So far, it’s the biggest difference I’ve noticed about reading the English Standard Version (ESV) of the Bible. You won’t find this two word phrase in the New King James (NKJV) . . . nor in the New International Version (NIV) . . . nor in the New American Standard Bible (NASB). It seems to be an ESV distinctive. I’ve encountered the phrase eight times so far in my Genesis / Exodus readings and seventeen times in the thirty-three psalms I have read so far. And after being in the ESV for a little more than a month . . . and after having been “captured” by this phrase these 25 times . . . I like it . . . and I think it’s accurate . . . and more important I believe it is true. Oh praise God for His “steadfast love!”

Using my online Bible program here’s what I’ve discovered. The original word, chesed, occurs 241 times in the Old Testament. For NKJV readers, it is most commonly translated “mercy” (149 times), “kindness” (40 times), “lovingkindness” (30 times), or “goodness” (12 times). In the ESV however, it is rendered “steadfast love” 191 times.

But it’s not about the numbers . . . and it’s not about it being an unique attribute of the ESV translation . . . it’s about nature of my God . . . and the wonder of His “steadfast love.”

Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his steadfast love, that he may deliver their soul from death and keep them alive in famine. Our soul waits for the LORD; he is our help and our shield. For our heart is glad in him, because we trust in his holy name. Let your steadfast love, O LORD, be upon us, even as we hope in you. (Ps. 33:18-22 ESV)

Isn’t my hope in the steadfast love of God? That unwavering heart God has for His people which prompts Him to be merciful, not giving me what I deserve . . . . which causes the Lord to show grace and unmerited favor, lavishing on me what I don’t deserve. It is the steadfast love of the Lord that compels Him to show kindness and lovingkindness to those who, apart from His steadfast love, are unlovely.

My hope isn’t in my own merit . . . my own strength . . . my own attributes and characteristics. My hope is in the steadfast love of my God, and in Him alone.

It is steadfast love that compelled His Son to divest Himself of all His heavenly glory and humble Himself as a man and to death, even death on a cross (Php 2:8). It is steadfast love that pursued me when I was yet dead in sin and an enemy of God (Rom 5:8,10). It is steadfast love that is patiently and persistently completing the work He has begun in me (Php. 1:6) when He made me a new creation (2Cor. 5:17) and determined to conform me to the image of His Son (Rom. 8:29).

My hope is in His steadfast love. My cry is that His steadfast love would continue to be upon me.

O’ the blessing of knowing His steadfast love!

I think I’m gonna like encountering this phrase another 166 times. But more importantly, that I would love the God of such steadfast love . . . with all my heart, soul, mind and strength (Mark 12:3) . . . for His glory . . . amen.