Trusting God by Jerry Bridges
Week 6: Chapter 5 — God's Goodness — Hesed and Beyond
Read Chapter 5 of Trusting God. Key passages: Psalm 34:8; Psalm 136; Lamentations 3:22–23; Romans 8:32.
Previewing Week 6 of Trusting God
Read 3 of 7 discussion questions below. Unlock the complete 14-week guide when you’re ready.
Sovereignty and wisdom without goodness would leave us with a God to be feared but not loved — this chapter brings us to the heart of the matter, exploring the rich biblical language of God's steadfast love.
Discussion Questions
7 questions1.Bridges explores the Hebrew word hesed — often translated 'steadfast love' or 'lovingkindness' — as the foundation of God's goodness toward His people. What aspects of hesed surprised or moved you in this chapter? How is it different from the way we typically use the word 'love'?
2.Psalm 136 repeats 'his steadfast love endures forever' twenty-six times across a wide sweep of history — creation, the Exodus, the wilderness, the conquest. Why does the repetition matter? What does the breadth of those events teach us about what God's enduring love looks like in practice?
3.Lamentations 3 is written in the middle of catastrophic national disaster, yet the writer declares 'the steadfast love of the LORD never ceases.' How does Bridges use this text to argue that God's goodness is not dependent on favorable circumstances? What makes that kind of trust possible?