Day 63

Covenant

Read: Deuteronomy 29-31

The concept of covenant is a key idea in the Bible. The Bible consists of two parts: the story of the old covenant God made with Israel and the story of the new covenant God has made with his church. God began unfolding his plan of salvation by making a covenant of grace with Abraham. On the basis of this, God entered into covenant with Abraham’s descendants, the Israelites, at Mount Sinai. Now at the border of the Promised Land, this covenant is renewed. The covenant is an agreement whereby God promises he will be our God and we promise to trust and obey him.

You must not think, just because you are a part of God’s covenant people, “I shall be safe, though I walk in the stubbornness of my heart” (29:19). To grow up in the church is a great privilege, but it carries with it the responsibility of faith and obedience. Baptism is the sign of the privileged position of covenant membership. Woe to the covenant breaker!

Moses is pessimistic as he renews the covenant. He told the Israelites that if they rebelled when he was with them, how much more would they do so after he dies. And so it happened. The Israelites squandered their spiritual privileges. God has made his new covenant with us. Let us learn from the mistakes of Israel. Let us love the Lord our God and express such love by obedience.

PRAYER
Father, thank you for entering into a covenant of grace with us. Help us to be faithful. In Jesus’ name. Amen.