Covenant: 1.A formal, solemn, and binding agreement: compact 2. A written agreement or promise under seal between two or more parties for the performance of some action. (Webster’s New Collegiate Dictionary)
The above is a definition of the word, “covenant” which is probably the least understood and one of the most violated words in the English language. Most people have little understanding of the importance or the power of this word.
If society and especially Christians could just grasp the significance of covenants and honor their provisions, their lives would be so much more stable and free from stress. “You shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free”. The word, “covenant”, is so important to God that all His approximately 30,000 promises in the Bible are based upon His faithful fulfillment of His part of His covenants.
The first reference to a covenant in the Bible is in Genesis 9:11-13 - (11) And I will establish my COVENANT with you; (Noah) neither shall all flesh be cut off any more by the waters of a flood; neither shall there any more be a flood to destroy the earth. (12) And God said, This is a token of the COVENANT which I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations: (13) I do set my bow (Rainbow) in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a COVENANT between me and the earth. So every time you see a rainbow you can be reminded of God’s covenant with the whole earth to not flood it again like He did in Noah’s day.
The ancients all relied heavily upon covenants to stabilize their lives. Let’s examine some other references to the word, covenant, from the scriptures. David, who knew he had a covenant with God, killed Goliath who did not have a covenant when he said “Who is this uncircumcised (without covenant with God) Philistine who defies the Armies of the living God?”. (I Sam. 17:26) Circumcision was a sign to the ancient Hebrews of God’s covenant with Abraham. Because David knew he had a covenant with God and Goliath didn’t, he was confident that he could kill him and save the Army of Israel and his brothers as well.
Then there are the three Hebrews, Shadrach, Meshach , and Abednego who were thrown into the fiery furnace by King Nebuchadnezzar in the book of Daniel chapter three. Because they knew they had a covenant with God they confidently said, in Dan. 3:17,18: (17) If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O King. (18) But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up. That’s covenant talk.
The Word of God is full of examples where God’s people had great faith and did exploits because of their confidence and reliance upon their covenant with God. The New Testament means New Covenant and is based upon God’s promise to and His covenant with Abraham. In Gen. 22:18 God says to Abraham, “And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice”.
God’s covenant with Abraham was fulfilled in Matthew 1:20b,21 when the angel of the Lord spoke to Joseph, who was engaged to Mary, and said, (20b) Fear not to take unto thee Mary, thy wife; for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. (21) And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS; (Jesus is a contraction for Jehovah Sus or God the Savior) for he shall save His people from their sins.
If you have commited your life to Jesus you have a blood bought covenant with God and you can rely on it to save you from your sins and to fulfill every promise (approx. 30,000) God made to man. Hallelujah! If you have not, now would be a good time.
Glory to God,
Hal Mitchell
Halmitch@cox.net
