiet spot. Hide and pray. God’s mercy is available.

God’s mercy preserves. (Psalm 61:6, KJV) When we think we can’t resist temptation any longer, God preserves and makes a way of escape.

The Hesed in Times of Hope and Despair (Reading #4)

Sometimes we relate the mercy of God only to his guidance during the times of tempting, but it’s by his mercy that we live happily day to day. When good things come our way during the pilgrimage, it’s God’s mercy causing his face to shine upon us. (Psalm 67, KJV)

David knew to thank God for his mercy, both in hope and despair. He gave God the glory when he slew the giant by the power of a merciful God. He turned to the mercy of God when his baby boy by Bathsheba died and when his rebellious son Absalom was killed. He applied the mercy of God to every area of his life.

After a late night studying, the telephone in my college dorm room rang. I woke up immediately and answered. When I heard the news, I cried in despair. My aunt had died. When my Mom remarried, my step-dad’s sister had received all six of us kids warmly. She often had us over for dinner; she spent the holidays with us; and remembered each of us on special occasions. Her announcement of cancer surprised us all and her quick death astonished us even more.

Dealing with her death seemed harsh for me. God gave her to us and quickly took her away. It was the giving and the ripping away that made me question the mercy of God. But in moments of despair, if we run towards the open arms of God our Father, faith and hope come. When we run away, despair lingers.

A pastor married a young couple who had recently turned their vibrant, talented lives over to God. After a few years of discipling the couple, the pastor chose to go against the commands of God. He allowed his emotions to lead him down the path of adultery. He left his family and his ministry. As a result the young couple became confused and bitter. In the immaturity of their Christian walk they didn’t know to run toward God in times of despair. They didn’t understand the idea of life being a pilgrimage. They didn’t see God’s mercy for them in their chance to learn from their pastor friend’s mistake. Instead they walked away from the blessings of a life with God, because of someone else’s mistake. When they ran away, despair didn’t retreat it lingered, and lingered. Only when they chose to come back to God years down the path, when they chose to live by the mercy of God did they set their pilgrimage again on their homeward, heavenly bound road.

Most of us can read or repeat the bumper sticker, “God is love.” We might even remember the song, “Jesus loves the little children.” We’ve heard it over and over again. Yet this head knowledge eludes our very being. We think we run to God yet feelings of hopelessness linger. The intimate feelings of being loved by a God who is all knowing, has all understanding, and cares about our every need evades us.

I know multitudes of women who day after day can not get out of bed because they have no reason to try. Or their only reason is a job that feeds a family, so they live a life utterly bound by lack of joy. Here’s where the hesed of God out does any idea of earthly love that we could ever imagine. We generally base our feelings, our thoughts, and our emotions on an understanding of earthly love that fails. Divorce is love that failed. Death of a spouse becomes a love that failed by leaving the living to exist without the love of the desired partner. Here’s where hesed comes in. Hesed is unfailing love. It’s a love that will never leave us or forsake us. In our despair, we only understand man’s love, which is why I prefer the term mercy when translated throughout the Bible. Mercy forces us to consider love from a different angle. Men are incapable of true mercy. They can and should apply the concept of mercy. But only by realizing that the hesed of God is different than any other love or mercy we could receive on earth, can we even begin to have the power to pull our legs out of bed and our mind out of despair.

It’s this hope that can at least allow us to obey even when our own mind tends toward depression. If all a man or woman can do is put their feet on the side of the bed and say, “God, I know you called me as a young child, and no matter what my own thoughts about myself or the world are, I will get out of bed and obey. I can’t obey because I think I’m worthy. I can’t obey because any goal looms near. But I can obey because you called, and your mercies are new every morning. Great is your faithfulness.”

When we think we’re unlovely and undeserving, God’s merciful calling still remains. When those we love fail us, God’s merciful calling still remains.

I have always liked the story involving the voice of the Father saying, “This is my son in who I am well pleased.” Jesus was baptized and then entered the wilderness to be tempted by the evil one. But God sent him to face temptation with the words, “This is my son. I am pleased with him.” The pastor said, “How much easier it must have been for Jesus to go into the wilderness knowing his Father was pleased.”

When depression hits and I don’t want to get out of bed, I apply the mercy of God to my own life. I refuse to listen to the lies of the evil one and look for the voice that says, “This is my daughter in whom I am well pleased.”

David understood the covenant mercy of God. He feared God, and God was pleased. He wasn’t perfect, but he feared God and repented. The Bible says David was a man after God’s own heart.

Our One Year Bibles finally arrived at Bristol Bay Church, Dillingham, AK. We have decided to start on March 17, 2024, which means it will take until next March 17, 2025, to finish reading all the way through. If you asked for a soft cover copy or would like one, please see me on anytime this week or on Sunday. I have about 10 of these. You can also purchase the electronic copy on Christianbook.com The One Year Chronological Bible NLT - eBook: 9781414361628 - Christianbook.com I will have a few journals and notebooks as well in case you want one to keep your answers in to the questions below in a notebook. And/or send them to me and we can stay in contact: pastorval@bristolbay.church

For those who want to read along in your own Bible, I will publish the passages for the week in a special column to check off. I look forward to reading with you. Each week I will also send some study questions to go with your reading if you choose to use them. Reply with questions and answers. I look forward to reading God's Word with you daily.

April 21

2 Samuel 3:6-4:12

April 22

2 Samuel 5-6:11

I Chronicles 11:1-13:14

April 23

2 Samuel 6:12-23

I Chronicles 16

April 24

2 Samuel 7-8

I Chronicles 17-18:13

Psalm 60

April 25

2 Samuel 8-10:19

I Chronicles 18:14-19:19

I Chronicles 6

April 26

I Chronicles 20

2 Samuel 11-12:25

April 27

2 Samuel 12:26-14:33

April 28

2 Samuel 15-17:4

April 21

2 Samuel 3:6-4:12

1) Read 2 Samuel 3:36. How does this sum up the attitude of the people for David. Give examples of why the Bible would say this.

2) 2 Samuel 4:4, use this verse to describe Saul's grandson.

April 22

1) Describe what happens in 2 Samuel 5:3.

2) Create a small timeline to show this period of David's reign, as described in 2 Samuel 5:4.

3) 2 Samuel 5:7-13 sets the stage for David's reign. What happens? Where does it take place? Who is mentioned and do you recognize any names? Why?

4) In 2 Samuel chapter 6, what do you learn about the Ark of the Covenant? Give details.

April 23

1) In 2 Samuel 6:12-23, what incident or conversation stands out to you? How would you apply this learning situation to your own life?

2) I Chronicles 16:4-6, what activity did David prioritize before God? What instruments are listed?

April 24

1) 2 Samuel 8:15-18, list the occupations appointed by King David?

2) I Chronicles 17:16, David asks God the question "Who am I? From what context is this asked? 3) What does God not allow David to do and why?

April 25

1) In 2 Samuel 9:5-12, to who does David show kindness and why? What is significant about the grandson of Saul sitting at David the King's table?

2) When we read Psalms, we come across names of other people who wrote chapters of the book. 3) What three musicians does David appoint in I Chronicles 6? Did all three men write Psalms?

April 26

1) in I Chronicles 20:1, there is something that we see as abnormal, that the Israelites viewed as normal. What did the kings do at this time of year?

2) In 1 Chronicles 20, who did David's army fight?

3) 2 Samuel 11 and I Chronicles 20, begin in similar fashion. How do they differ?

4) Describe the circumstances surrounding the birth of Solomon in 2 Samuel 12:1-25.

5) What does David admit in 2 Samuel 12:13? Have you ever admitted that to God?

6)What Samuel's answer also in 2 Samuel 12:13? God says the same to us.

April 27

1) Who was Amnon? How and why did he die?

2) Who was Tamar? What made her tear her clothes and rub ashes on her body?

3) Who was Absalom? Why did he run from the King's presence?

4) Why did David finally absolve Absalom and eventually give him a kiss?

April 28

2 Samuel 15:30 it says: David walked up the road to the Mount of Olives, weeping as he went. His head was covered and his feet were bare as a sign of mourning. And the people who were with him covered their heads and wept as they climbed the hill.

Read this post. Then compare one or more of Jesus' trips to the Mount of Olives with David's. What happened on the Mount of Olives? | GotQuestions.org

April 14

1) How did David gain the faith to kill Goliath? What can we learn from him? He gained his faith in the fields as he took care of the sheep. He rescued the sheep from animals and practiced using his tools. That our faith grows as we exercise it.

2) What does it mean the "tormenting spirit from the Lord?" Consider this video. The word evil has two senses in Hebrew. It has the sense of moral evil and a sense of destruction. Evil here refers to a self-destructive spirit that had been building in him and God allowed to be released, according to one Jewish scholar. There is more than one time that when God removes His Spirit that it opens a place for an evil spirit. Jesus released the man from the evil spirits, and it went into the pigs (Mark 5:13) Consider the following in reference to the Rapture. “For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way” (2 Thessalonians 2:7).

3) About what event in his life did David write Psalm 59? How does this relate to the scripture we read in I Samuel today (I Samuel 17:32-19:24)? Psalm 59 is A psalm[a] of David, regarding the time Saul sent soldiers to watch David’s house in order to kill him. I Samuel 19:11 refers to this incident.

April 15

1)Use words from 1 Samuel 20:1-42 to describe the relationship of Jonathan and David. David says that Saul knows about our friendship, so his friendship is evident to others. "Your father knows perfectly well about our friendship (20:3)." David was considered a part of the family to the point he ate meals at Jonathan and Saul's table (20:5). Jonathan calls their friendship as one of a "faithful love (20:15)." As they parted the Bible says, "Jonathan loved David as he loved himself (20:17). Their friendship progresses in these verses from friendship to described as love.

2) What did David write Psalm 34 about? Why did David act insane before Achish, King of Gath? When David found out that Achish recognized him, he feared the worse. He decided to act crazy or insane. The king sent him out of his presence, and David escaped to a cave.

April 16

1) According to I Samuel 22:1-2, who joined David living in a cave? His entire family.

2) Psalm 57, Psalm 142, Psalm 52 all describe David's feelings during a specific time in his life. What were these three times? Psalm 57 he escaped to a cave to live. Psalm 142, his experience in a cave. Psalm 52 when Doeg told Saul about David's whereabouts.

3) I Chronicles 12:8-15 describes the warriors that joined David. Write down the details about those who joined him. What do you think their resume would look like? These soldiers were brave and fierce, likened unto Lions. They were quick like deer, commanders of many of whom one alone could kill hundreds and thousands. Their resume would be likened to a superhero.

April 17

1) I Samuel 23:13-26, What do David and Saul call each other? father and son.

2) I Samuel 25:39-42, Who does David marry and why? Abigail because of her wisdom and caring. Who else does David marry? Ahinoam-it doesn't say why. His first wife Michal was given away to another man by Saul.

April 18

1) I Samuel 26:1-29:11, What was important about a spear and a water jug? David took them from Saul while Saul slept. He thus spared Saul's life.

2) In the reading from today, what happened at Endor? Saul consulted a medium or a witch.

April 19

1) In I Chronicles 10:1-14, how did Saul die? In battle. This says he killed himself because he did not want to fall in the hands of the enemies.

2) In I Chronicles 12:20-22, how does this passage describe David's army? Some of them were defectors that had led 1000 soldiers. They were brave and able commanders in David's army.

3) In I Samuel 30:1-13 What was stolen from David? David’s two wives, Ahinoam from Jezreel and Abigail, the widow of Nabal from Carmel, were among those captured

4) Describe David's reaction, his mourning for Saul and Jonathan in 2 Samuel 1:1-27. He wrote a funeral song.

April 20

1) In 2 Samuel 2:1-3:5, It describes David becoming King of what? King of Judah. What is the northern kingdom and the southern Kingdom of Israel? Southern Kingdom was made of two Israel tribes-Benjamin and Judah. Northern Kingdom was the remaining tribes.

2) In 2 Samuel 23:8-39, David explains two of his warrior teams. How would you describe the Three and the Thirty? The three-the three mightiest warriors in the army. The members of the thirty single handedly did heroic deeds like kill a lion in a pit on a snowy day.

April 21

1) Read 2 Samuel 3:36. How does this sum up the attitude of the people for David. Give examples of why the Bible would say this. Everything he did pleased them. He was a great warrior. He had great wisdom. He was faithful to his friends. He grieved for his enemies, as in Abner.

2) 2 Samuel 4:4, use this verse to describe Saul's grandson. He was crippled as a child. He was crippled when his nursemaid dropped him after hearing of the death of Jonathan and Saul.

Give thanks to the Lord and proclaim his greatness.

Let the whole world know what he has done.

I Chronicles 16:8

Aleknagik village is about 45 minutes from Dillingham. I've been there often to visit Aleknagik Lake with friends and family. The scenery is breathtaking. But what I love most are the stories of revival and testimonies of changed lives. God is moving in Aleknagik. One testimony included revival services by Ipli George. One man recalled being out on a boat and hearing singing, but there was no one around. The mysterious singing brought the man to realize that he needed Jesus. He attended the revival and his life was changed. Several family members were also saved and their lives changed. God has much more to do in Aleknagik and Bristol Bay. Revival is coming again.