Hesed: A Word Better Than Life

by Anthony J. Carter

This wonderful short work by Anthony Carter is a worshipful exposition of the glorious self-revelation of God, who sovereignly initiates an eternal covenant with His people on the basis of His hesed. Carefully defining it as divine mercy, goodness, steadfast love, loving kindness, and covenant loyalty, Carter also creatively describes hesed as God’s work in our lives, the realm of God’s bountiful blessings, and the ground and substance of our worship. Hesed issues forth in an arresting display of God’s manifold favor of bountiful blessings, merciful forgiveness, gracious salvation, and confident assurance to His people. We are reminded that the apex of God’s covenantal hesed is the substitutionary, sacrificial work of Jesus Christ, Immanuel, God with us. Ever faithful to the Scripture, Carter in fact challenges us to recapture the biblical view of God, who “delights to delight in us.” When we do, we will find that His hesed is, indeed, better than life. Warmly illustrated, you won’t stop reading until the reading is done.

108 pages, Paperback

First published December 27, 2005

About the author

Anthony J. Carter is lead pastor of East Point Church in East Point, Georgia, and a member of the council of the Gospel Coalition. A graduate of Atlanta Christian College and Reformed Theological Seminary, he is the author or editor of several books, including Glory Road: The Journeys of 10 African-Americans into Reformed Christianity. Anthony and his wife, Adriane, have five children.