HesedTov is a combination of two Hebrew words, Hesed (sometimes romanized as chesed) and Tov. Both words are found in verse 6 of the 23rd Psalm – “Surely, your tov (goodness) and hesed (loving kindness or mercy) will follow me all the days of my life.”

Hesed is a fascinating word which doesn’t have a good English equivalent. It’s often translated as mercy or lovingkindness but these words are almost too tame to stand for the real meaning. The connotation of the Hebrew word is more like when a woman is being attacked and the husband of that woman who adores her sees and comes to her rescue. The zeal, the ferocity and the selfless devotion that propel him to action is closer to the meaning of hesed. It includes the sense of unchanging, committed and action-oriented love.

Tov is the word that means good as in beneficial and welfare. The Bible says God is always good and that he doesn’t do evil. Psalm 92:15 says “The Lord is just. He is my rock and there is no evil in him (NLT) James 1:17 says “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” (NIV)

The word ‘follow’ in the verse doesn’t just mean to come after in a casual way. It contains the idea of running after and pursuing like a predator chasing a prey and even the sense of ‘to persecute.’ Imagine being ‘persecuted’ by God’s goodness and love!

The aim of this blog is to record Yahweh God’s faithful love and goodness as I experience him in my life. It also contains revelatory insights the Holy Spirit brings to me from the Scriptures. My prayer is that the Trinity who shows no favoritism will touch your heart too with the glory of his Tov and his Hesed.