Yahweh Hesed-God Of Forgiveness: Biblical Meaning And Praying The Names Of God.
Updated: Jan 26, 2021
Yahweh Hessed is the Hebrew name of God meaning, God of forgiveness, His covenantal love for us and the Hebrew people. The Hebrew word, hesed is often translated as mercy, kindness, or lovingkindness. This Hebrew word, hesed describes the most wonderful atribute of God. It is difficult to convey the absolute true definition of hesed because there is not one English word that fully describes the real, true meaning of it. However scripture beautifully defines the word, hesed and we will look at a few Bible verses describing hesed below.
Yahweh Hesed-God Of Forgiveness
They refused to obey and did not remember the miracles you had done for them. Instead, they became stubborn and appointed a leader to take them back to their slavery in Egypt. But you are a God of forgiveness, gracious and merciful, slow to become angry, and rich in unfailing love. You did not abandon them. Nehemiah 9:17.
Pronouncing The Name: yah-WEH KHEH-sed
This is Day 25 of a 30 Day study on The Names Of God. If you haven't read the introduction yet, please start HERE
Understanding the Name Of God, Yahweh Hesed-God Of Forgiveness:
The Hebrew word hesed is found 249 times in 239 verses in the Hebrew Bible. It is often translated as mercy, kindenes or lovingkindness. When you add Yahweh to hesed, you get this beautiful name of God. It describes His atribute, God's loving kindness. We discussed at the very beginning of this Bible study on the Names of God, His name Yahweh. Yahweh is the Hebrew name of God meaning I Am, The Self-Existent One. I Am. He was. He is. He always has been and always will be. He is the Self-Existent One with no beginning and no end. Yahweh Hesed adds another dimension to His name. Just think about this truth, God-The Self-Existent One, who was, and is, and always will be, is full of forgiveness and loving kindness toward you.
What is the meaning of God's loving kindness?
Loving kindness is part of who God is. There are many places in Scripture that speak of the lovingkindness of God. He delights in showing loving kindness Micah 7:18.
Where is another God like you, who pardons the guilt of the remnant, overlooking the sins of his special people? You will not stay angry with your people forever, because you delight in showing unfailing love.
19 Once again you will have compassion on us. You will trample our sins under your feet and throw them into the depths of the ocean!
I bow before your holy Temple as I worship. I praise your name for your unfailing love and faithfulness;
for your promises are backedby all the honor of your name.
Lovingkindness, as it relates to the character of God, is most often used to describe God’s heart toward those who are His own. Lovingkindness is God’s kindness and steadfast love for His children.
Yahweh Hased is more than just loving kindness. God's forgiveness is woven through His name too. So is His grace and love. We are so loved by God!
I just love what Micah had to say about Yahweh Hased (see above)- Who is like God? Did you notice this verse says that God delights to give us mercy?
That is why He sent Jesus. God in His compassion for us knew that there was nothing that we could do to earn salvation. So He had to give us the perfect gift of salvation through His Son Jesus. We don't deserve Him but we do need to receive this life changing gift of eternal life.
The Apostle Paul tells us that salvation is a gift. This is what he says:
Ephesians 2:8
God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God.
We are saved by God's hesed, and there is nothing that we can do or stop doing that would ever be good enough to earn the love of God or His forgiveness. That is just a fact since the fall of man way back in the garden of Eden.
We can't achieve forgiveness through our own efforts but we can be saved through faith alone in God.
This is what Ephesians 1:7 says:
He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins.
Salvation and the blessings of God are His gifts to us. Our role is to just accept them and to repent of our sin.
Did you know that the word "repent" simply means to "turn away from"?
Here is what I like to call a truth bomb, when you choose to turn away from your sin and turn to God and His ways, then you are practicing true repentance.
Powerful living flows from a heart that has repented of every known sin and received God'd gift of forgiveness.
Applying the name of God, Yahweh Hesed-God Of Forgiveness to your life:
Do you know God as Yahweh Hesed? Have you asked for forgiveness from Him?
How does knowing God as Yahweh Hesed-God Of Forgiveness affect your life?
I have prepared a free printable for you to use as you explore the names of God. You will find it in our Resource Library Here.
This page has prompts for you to use as you prayerfully meditate on the names of God.
So who is Yahweh Hesed to you?
How does knowing God as Yahweh Hesed impact your life?
How can you grow in your Christian walk by understanding God as Yahweh Hesed?
Praying the Name Of God, Yahweh Hesed :
When you pray the word of God, you are praying His words of truth into your situation. It is the same when you pray the names of God. When you understand the meaning of the specific name of God and pray it over your situation-it is declaring His power over it. It certainly will build your faith and expectation of God to move in it. When you pray God's name, you are declaring the truth of who God is and you are proclaiming His power at work in your life. And when you pray to Yahweh Hesed, you are praying to the One who is full of mercy, loving kindness and forgiveness.
Let's Pray:
Yahweh Hased, I ask for Your forgiveness. I have sinned but I chose to turn away from it. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Reveal to me those sins that I don't realize that I commit. I want to be in right standing with You. I surrender my life and plans to You. Thank you for Your faithfulness. Amen.
We will be using these bible verses in the month of January 2021 as our daily devotionals in our Restoring Beauty For Ashes Facebook Group. Come join us there and join me every day for the next 6 days here as we unpack each name of God in a daily blog and I will try and explain how to pronounce the Hebrew Names Of God too. I would love it if you could share with me your thoughts as you work your way through this Scripture plan. You can connect with me via emailkaren@scripturalgrace.comor on our FACEBOOKpage.
Come back tomorrow as we unpack the name, Yahweh Tsidqenu-The Lord Our Righteousness.
It's all about His grace
xx Karen.
Here is the list of blog posts about 30 Powerful Hebrew Names Of God And Their Meaning : Introduction, 30 Powerful Hebrew Names Of God And Their Meaning (Free Printable) HERE
DAY 1. Elohim: Biblical Meaning (Pronouncing) And Praying The Names Of God HERE
DAY 2. Yahweh: Biblical Meaning (Pronouncing) And Praying The Names Of God HERE
DAY 3. El Roi-The God Who Sees Me: Biblical Meaning (Pronouncing) And Praying The Names Of God HERE
DAY 4. El Shaddai-The All-Sufficient One, God Almighty: Biblical Meaning & Praying The Names Of God HERE
DAY 5. El Olam-The Everlasting God Or The Eternal God: Biblical Meaning & Praying The Names Of God HERE
DAY 6. Yahweh-Yireh-The Lord Will Provide: Biblical Meaning & Praying The Names Of God HERE
DAY 7. Adoni-Lord And Master: Biblical Meaning & Praying The Names Of God HER
DAY 8. Yahweh Rapha-The Lord Who Heals: Biblical Meaning & Praying The Names Of God HERE
DAY 9. Yahweh Nissi-The Lord Is My Banner: Biblical Meaning & Praying The Names Of God HERE DAY 10. El Kanna-Consuming Fire, Jealous God: Biblical Meaning (Pronouncing) And Praying The Names Of God HERE
DAY 11. Yahweh Shalom-The Lord Is Peace HERE
DAY 12. Qedosh Yisrael-Holy One Of Israel: Biblical Meaning (Pronouncing) And Praying The Names Of God HERE
Day 13. Yahweh Tsuri-The Lord Is My Rock: Biblical Meaning And Praying The Names Of God HERE Day 14 Yahweh Roi-The Lord Is My Shepherd: Biblical Meaning And Praying The Names Of God HERE DAY 15 El Elyon-God Most High: Biblical Meaning And Praying The Names Of God HERE
Day 16. Yahweh Shammah-The Lord Is There: Biblical Meaning And Praying The Names Of God HERE Day 17. Miqweh Yisrael-Hope Of Israel: Biblical Meaning And Praying The Names Of God HERe
DAY 18. Magen-The Lord Is My Shield: Biblical Meaning And Praying The Names Of God HERE
DAY 19. Migdal-Oz-My Strong Tower: Biblical Meaning And Praying The Names Of God HERE
DAY 20. Atik Yomin-The Ancient Of Days: Biblical Meaning And Praying The Names Of God HERE