Scripture:
Jeremiah 31:31-34 NKJV
[31] “Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah— [32] not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke, though I was a husband to them, says the Lord. [33] But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. [34] No more shall every man teach his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them, says the Lord. For I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more.”
Observation:
I know that Jeremiah has one of the most memorable verses in the entire Bible. Just a few chapters before this one. But as I was reading this morning the LORD brought me to these verses. It’s only a few short verses, so one would thinking that time would not be an issue. However there is so much in these verses, and in order to fully understand it. I believe its important to know what the word covenant means, so I looked it up. Most of us would think it is a promise that GOD makes, but honestly it’s so much more than that. However, that is a large part of it. The word covenant refers to a; “sacred, binding agreement or promise, initiated by GOD, establishing a unique relationship with HIS people, often involving mutual obligations, blessings for obedience, and consequences for disobedience. What we see here in these verses is a prophetic statement that involves a new covenant. As we all know Jeremiah was a prophet. He was a young Jewish man whom GOD had chosen to use to speak to the people. An intercessor you might say. Kind of a go between. HE had to have a way to communicate with HIS people and HE chose to use man to do so. We have book after book that shows us this fact. In fact if we look at the book of exodus we can see GOD’S chosen people asking Moses to speak to GOD for them because when HE spoke to them HIMSELF everyone was filled with fear. The LORDS majestic power and ultimate authority was entirely to much for the human mind to comprehend. It baffles me and I’m it does the same for those who take the time to search HIM out as well. The prophetic picture that is painted is, a picture of Jesus Christ. Jeremiah being the intercession for GOD’S chosen people. HE had given them the covenant of the law so that they could see the reflection of who they were. HE knew it was not a means of salvation. We can see that way back in the beginning of the book. Let’s remember what HE said, “the seed of the woman will crush your head and you will bruise HIS heal. HE knew HE would have to send a redeemer. The fall in the garden had put the spirit that lived inside of us to death. It would need to be resurrected. It was the spirit that kept Adam and his wife walking with HIM in the cool of the day. As we look at these verses we see what seems to be GOD changing HIS mind but its not. You see the plan was always to redeem mankind through the resurrection of the spirit. The covenant that was continually broken was the sacrificial system that was never intended to be a means of salvation, but a prophetic picture. The new covenant that HE is speaking of here is the ultimate sacrifice which would reconnect the Holy Spirit to the born again believer. When HE says, “I will write my words upon their heart HE is speaking about the Holy Spirit. The new covenant would not be one of religious behavior, where man has to earn HIS way to GOD through a series of doing the right things that could never honestly be done to begin with. This covenant would be written upon our heart’s it would be a connection through relationship, rather than religious dogma. These verses are speaking of that reconciliation of GOD and man through the resurrection of HIS Spirit which came about in the book of acts chapter 2. That’s what I find somewhat intriguing about the Bible. You see there is no way the Jeremiah would have known Luke and absolutely no way for anyone but GOD HIMSELF to flash forward so many years and see all this. Then have someone tell us what was going to happen.
Application:
I had no idea where I was going when I started writing this morning. I just lifted my day up to GOD asked HIM to write and here we are. What I have found over the years of study is the difference between religion and relationship. Religion says i have to do this or I won’t get the promise, and relationship says I want to do this because I love GOD. A lot of us spend our lives doing a lot of religious behavior. Trying to earn our way into GOD’S good grace. It will never work. You can’t be good enough. In all of your religious efforts your are nasty rags. Now I am not saying that to discourage you. Because I want to do the right things, and when I mess up it bothers me. Not because I feel like I lost my ticket to heaven. That was a gift that was given to me by what Jesus Christ did through the death burial and resurrection. There is no way to earn a gift. It is a contradiction. A gift is given out of love and when Jesus did what the work HE did on the cross. That gift was purchased, and what happened as a result is that the Spirit of GOD was resurrected inside of those who would choose to believe in the finished work of Christ. The covenant relationship would begin. HIS grace would lead our hearts. Convictions would move us closer to the Father rather than condemnation pulling us away. You see when you are in a relationship with someone you want to do what pleases them. You want to see them smile. You want to hear well done. As a child its what I sought after from my dad. I wanted HIS approval and when he said good job it meant something. Our desire for GOD should work just like that. We should want to please HIM not to earn anything but just because we love HIM. The covenant relationship is what the plan was from the start. The region was only put in place to show us how inadequate our efforts are. Without the council of the Holy Spirit leading us through godly conviction we don’t have a chance, and that relationship can’t be developed without confessing Jesus Christ as our LORD and SAVIOR. For me what that means is allowing Jesus to call the shots. HE speaks to my heart through the living word of GOD. But HE can only speak to me with the words that I give HIM. That’s why I have taken the time to read the Bible. Through that we have developed a relationship. I pray to HIM and HE speaks to me. Communication is key for any relationship, and HE has written HIS word upon my heart through the power and presence of the Holy Spirit.
Prayer:
Father, your are truly amazing. You plan has never changed. You know all and have seen every moment in history that has not happened yet. You are a truly loving Father who knows what its going to take to get us where you have always desired us to be. We want to thank you for your Holy Spirit. The councilor that no human could be. One who leads us to you bit by bit through your grace. All we can asked you for this morning is that as you continue to sanctify us for the work you have for us to do. That you not only allow us to be bold as lions and harmless as doves. We want you to be seen in our lives. We want your Spirit to lead everything we do and say. Thank you for your grace and mercy and may the desires of our heart be your desire for us. It’s in the mighty name of Jesus we pray amen.