Monday, 3 September 2018

Covenant

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Covenant - a covenant is a legal agreement entered into by two parties who wish to be connected to each other. Unless specifically limited in duration, a covenant is a permanent agreement: for ever, at least as long as the parties are alive. In ancient Israel the verb chaf-resh-tav 'to cut' is most often used for making a covenant; it is a vivid reminder of the way covenants were made, with blood. G-d makes covenant with Abraham (B'resheet 15), the people of Israel (Shemot 24 and D'varim 29) and with David (2 Samuel 7). G-d promises that His covenant with Israel will last as long as the world (Jeremiah 31) and continually calls Israel back to the covenant through the prophets. Even though we may neglect the covenant, G-d never fails to keep it, even when we are no longer capable of keeping it:

You are eternally mighty, my Lord, the Resuscitator of the dead are you; abundantly able to save. He sustains the living with kindness, resuscitates the dead with abundant mercy, supports the fallen, heals the sick, releases the confined, and maintains his faith to those asleep in the dust. Who is like you, O Master of Mighty Deeds, and who is comparable to you, O King who causes death and restores life and makes salvation sprout. And you are faithful to resuscitate the dead. Blessed are you, HaShem, who resuscitates the dead.
Amidah, Stanza 2 G'vurot

Yeshua brought the New Covenant, made and ratified in His blood, that He will keep for ever until that day when He brings all things together, the day we know as the "Last Day" as He told our people: "For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him, may have eternal life; and I myself will raise him up on the last day" (John 6:40). We should not enter into covenants lightly and we must not break covenants once made, for our G-d does not break covenant.