On Wednesday evening, during our new LIFE Lessons series, “The Inner Struggle for Holiness,” we revisited the covenants God made with five Old Testament biblical heroes of the faith. A covenant is formed as a relational bond—a binding agreement to participate in a common goal for success. The covenants God initiates in Scripture display a rescuing and redemptive theme that leads partners into a new and transformed state of being. The terms are clearly defined and the covenant is sealed in the Spirit. Thus, to break the covenant comes with a penalty [judgment].
God is always faithful to his covenants. He promises to be faithful to love and restore his human creation from the destructive work of sin, but not every person agrees to the sacrificial and selfless love [agape] God offers. The way toward God’s holiness is challenging to our souls. Sometimes people forget a covenant promise is built upon faithfully honoring the commitment made by obediently moving toward the goal of holiness—loving God wholeheartedly the way he loves us.
We looked at the covenant God made with Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, and David, before Jesus ushered in the Covenant of Grace and the commandment of Love. As believers—participants in God’s Covenant of Grace—we cannot say we honor and love Father God, while loving the world’s way of living (1 John 2:15-17). The Spirit works to cut the world’s unholy ways of living off from believers. Thus, the inner struggle. We are learning to live as citizens of heaven while in the world (John 17:14-16).
In our passage today, the psalmist praises God’s power and faithfulness. Nothing compares to the Lord and his steadfast love for all of creation. As well, the psalmist praises God for the eternal covenant he made with King David; the promise that his dynasty would never end. Although David died and his lineage failed to live for and serve God in righteousness, Jesus came to be the fulfillment of that covenant of love that would lead disciples into God’s holy presence.
You and I are learning to live in Christ. It is not an easy journey, but it is of eternal importance. We will never get beyond the struggle as long as we live on earth, because evil wants to rule the world. Yet, according to the Covenant of Grace, God has promised to love, protect, provide, and spiritually prosper all those who seek his holy presence. The struggle is for the reality of heaven, so let’s press on in obedience and allow the Spirit to trim off our excess flesh or worldly “fat!”
Psalm 89:5-37 NLT
5
All heaven will praise your great wonders, Lord;
myriads of angels will praise you for your faithfulness.
6
For who in all of heaven can compare with the Lord?
What mightiest angel is anything like the Lord?
7
The highest angelic powers stand in awe of God.
He is far more awesome than all who surround his throne.
8
O Lord God of Heaven’s Armies!
Where is there anyone as mighty as you, O Lord?
You are entirely faithful.
9
You rule the oceans.
You subdue their storm-tossed waves.
10
You crushed the great sea monster.[chaos]
You scattered your enemies with your mighty arm.
11
The heavens are yours, and the earth is yours;
everything in the world is yours—you created it all.
12
You created north and south.
Mount Tabor and Mount Hermon praise your name.
13
Powerful is your arm!
Strong is your hand!
Your right hand is lifted high in glorious strength.
14
Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne.
Unfailing love and truth walk before you as attendants.
15
Happy are those who hear the joyful call to worship,
for they will walk in the light of your presence, Lord.
16
They rejoice all day long in your wonderful reputation.
They exult in your righteousness.
17
You are their glorious strength.
It pleases you to make us strong.
18
Yes, our protection comes from the Lord,
and he, the Holy One of Israel, has given us our king.
19
Long ago you spoke in a vision to your faithful people.
You said, “I have raised up a warrior.
I have selected him from the common people to be king.
20
I have found my servant David.
I have anointed him with my holy oil.
21
I will steady him with my hand;
with my powerful arm I will make him strong.
22
His enemies will not defeat him,
nor will the wicked overpower him.
23
I will beat down his adversaries before him
and destroy those who hate him.
24
My faithfulness and unfailing love will be with him,
and by my authority he will grow in power.
25
I will extend his rule over the sea,
his dominion over the rivers.
26
And he will call out to me, ‘You are my Father,
my God, and the Rock of my salvation.’
27
I will make him my firstborn son,
the mightiest king on earth.
28
I will love him and be kind to him forever;
my covenant with him will never end.
29
I will preserve an heir for him;
his throne will be as endless as the days of heaven.
30
But if his descendants forsake my instructions
and fail to obey my regulations,
31
if they do not obey my decrees
and fail to keep my commands,
32
then I will punish their sin with the rod,
and their disobedience with beating.
33
But I will never stop loving him
nor fail to keep my promise to him.
34
No, I will not break my covenant;
I will not take back a single word I said.
35
I have sworn an oath to David,
and in my holiness I cannot lie:
36
His dynasty will go on forever;
his kingdom will endure as the sun.
37
It will be as eternal as the moon,
my faithful witness in the sky!”
Prayer: Lord, you have given us so much to think about today in our devotion. It can be hard to take it all in, but you always simplify things when we seek you. Thank you. According to your Covenant of Grace, as believers we make a mutual commitment to the salvation or rebirth of our spirits and the transformation of our souls [minds, will, emotions] leading us into a new way to live. We are becoming new creations. This covenant has been cut in the blood of Jesus. You have placed heaven in our hearts, so while we live in a fallen world, the Spirit of Truth will confront us when we choose to wander off your path. This wandering is the inner struggle for holiness. Please continue to spiritually cut off any flesh or worldly ways that would hinder our progress to live in your holiness and bear the fruit of your love. In Jesus’ name. Amen.