Kindness

"...Christ is all and in all. Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another...even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful." (Col. 3:11-15). As the Apostle Paul wrote this to the Colossians, he was speaking these things about each of us as a new man in Christ, renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created us (see v. 10). We can all agree that this scripture is guiding us to godly behavior towards one another. "Kindness" is a relatively mild and vague word in our language, but in the original Greek language with which it was written above, we can see a very powerful origin - even the creative power of God. The Greek word used here for "kindness", with its roots, is chrestotes, and we can begin tracing back its meaning: kindness, moral excellence, gentleness, goodness --> gracious, fit for use, useful --> to furnish what is needed, give an oracle, touch lightly or light upon --> by the help or agency of any one, God's might and power in: a) creating the universe, b) upholding and preserving, protecting and aiding, c) in punishing, and d) determining and controlling the destinies of men. At the very root of the word "kindness" used above is the creative power of God. This week's Sabbath reading titled Ki Teitze, or "When you go out", gives us a look into the power of kindness. We will find that kindness has a direct connection to either righteousness or sin in God's eyes. The readings from Deuteronomy Ch. 22 through 25 give us examples of the principle of kindness having been raised to the level of Law. Because we now know the meaning at the very root of "kindness", as stated above, this will not surprise us. In Deuteronomy 22:1-4 Moses commanded the people that they must go out of their way to show kindness to their brethren or neighbor, even to the point of inconvenience or cost to themselves. Kindness is to be shown even to a mother bird with eggs in her nest (v. 6-7). Just this small kindness to a bird has powerful spiritual rewards: "...that it may be well with you and that you may prolong your days." (v. 7). Kindness shown to something so small as a bird can lengthen our lives, according to the Word of God! In Deuteronomy Ch. 24, kindness, or lack of it, is accounted as righteousness or sin as the LORD commanded His people. The Law said that if you gave a loan to your brother, you could not go into his home and take what you want for security (pledge) on the loan. You must wait outside the home, showing kindness and respect, and allow the borrower to bring his security out to you. If the security is an item of necessity to the borrower if he is poor, such as a garment, you are not to keep it and use it overnight yourself, but must return it to the borrower when the sun goes down "that he may sleep in his own garment and bless you; and it shall be righteousness to you before the LORD your God." (v. 10-13). God's people were not to be unkind to a hired servant who is poor, whether he is one of the brethren or a foreigner, and were to give the servant his pay daily: "Lest he cry out against you to the LORD, and it be sin to you." (v. 14-15). The Law also instructed that instead of completely reaping the harvest of fields, olive trees, or vineyards, some must be left behind unharvested as a kindness to the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, who could gather the remainder for themselves, "...that the LORD your God may bless you in all the work of your hands." This kindness is done in remembrance of the kindness of God who brought them out of slavery in Egypt: "...therefore I command you to do this thing." (v. 19-22). Neglecting to do kindness to others is like forgetting the miraculous kindness that the LORD has done for us by His power. Our kindness, or lack of it, can determine and control the destinies of others, as well as our own, according to the meaning of the word as we saw above. The Hebrew word for kindness, hesed, shows the two possibilities of receiving either righteousness or sin before the LORD. Hesed and its root word means "mercy, kindness, goodness, favor, show thyself merciful, to be reproached, ashamed, put to shame or contempt which is determined by the ardent desire by which one is led". The intention of the heart, whether for good or evil, determines the direction and result of "hesed". One of this Sabbath's readings gives us an example of the judgment received by a king as a result of his unkind rule of the people, especially in comparison to the previous rule of his kind father. In Jeremiah 22, the LORD prophesied judgment against King Shallum (meaning retribution, recompense, reward, bribe) of Judah, son of King Josiah. The LORD promised that Shallum would die in captivity, never able to return to Jerusalem again. Shallum had built himself a very grand house of cedar and painted it vermillion, a rare and most esteemed red dye. He also failed to pay wages to those from whom he received work (v. 13-14). However, his grand house would not save his kingly reign. The LORD noted that Shallum's father, King Josiah, had done justice and righteousness. "(Josiah) judged the cause of the poor and needy; then it was well. Was not this knowing Me?' says the LORD. 'Yet your eyes and your heart are for nothing but your covetousness, for shedding innocent blood, and practicing oppression and violence." (Jer. 22:14-17). Here we see the two possibilities of hesed kindness, mentioned previously. The kind and just rule of the father caused things to go well with him, but the covetous and unkind intentions of Shallum's heart would bring him this fate: "He shall be buried with the burial of a donkey, dragged and cast out beyond the gates of Jerusalem." (v. 19). Two different destinies befell father and son here. In another reading from this Sabbath, we will see how the hesed kindness of the LORD will change the destiny of a people. The people that the LORD is talking about in Isaiah 54 are the beneficiaries of the sacrifice of God's Servant mentioned earlier in Isaiah 53. This Servant is described as being despised and rejected by men: "...He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities...And the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all...My righteous Servant shall justify many, for He shall bear their iniquities."" (Isa. 53:3-11, excerpt). We recognize this to be a prophecy regarding our Savior, Jesus, and His sacrifice for our sins. Because of this Servant's sacrifice, those who are shamed can now sing (Isa. 54:1). Those who were barren and desolate of (spiritual) life shall bear many children to the point that they will have to enlarge their dwelling. Regarding their previous shame the LORD declared: "Do not fear, for you will not be ashamed; Neither be disgraced, for you will not be put to shame...with great mercies I will gather you. With a little wrath I hid My face from you for a moment; But with everlasting kindness (hesed) I will have mercy on you,' says the LORD your Redeemer...'For the mountains shall depart and the hills be removed, but My kindness (hesed) shall not depart from you, nor shall My covenant of peace be removed,' says the LORD, who has mercy on you." (Isa. 54:1-10, excerpt). The outpouring of the LORD's kindness upon us, through the sacrifice of His Servant for our iniquities, changed our destinies from barrenness, shame and desolation to singing and abundant life: "...that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus." (Eph. 2:4-7, excerpt). The lifeless, desolate and shamed waited ages for this living testimony of God's kindness to set them free, the testimony we also received, and that testimony of kindness is still ongoing and changing destinies. Proverbs 31:25-26 describes a woman who changes her family's circumstances and destiny. It is written of her: "Strength and honor are her clothing; she shall rejoice in time to come. She opens her mouth with wisdom, and on her tongue is the law of kindness (hesed)." There is a reason that we are seeing less and less kindness in the world today. Kindness is not a tepid word about being "nice"., but it is a law, and at its root is the creation power of God to determine the destinies of men. If you would like to know more about the power and law of kindness, you can pray with me: "Heavenly Father, You used the law of hesed kindness by Your extension to us of salvation through Your Son, Jesus. We were barren - without life and desolate, but through kindness, You changed our destinies. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit so that I can bring that same kindness to others. Let my life be filled with righteousness before You through kindness shown to others, as You have shown kindness to me. I ask this in Jesus' name. AMEN."