If it’s true that with every commitment and promise we get to know more of God’s heart for humanity, then I wonder—what are we doing to God’s heart when we don’t take God’s word seriously? Why didn’t God just give up on a covenant people who failed to uphold their part of the agreement? The answer is probably simple: God cannot! God cannot help but remain faithful to His own promises. Because, as we saw yesterday (#18), God makes the promise to Himself.
But, as we also know, a covenant is between two parties—so when a covenant is broken, it becomes worthless. Everything must start again. That’s why the words of Jeremiah 31:31-33 are so special: “The time is coming,” declares the Lord, “when I will make a new covenant with you… I will write my law on your hearts and imprint it on your minds. I will be your God, and you will be my people.” The time is coming—but everything is different! No longer written with ink that can fade, God has etched His words (His promises and His commandments) in our hearts with blood. God ensures that we can never turn our backs on His promises, for wherever we turn, our hearts turn with us.
Listen to how God repeats it: “I will give them an undivided heart and a steadfast spirit… I will never stop doing good to them, and I will inspire them to revere Me… I will rejoice in doing them good in My faithfulness” (Jeremiah 32:39-42).
God delights in doing good to us. I want to read that again and again.
PRAYER: Your words are my life, my LORD; they are my entire existence!
ART: The Peaceable Kingdom by Edward Hicks
MUSIC:
We are listening to the most beautiful Afrikaans song by the renowned Afrikaans singer Steffie le Roux: Die Nuwe Verbond: Aria vir die Universum together with the Horizons Project Choir.