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Writer's pictureOlufunmilayo Adekusibe

OUR GOD IS THE COVENANT-KEEPING GOD 

 

Today’s Reading:

Deuteronomy 7:1-11

"Therefore, know that the Lord your God, He is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations with those who love him and keep his commandments”. (v. 9)

 

“Covenant” is a common word and practice among many religions of the world. It is also a popular feature in the occultic world. It can be said that it has been borrowed from the God of Christianity by other religions. Among the very many names by which God is known and called is “The Covenant-keeping God”. In general, a “Covenant” is the involvement of two or more parties who come together to make a contract, agreeing on terms, stipulations, privileges and responsibilities. In religion, especially Christianity, it is a sacred agreement between God and a person or group of people (e.g. a nation), in which God promises some blessing(s) based on terms, such as obedience to his commandments or laws. When the other party fulfils its side of the terms, God releases the promised blessings, otherwise, He could withhold them. The covenant could have a duration, such as forever/everlasting; or generation. It would have a purpose to serve. The first covenant between God and man was with Noah after the flood (Gen. 9:9-11). God promised never to destroy the earth again with water. It was an everlasting covenant (Gen. 9:16). The sign of the flood covenant was a rainbow (v. 12). The role of men which resulted in the flood from God was wickedness. God saw that every intent of the thoughts of their hearts was evil continuously (Gen 6:5). On God’s part, the covenant has been kept till today, as the rainbow has continued to appear in the cloud to remind God. However, the wickedness of men has continued and even worse in our days. Man has not fulfilled his part of the covenant.


The next covenant was between God and Abraham (Gen 17:2,7), which was everlasting, for he would be a father of many nations. It was a covenant based on Abraham’s obedience to God. God remembered his part to many generations of Abraham’s descendants. The sign of the covenant was the circumcision of every male child of the families, from generation to generation (vv.10-14). The covenant was completely fulfilled by God during the next covenant. The next covenant was between God and Moses who represented the children of Israel, who were descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (Israel). Incidentally, the Abrahamic covenant was fulfilled when the Israelites eventually settled in the Promised Land. It was while they journeyed through the wilderness that God made the covenant with Moses representing them on Mount Sinai. It was based on obedience to his voice and keeping of his covenant (Ex. 19:5-6). On God’s part, He promised to make them a special treasure to him above all nations, a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. The covenant was to be from generation to generation and forever. Moses got the words of the covenant, the Ten Commandments, written on two stone tablets, written with God’s finger (Ex. 34:27-28). To conclude the covenant, God spoke the blessings that would be enjoyed by the people (Deut 28:1-13) if they obeyed the commandments; but also the curses that would come upon them if they disobeyed or ignored the commandments (Ex 28:15-68). The scripture confirms extensively that Israel did not keep its part of the covenant, and so made God angry and sad. Israel’s disobedience eventually led its generations into exile in Babylon and parts of then Asia.


In God’s infinite mercies and love for mankind, and to salvage Israel and the rest of the sinful world, He decided to go ahead with the next covenant – the “New Covenant”. It is pertinent to highlight the fact that since Adam and Eve disobeyed and fell in Eden (Gen 3), God had then put in motion the rescue and recovery plan. He planned to bring man back to himself. Therefore, all the covenants hitherto mentioned had been lined up, step by step, up till the New Covenant to fulfil God’s plan of redemption. This New Covenant was spoken about in the Old Testament by prophets like Jeremiah, Ezekiel, etc. In Jer. 31:31-34. God spoke through Jeremiah that the days were coming when He would make a new covenant with the house of Israel and Judah. He said it would not be according to the previous covenants He made with their fathers, which they broke. He said the new covenant would be such that He would put his law in their minds and write it on their hearts, and He would be their God and they would be his people. God further said no one would teach the other to know the Lord, because everyone will know him, from the greatest to the least. He promised to forgive their iniquity and would not remember their sin. In making the New Covenant, God made Jesus Christ his Son, the originator and mediator and surety of the covenant (Heb. 7:22; John 3:16). Unlike other covenants in which man reaped the blessings just through obedience, in the New Covenant Jesus, who had become flesh and came down to earth, offered himself as a sacrifice to God on behalf of mankind, to obtain a once-and-for-all redemption. Jesus shed his blood because without shedding of blood, there is no remission, so died on the cross and was resurrected to become the mediator of the New Covenant (Heb. 9:14-15,22), and for our salvation (v.28). It is the eternal  (everlasting) covenant (Heb.13:20), through which we have greater blessings: salvation (Rom 10:9), fellowship, direct with God; power of the Holy Spirit available to overcome sins and live victorious holy lives (Act 1:8; 1 Cor 12:13; 2 Cor 3:3-6); God’s laws now written on our hearts and He becoming our God and we his people (Heb. 8:10); we shall live forever with Jesus in the kingdom of God; having eternal lives; (John 3:16).


God has been and remained the covenant-keeping God to mankind. You will wonder how you can benefit from all the blessings He has provided for mankind through Jesus Christ! It is simple! Just believe and accept the New Covenant – the work of redemption done by Jesus. If you believe in your heart and confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and that God raised him from the dead, then you will be “saved” (Rom 10:9-10). Being saved, you are entitled to all God’s blessings, promises and eternal life in Christ.

Begin to seek, follow and live for Christ your Savior

                                                                                    CHRISTIE KUPOLUYI


 

 

To surrender your life to Christ, say this prayer aloud. “ Father, I acknowledge my sin against You. I repent and ask for forgiveness, in the name of Jesus. I surrender to the Lordship of Jesus. By the power of Your Holy Spirit, take control of my heart and lead me in Your path of righteousness. Thank you, Lord”. Congratulations! Prayerfully look for a living church and report to the resident reverend, pastor or priest.


 

 

Prayer:

  1. Heavenly Father, we acknowledge that indeed You are the Covenant-keeping God.

  2. Father, we thank You for Your loving kindness, righteousness, diligence and all You have and are still putting in to prove that You are the keeper of covenants.

  3. Lord Jesus, we can’t thank You enough for giving Yourself as the mediator of the New Covenant. Together with the Father, You are fulfilling Your parts. Glory be to your name forever.

  4. Father, please wake the church up from its slumber, revive it and show your light through it to the world.

  5. O Lord, may you truly show Yourself as the covenant-keeping God to all people of our nation, using the church as a contact.

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