Text: Jeremiah 33:19-21 (KJV)
19 And the word of the LORD came unto Jeremiah, saying, 20 Thus saith the LORD; If ye can break my covenant of the day, and my covenant of the night, and that there should not be day and night in their season; 21 Then may also my covenant be broken with David my servant, that he should not have a son to reign upon his throne; and with the Levites the priests, my ministers.
Introduction
A covenant means a mutually binding agreement or a compact to seal a relationship. The Thesaurus gives alternative words for covenant as treaty, pact, accord, deal, bargain, settlement, protocol, arrangement, understanding, pledge, promise, bond, indenture, guarantee, warrant; undertaking, commitment.
From our text —> The certainty of the prophecies is anchored in God’s order in nature. God used an example that we can all understand — the unfailing regularity of the natural order of day and night. (vv.20-21). It is impossible for anyone to nullify God’s covenant.
If men lived according to biblical covenant terms there would be fairness, security, dignity, equality and a just social order.
An example of a covenant is the marriage covenant. In today’s study we will be considering a covenant relationship with God based on his promises as revealed in the Scriptures bearing in mind that the enjoyment of these promises is based on certain conditions or terms on the part of man. God’s blessings are upon those who respect and live in the covenant.
May God help us to be faithful to His covenant in Jesus name. Amen.
A. Living in Covenant
Deut 4:26; Ruth 1:16-18; Nehemiah 9:32; Hebrews 8:8-10; Hebrews 10:22-25;
Deuteronomy 4:26 (NLT)
26 “Today I call on heaven and earth as witnesses against you. If you break my covenant, you will quickly disappear from the land you are crossing the Jordan to occupy. You will live there only a short time; then you will be utterly destroyed.
Ruth 1:16-18 (KJV) — not a fair weather deal!
16 And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God: 17 Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me. 18 When she saw that she was stedfastly minded to go with her, then she left speaking unto her.
Nehemiah 9:32 (NLT)
32 “And now, our God, the great and mighty and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of unfailing love, do not let all the hardships we have suffered seem insignificant to you. Great trouble has come upon us and upon our kings and leaders and priests and prophets and ancestors—all of your people—from the days when the kings of Assyria first triumphed over us until now.
Quoting Jeremiah 31:31-34 (KJV), the writer of Hebrews said:
Hebrews 8:8-10 (KJV) For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah: 9 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord. 10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:
Hebrews 10:22-25 (KJV) Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: 25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
James 4:7-8 (KJV) Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
B. God keeps covenant
Exodus 2:24; Exodus 19:15; Psalm 89:34; Jer 33:19-21; 2 Thess 3:1-3
God is a covenant keeper. Keeping our covenant with God is the reasonable thing to do. When men keep the covenant, they enjoy the benefits and blessings embedded in that covenant. When men break the covenant, it exposes them to the consequences of their actions. God’s covenant is eternal. God’s blessings are upon those who respect His covenant. He has assured us of a Covenant of peace.
Exodus 2:24 (NLT)
24 God heard their groaning, and he remembered his covenant promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
Exodus 19:5 (NLT)
5 Now if you will obey me and keep my covenant, you will be my own special treasure from among all the peoples on earth; for all the earth belongs to me.
Nehemiah 1:5 (NLT)
5 Then I said,
“O LORD, God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps his covenant of unfailing love with those who love him and obey his commands,
Psalms 89:34 (KJV)
34 My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips.
Jeremiah 33:19-21 (KJV)
19 And the word of the LORD came unto Jeremiah, saying, 20 Thus saith the LORD; If ye can break my covenant of the day, and my covenant of the night, and that there should not be day and night in their season; 21 Then may also my covenant be broken with David my servant, that he should not have a son to reign upon his throne; and with the Levites the priests, my ministers.
2 Thessalonians 3:1-3 (KJV)
1 Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you: 2 And that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men: for all men have not faith.
3 But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil.
C. Covenant of Peace
Isaiah 54:10; Ezekiel 34:25; Ezekiel 37:26; Romans 5:1; Gal 3:13-14
2 Timothy 1:7 (KJV)
7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
That peace is like the compass that the pilot trusts. He knows where he is going she is assured that the compass is pointing in the right direction. Dark or light, he is not bothered for he knows where he is being led to.
- True Peace is only found in and through Jesus Christ, Who is the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6).
- He gives us peace by His mercy: Isaiah 9:6; Isaiah 54:10
Isaiah 54:10 (KJV)
10 For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the LORD that hath mercy on thee.
- Gives us perfect peace and safety: Ezekiel 34:25; Isaiah 26:3
Ezekiel 34:25 (KJV)
25 And I will make with them a covenant of peace, and will cause the evil beasts to cease out of the land: and they shall dwell safely in the wilderness, and sleep in the woods.
Isaiah 26:3 (KJV)
3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.
- He assures us of His presence: Ezekiel 37:26 (KJV)
Ezekiel 37:26 (KJV)
26 Moreover I will make a covenant of peace with them; it shall be an everlasting covenant with them: and I will place them, and multiply them, and will set my sanctuary in the midst of them for evermore.
- We enter the Covenant by faith: Romans 5:1
Romans 5:1 (KJV)
1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
- Covenant living brings freedom from the curse: Galatians 3:13-17
Galatians 3:13-14 (KJV) Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: 14 That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
Galatians 3:17 (KJV)
17 And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect.
Conclusion:
Believe God. Hold unto the Covenant. Hold unto His word. When he says stay in the ark, stay in the ark. When He says sprinkle the blood of the Lamb on your doorpost and stay indoors, do just that. He is a covenant keeping God.
He will remember His covenant promises and overturn the evil in the land for your sake (Psalm 74:20). Step into this covenant life by accepting Jesus as your Lord and saviour today.
Psalms 74:20 (AMPC)
20 Have regard for the covenant [You made with Abraham], for the dark places of the land are full of the habitations of violence.
2 Timothy 1:12 (KJV)
12 For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day
Memory Verse: Psalms 89:34 (KJV)
34 My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips.
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