O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his steadfast love endures forever! Let Israel say, "His steadfast love endures forever." Let the house of Aaron say, "His steadfast love endures forever." Let those who fear the Lord say, "His steadfast love endures forever." (Psalm 118: 1-4)

In Hebrew, as in English, there are several different forms of love. The steadfast love of this psalm is checed. Depending on context the term's English meaning is rendered as kindness, or mercy, or goodness, or loyalty, or favor, or even wicked or reproached, or shamed.

This is a love that fully identifies with the beloved. The lover understands the beloved. The lover shares the experience of the beloved. When the beloved is happy, the lover is happy. When the beloved is ashamed, the lover is ashamed.

As a result the lover is kind. The lover treats the beloved as one of his or her kind or kindred. The lover treats the beloved kindly, as we treat those with whom we are closely related and know very well. God is our lover and we are the beloved of God.

O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever. (Psalm 118: 29)