The God of Loyal Love

THE GOD WHO IS… Overflowing with Loyal Love

Have you ever filled out a job application and they say “tell us about yourself – describe your personality ; your core values”. You know what you write down is going to reveal whether you are qualified or the right fit for the job…  

If you started out, “I’m basically a good guy… sharp, creative, personable, responsible…. BUT don’t mess with me before my coffee in the morning – whoa – I can be grumpy and moody… 

Or Im pretty organized, but don’t look in my closet… 

Or I’m patient – I get along with people but there’s things that push my buttons… whoa unto you if you do… THE BEAR COMES OUT OF THE CAVE…

This would not be recommended if you are looking for a job in HR

Sociologists say, there are over 4,000 religions in the world – cut and pasted from ancient beliefs and creeds as well as modern day thought…. Many of them with the same question – WHO ARE YOU GOD? 

Today – we are going to look again about what God says about Himself

WE ARE IN SERIES – THE GOD WHO IS…

Looking at the history of the Children of Israel – the Israelites

God has chosen them to reveal Himself to the whole world – His nature, His desires, His eternal plan.

He promises to keep a covenant with them that He made to their forefathers 1000 years prior – that He would be there God… 

Fast forward – the foundation of that covenant is now extended through Christ to you and me – That He would be Our God

As God begins to form and develop the Israelites into His People – essentially Moses asks the same questions in the book of Exodus 33 _ He asks God to reveal Himself  -  in Exodus 34… 

Only a few times in Scripture – God describes Himself – His character and nature – our anchor text is the moment when God reveals His own character:

FOUNDATIONAL SCRIPTURE

Exodus 34:6–7 (NIV) The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious

God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. 

Yet He does not leave the guilty unpunished; He punishes the children and their children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation.

We’ve looked at God’s “Self Description:

Compassionate — a God moved in His deepest being by our pain.

Gracious — a God who gives delightfully undeserved gifts.

Slow to anger — a God who is patient and does not rush to judgment.

Today we come to the fourth phrase:

“abounding in love” — or as we’ll say it: “overflowing with loyal love.”

LET’S TALK ABOUT “LOYAL LOVE”

INTRODUCTION — WHEN SOMEONE STAYS

Most of us know what it feels like to wonder if someone will stay.

You messed up in a relationship…

You failed to follow through on a promise…

You disappointed someone who believed in you…

And deep down, you’re asking:

“Are you still here? Or is this the moment you walk away?”

Think about those rare moments when instead of walking away, that person

looks you in the eye and says:

“I’m hurt - I’m honest about that…but I’m not going anywhere.

I made a promise, and I intend to keep it.”

That is more than forgiveness.  That is more than a second chance.

That is a kind of stubborn grace — a love that doesn’t just pardon you, it stays with you.

In Scripture, that stubborn, promise-keeping, staying love is not just something God does…It is something God is.

I. THE HEBREW WORD —KHESED חֶסֶ (Khawsed) 

The word translated “love” here is the Hebrew word khesed (חֶסֶד).

KHESED IS ONE OF THE RICHEST, HARDEST-TO-TRANSLATE WORDS IN THE ENTIRE BIBLE.

NO SINGLE ENGLISH WORD CAPTURES IT.

It combines these qualities:

Love – genuine affection and care.

Generosity – going above and beyond what’s required.

Enduring commitment – a promise that sticks, even when it hurts.

So you’ll see it translated in Bible versions as:

“steadfast love”

“great love”

“unfailing love”

“lovingkindness”

“mercy”

“loyal love”

Khesed describes promise-keeping loyalty motivated by deep personal

care.

How do we contrast it to our ”natural love”, our transactional love? 

Not contract.

Not cold obligation.

Not “I’ll do my part if you do yours.”

Khesed is:

“I’m not leaving.

I’m not quitting.

I’m not withdrawing my heart.”

My commitment is not based on your performance, but based on my character of keeping vows, looking passed flaws; being quick to forgive; knowing your potential, trusting your growth; and believing the best;

DO YOU HAVE ANY FRIENDS LIKE THAT? COVENANT FRIENDS? I’M BLESSED TO HAVE SOME IN THIS ROOM … 

Oris Martin’s memorial – his daughter was paying tribute to her dad – About his “Loyal Love To Her”

HE SAID – “I ll always have your back” 

MORE DESCRIPTIVE  - ‘I’LL HAVE YOUR BACK LIKE A TIGHT BRA STRAP” 

(Im going to archive this) 

II. RUTH — The Lord gave us a s story to reveal it - A HUMAN PICTURE OF KHESED

One of the clearest illustrations of khesed is found in the OT book of Ruth.

Ruth is a Moabite woman from an outside tribe – she  married into an Israelite family.

Her husband dies.

His brother dies. – according to custom – next in line to provide

Her father-in-law dies – last line of support

All that’s left are three widows: Naomi is Ruth’s mother-in -law… left with the other two widowed daughters-in-law.

Naomi has nothing left to offer.

No income.

No security.

No future.

She tells Ruth“

Go back to your people. Start over. There’s nothing for you with me.”

From a human perspective, the logical thing is to leave.

But Ruth does the opposite.

She says, in essence:

“Where you go, I’ll go.

Your people will be my people.

Your God will be my God.

I will stay with you—until death.”

She binds her future to Naomi’s empty future.

She chooses the hard, costly road of staying.

And as the story unfolds and people watch Ruth keep this promise, they call her faithfulness acts of khesed (see Ruth 3:10–11).

Ruth’s khesed is not based on Naomi’s usefulness, worth, or ability to repay.

It is a window into Ruth’s character.

She is a person of loyal love.

She is a person of generous, promise-keeping commitment.

And that is what khesed looks like in human form.

III. GOD’S KHESED TO JACOB — LOYAL LOVE TO A DECEIVER

But as inspiring as Ruth is, the Bible is clear: No one shows more khesed than God.

From earlier generations - Take Jacob – son of Issac

Jacob is not a moral hero.

He lies.

He deceives his father.

He cheats his brother.

He manipulates situations for his own advantage.

Yet God chooses Jacob.

God repeats to him the promise He gave to Jacob’s  grandfather- Abraham:

“I’m going to bless you, give you many descendants,

 and through your family I will bless the nations.”

Jacob runs away in fear and shame.

For twenty years he lives in exile.

Then, on the way back home, terrified of facing his brother, Esau – whom he has cheated for his birthright, Jacob prays:

Genesis 32:10 (ESV)

“I am not worthy of the least of all the deeds of khesed (steadfast love) and all the faithfulness that you have shown to your servant, for with only my staff I crossed this Jordan, and now I have become two camps.”

Jacob is right.

He is not worthy.

But that’s the point.

God’s khesed was never based on Jacob’s worth.

It was never “If you perform, I’ll stay.”

It was always “I have chosen you, and I am committed to My promise.”

God’s khesed is a display of God’s generous loyalty, not Jacob’s behavior.

IV. GOD’S KHESED TO ISRAEL — HE KEEPS RESCUING

God’s khesed continues into the story of Jacob’s descendants—Israel.

They end up enslaved in Egypt for hundreds of years.

We’re told that God “remembers His covenant” with Abraham and Jacob.

To “remember” in Hebrew doesn’t mean God forgot.

It means God is about to act in faithfulness to His promise.

So God defeats Egypt, raises up Moses, and leads Israel toward the promised

land.

In the song of Moses, after the Red Sea, they sing:

Exodus 15:13 (ESV)

“You have led in your steadfast love (khesed) the people whom you have

redeemed…”

Their liberation is called an act of khesed because God is keeping His word.

But the story doesn’t stay triumphant for long.

On the way to the promised land, Israel sees the nations around them, and fear

grips their hearts.

They doubt that God can protect them.

They talk about appointing a new leader to take them back to slavery in Egypt.

They are ready to kill Moses.

LET THAT SINK IN:

God has rescued them.

God has provided for them.

God has revealed Himself to them.

And they want to go back to bondage.

God is understandably hurt and angry.

But in Numbers 14, Moses intercedes:

Numbers 14:19 (NIV) “In accordance with your great love (khesed), forgive the sin of these people…”

Moses doesn’t base his request on Israel’s behavior.

He bases it on God’s character.

“God, be who You are. Do what is consistent with Your khesed.”

And God does. He forgives.

He recommits Himself to a people who don’t want to be committed to Him.

V. HUMAN LOVE VS. GOD’S LOYAL LOVE

In the Bible, God is loyal and loving for no other reason than that’s who He is.

Of course, God desires His people to respond with khesed in return—

to love Him truly, to keep covenant, to love others with the same loyal love.

But even when they don’t… God’s khesed remains.

The prophet Hosea says:

Hosea 6:4 - Israel’s khesed is “like the morning mist” —

here one moment, gone the next.

Our loyalty is often fragile.

Our commitment is often temporary.

Our promises are often conditional.

But God’s khesed is enduring.

That’s why Psalm 136 opens with:

“Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good…”

And then repeats 26 times:

“for His khesed (steadfast love) endures forever.”

Over creation.

Over history.

Over rebellion.

Over enemies.

Over everything.

God’s loyal love outlasts human unfaithfulness.

VI. JESUS — THE FULLNESS OF GOD’S LOYAL LOVE

After centuries of Israel breaking their covenant,

and after humanity’s long history of violence, idolatry, and death…

God still keeps His promise in the most dramatic way possible:

He becomes human.

In Jesus, God binds Himself to us in a new and deeper way.

The New Testament writers reach for words like:

agapē (ἀγάπη) – self-giving, sacrificial love.

eleos (ἔλεος) – mercy, compassion in action.

charis (χάρις) – gracious gift, undeserved favor.

All of these overlap with the Old Testament idea of khesed.

In John 1, we’re told that Jesus comes “full of grace and truth.”

That phrase “grace and truth” echoes the Hebrew pairing khesed we’emet —

“loyal love and faithfulness.”

The early followers of Jesus looked at Him and said:

“In Him, we have encountered the God of Israel

who is full of loyal love and faithfulness.”

Jesus is:

The ultimate loyal and loving human,

The perfect image of God’s khesed in a human life,

The one who loves “to the end” (John 13:1).

In His life, death, and resurrection, God opens a new future for us and all

creation.

Not because we earned it…But because this is who God is:

Generous.

Loving.

Eternally loyal to His promises.

VII. WHEN GOD’S LOYAL LOVE TOUCHES US

When we truly experience the purity and power of God’s loyal love shown

through Jesus, it doesn’t leave us neutral.

It compels us.

It moves us.

It reorients us.

We begin to reimagine:

Why we love God.

How we love people.

What commitment looks like in a world of easy exits.

Because if this kind of khesed is in God’s character,

it should begin to show up in our character.

VIII. HOW WE SHOW KHESED BACK TO GOD AND OTHERS

1. Khesed toward God — measured and revealed in faithful devotion, not occasional attention.

If God has bound Himself to us in covenant love, we respond not with “casual spirituality,” but with whole-hearted devotion.

Choosing Him when it’s costly.

Trusting Him when we don’t see the way.

Obeying Him when it would be easier to compromise.

We don’t earn His khesed by doing this.

We reflect His khesed by doing this.

2. Khesed toward people — “Staying” love in a Leaving world.

We live in a culture of:

ghosting,

cancelling,

quitting,

disposable relationships.

God calls His people to a different way:

In marriage: keeping vows when feelings fluctuate.

In friendship: showing up when there’s nothing to gain.

In church: staying engaged, serving, forgiving, building, instead of

bouncing at the first offense.

In community: caring for the vulnerable when they can’t pay you back.

ILLUST: MARRIAGE - I CHOOSE YOU… OVER AND OVER AGAIN – 45 YEARS

In marriage, I chose you and I choose you again

When I first begin to date… sitting in her living room – 2 phone calls from different guys – no cell phones or voicemails… I think- shes got a few choices 

 Then she tells me a “friend” from UCSB is coming down… wants to go to dinner

Fine.. no problem… you are friends… “God, if Jan is the one it will all work out”… sitting there watching ‘sports center:… 

How good of friends are they?  AM I THE CHOSEN ONE? - “God if he tries to kiss her – take a coal from your altar and scorch his lips”

A desire to be chosen… our commitment to that choice has protected our vows for 45 years

   Khesed IS COVENENTAL LOVE . IT says:

“Even when you’re empty, I won’t withdraw.

Even when this is hard, I won’t run.

Even when you have little to offer, I’ll keep showing up.”

Not because people always deserve it, but because God is forming His loyal love in us.

3. Khesed toward the undeserving — because that’s how God loved us.

Remember Jacob.

Remember Israel.

Remember you.

We love with khesed not because people have earned it,

but because God extended it to us first.

“We love because He first loved us.”

Story –  I’ll call him “ Bryan” (Ryan Inclan) – from Passover Days- 25 years ago

Paul Rogers from Intervarsity invited him

Bryan - Struggling w faith and as much with identity and habits

Paul moved – asked me if I would stay in touch with Bryan – and asked if he could give Bryan my number – I naively said “yes” not really knowing what that would mean - 

That was probably 25 years ago… Bryan died about a month ago now. 

Bryan moved to the Bay Area - fought major Bipolar Disorder along with several other Psychological disorders,

He’d call up, friendly, hopeful. In a small group - happy

Then weeks later - Midnight texts – desperate, self -hating… just been online doing things in chat rooms – struggling with sexual identity… pray for me

I’d leave scripture messages – reinforcing this is Who You Are Now… encouraging him to connect with a church – he tried several churches – goes good – then collapses; there was always an enemy – somebody hurt him; offended him; doesn’t understand him

Through the years - Dad dies; mother dies… desperation

Paul & I drove to SF to get him in a psych hospital

Then Weeks – no communication… maybe he’s better… connected with a local group… no… in relapse… hiding… ashamed

Two months later -  manic weeks – all is better… I found a mens group – im praying again

MANY TIMES – Im done… You are way beyond my comfort zone… And my pay grade

Somehow we would re-connect – late night  1 hr caounseling calls … Jan would shake her head

He got liver cancer about 6 months ago… Me and a group of people on a Text thread – praying emoji’s, heart emoji’s… encouraging words and prayers

He died in peace, believing – 

GOSPELS – Guys tearing open a roof to lower a friend down to be healed.  For 25 years – tearing off guilt, shame, mental torment in short seasons of relief…

Bryan finally made it – now he is healed

IX. PRACTICAL QUESTIONS FOR OUR HEARTS

Where am I tempted to walk away instead of stay?

Where am I loving only as long as it benefits me?

Where is God calling me to reflect His loyal love by keeping a promise,

extending grace, or refusing to give up?

And deeper still:

Where have I underestimated God’s loyalty to me?

Some of you live like God is one failure away from leaving.

In Exodus 34 and the whole story of Scripture shout:

“His khesed endures forever.”

His love Is LOYAL – so much so that:

He may discipline. He may confront. But all for your best interest

He may hand you over to the consequences of your choices for a season, so we see clearly the destructive paths we are on.

He does not abandon His promises to be with you and guide you through.

He does not abandon His people. He is an Everlasting Father.

He does not abandon His plan of redemption – toward you or anyone who calls upon Him

CONCLUSION — THE GOD WHO WILL NOT LET GO

So when God says of Himself:

“I am abounding in love…”

He is saying:

“I am overflowing with khesed

—with loyal, generous, enduring love.

I keep My promises.

I stay.

I do not quit on what I have begun.”

Jesus is the ultimate proof of that.

He stepped into our story.

He took on our flesh.

He bore our sin.

He rose with new life.

He promised to be with us “always, even to the end of the age.”

This is THE GOD WHO IS OVERFLOWING WITH LOYAL LOVE.

And if that is who He is, then by the power of His Spirit,

that is who He is shaping us to become.

ALTAR CALL… He is loyal in his love for us… Even when we aren’t feeling it

Maybe this is new to you – this foreign kind of unconditional love – it was for me – works based

Maybe you sense it right now – he does love you; He wants you to know him… and enter into this Loyal Love we are talking about.

You might say – “I’ll never be able to keep my end of the deal… I‘ve got too much stuff going on… 

Yea – but I can say “you’ve never been loved like this before…” It’s transformative

It starts w Romans 10:9-10 – a vow 

Altar Call – side room 

you sense He’s pulled back or away from you… But I would ask… Have you pulled back from Him

There are places and things He won’t condone or endorse… again It’s about love… 

Strength to break free and walk it out..

As we close – make a commitment to come up here

Next time, we’ll look at the fifth trait in this powerful description:

“THE GOD WHO IS FAITHFUL.” 

But today, may we rest in His loyal love,

and may we mirror that loyal love

to a world that desperately needs to see it.