Reap In Mercy

[dave c]

simpletruth #138l Revisited 22May10 salicart@msn.com

HOSEA 10:12—Part Twelve: Reap In Mercy

by rev. dave c

Hosea 10:12, Sow for yourselves righteousness; Reap in mercy; Break up your fallow ground, For it is time to seek the LORD, Till He comes and rains righteousness on you (NKJV).

While The New King James Version translates Hosea 10:12b as Reap in mercy, The New International Version translates the phrase as reap the fruit of unfailing love, The New American Standard Version says Reap in accordance with kindness, The New Revised Standard Version uses reap steadfast love, and The New American Bible tells us, reap the fruit of piety. Which version is the most accurate translation? In a very real sense, when taken collectively, they all are. The word mercy is translated from the Hebrew word transliterated as chesedh (Strong’s #2617). The Complete Word Study Old Testament—KJV (p.2317,1994 AMG International, Inc.) has this to say about chesedh:

“This masculine noun is derived from chasadh (#2616), one of the most important words in the Old Testament, and is often translated in the KJV as “lovingkindness” or “mercy”. Chasadh is a somewhat complicated concept, however, and not easily defined in a single word. The basic idea is that of an act of kindness, love or mercy shown to someone. The quality of the kindness shown is usually that reserved for close friends and family members, but the act of chasadh can be shown to anyone. Thus, while chasadh describes kindnesses shown to friends and relatives, it can also pass between guest and host, master and servant, or even ruler and subject. An act of chasadh presupposes the existence of a relationship between the parties involved. Where no formal relationship has previously been recognized, the person exercising chasadh has chosen to treat the recipient as if such a relationship did exist….”

“...It is interesting to note that acts of chasadh are often reciprocated, and that it is not unusual for the benefactor to request a return of chasadh from the recipient. ...Chasadh is central to God’s character. It is closely tied to His covenant with His chosen people; in fact the covenant may be thought of as the relationship from which the chasadh flows. However, God’s chasadh is not bound by the covenant itself, and though men may prove unfaithful to this relationship, God’s chasadh is everlasting (Is 54:8).”

Given the above notes concerning the word translated mercy in the NKJV, we are confronted with several possible contextual meanings for its use in Hosea 10:12. Jehovah may be saying that IF we will sow in righteousness, He will reciprocate in kind by allowing us to reap His mercy and unfailing love. Or, He could be saying that we will ‘naturally’ reap as we have sown (with mercy being a fruit of righteousness), because of His steadfast love. Or, He might even be saying that as we sow righteously, we will receive an abundance of mercy (love) sufficient to meet our own needs and the needs of others—that is, as we experience the fruit of righteousness, we will extend the same to others. Or, He may intend some combination of all of the above...and more.

What is apparent from the use of chesedh is that God, as our King, grants His subjects grace and mercy. As our Lord and Master, He treats us with kindness because we are His bond servants. As Abba Father He extends His love to us as close friends and family members. What is even more amazing is that He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous (Mt 5:45b, NIV). And if men may prove unfaithful to [our covenant] relationship with God? As Romans 1:3&4 states, What if some did not have faith? Will their lack of faith nullify God's faithfulness? Not at all! Let God be true, and every man a liar (NIV). Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever (He 13:8; NIV).

God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful (1Co 1:9; NIV). And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear (1Co 10:13; NIV). But as surely as God is faithful, our message to you is not "Yes" and "No" (2Co 1:18; NIV). May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it (1Th 5:23&24; NIV). And pray that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men, for not everyone has faith. But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen and protect you from the evil one (2Th 3:2&3; NIV). ...If we are faithless, [God] will remain faithful, for he cannot disown himself (2Ti 2:13; NIV). But Christ is faithful as a son over God's house. And we are his house, if we hold on to our courage and the hope of which we boast (He 3:6; NIV). Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful (He 10:23; NIV). So then, those who suffer according to God's will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good (1Pe 4:19; NIV). If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness (1Jn 1:9; NIV).

Let us join our voices with the writer of Psalm 136 in a hymn of praise and thanksgiving: Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever. Oh, give thanks to the God of gods! For His mercy endures forever. Oh, give thanks to the Lord of lords! For His mercy endures forever: To Him who alone does great wonders, For His mercy endures forever;...Who remembered us in our lowly state, For His mercy endures forever; And rescued us from our enemies, For His mercy endures forever; Who gives food to all flesh, For His mercy endures forever (Ps 136:1-4/23-26, NKJV). Amen.