PASTOR’S NOTES
Then he took the Book of the Covenant and read in the hearing of the people. And they said, “All that the Lord has said we will do, and be obedient.”
This week’s text defines what a covenant means to a person who commits to following God. A covenant is defined as an agreement between two parties. A shaking of the hands. We see covenants all the time, in and outside of our spiritual life. A covenant is the shaking of hands between all parties signifying that there is an understanding of promise and responsibilities.
As a church, we sit with every person that desires membership and we review our “covenant” and always ask at the end, “Do you agree to abide with our beliefs and what it means to be a member of this church?” When that person stands before the church and when voted in, they are telling the church that, “Yes, I agree.” “Yes, I agree in the beliefs and the responsibilities of this covenant.”
This is what a covenant agreement is.
All of the 10 commandments and the Book of the Covenant has led to chapter 24. Will the people say that they agree? Do they want to be in covenant with what they have heard and seen in God? The perfect Father has saved his children, taught them, led them, and now it’s time for the children to decide if they are going to walk with Him or not.
This week’s text has so many historical, applicable, and Gospel centered connections. More than anything, we see the obvious gift of Jesus who was to come in the New Testament. God’s covenant went through Moses and was sealed with the blood of sacrificed animals. The covenant was a weight that could not be lifted and no matter what the people agreed to, they were going to fail to keep such a promise.
This is where the Gospel shines and the power of the cross is exalted!
Today, we have the same covenant, but different. The same, but more powerful. Our covenant with God still exists, but our mediator is not a man, but God in the flesh. We don’t wait for words to come down the mountain, but the curtain has been torn and we have access to the same God we read about in Exodus. Our covenant has also been sealed with blood, but not by the blood of an animal, but the perfect Christ!
The covenant today is still too heavy for man to lift and carry, but now we have Jesus that has fulfilled the law. There will be a day where we stand before the God of Exodos, not seen as broken law-breakers, but those who are covered by the perfect blood of His son.
A covenant is a reminder of two things; how serious God is about obedience and faithfulness, but also the reminder of how desperately we need a savior. Jesus is not just “the way,” but the only way in being able to one day stand before the God of Exodus!
SCRIPTURE TO GO ALONG WITH THE MESSAGE
Read Hebrews 12:22-24 on the new covenant founded in Jesus.
HIGHLIGHT IN YOUR BIBLES
Highlight verses 3-4 in Exodus 24.
