Love Mercy

Micah 6:8 says:

God has shown you, O mortal, what is good.

And what does the Lord require of you?

To act justly and to love mercy

and to walk humbly with your God.

What does it mean to love mercy? If you look at different translations, the word 'mercy' is also translated as kindness, lovingkindness, compassion, faithfulness, constant love, and more. The book of Micah comes from the Hebrew, and the word there is חֶ֔סֶד, which is hesed. Like so many Hebrew words, hesed is rich and multi-layered. It is more than a feeling - hesed is deep love and loyalty, freely given. The word is used over 250 times in the Hebrew Bible, often reflecting the actions of God.

The Bible Project sums it up: "The Hebrew word 'khesed' combines the ideas of unconditional love, generosity, and enduring commitment."

Hesed is another way we might experience what is commonly known as the Golden Rule from the New Testament in Matthew 7:12: "So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets." I can't say it loud enough... Jesus teaches here THIS SUMS UP THE LAW AND THE PROPHETS - and that is vitally important. Pretty much boiling down some of the most important teachings of the Hebrew Bible - the Law and the Prophets. It all comes down to this.

Likewise, Micah was also summarizing. He was prophesying what God was telling him - and it comes down to this. God has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.

There are many lessons in the Bible. The Bible says a lot of things. But it also provides us the gift of summaries from time to time. Jesus says to treats others how we want to be treated, to love our neighbors as ourselves, that these lessons are the greatest ones. And Micah the prophet says if you want to know what matters - act justly, love mercy, walk humbly.

As you go on with life today, how might you follow these guidances? How would things look different if you applied these "summaries" to your actions?

With grace, may you carry on.