St James' Church

Sunday Sermon on February 19, 2012

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Vicar Writes: His “Chesed” Love

Oh give thanks to the Lord… for his steadfast love endures forever! 1Chronicles 16:4

The Hebrew word ‘chesed’, which is often translated as ‘steadfast’ is such a big and unique word that Bible scholars have difficulties agreeing on how to translate it. It is a word which needs to be understood in the various contexts which it is used.

But putting scholarly ideas aside, the fabric of life is such that we know how important enduring love or faithfulness is. Where such love is present, there is shalom peace in a family for generations. Where there is unfaithfulness, broken promises and shifting sands, by experience or observation, we also know the lasting and often unimaginable pain that these bring.

We recalled how the sudden movement of the Pacific tectonic plate under the North American plate caused a massive earthquake and a tsunami in Japan in March last year. It triggered a series of disasters which is still affecting the region today. Many parties have since been blamed: local authorities, safety officers for the nuclear plant, the government and so on. The thing is, in human relationships, when there is a unfaithfulness, the repercussions can be deep and lasting. The fallout is such that those who are close to the fault-line will end up sharing in the blame, often unfairly. And sometimes this can go on for generations.