Read Hebrews 8:1-13
The chief end of man is to glorify God and to enjoy him forever. – The Westminster Confession
When I moved to England as a 16 year old, I had to interview for a school to complete my studies. One of my interview questions was to share a time I had been a trustworthy friend. I went on to share, in detail, how I had kept a promise of confidentiality. True story. I wonder if you have ever broken your word, or have experienced someone breaking their promise to you?
We’ve seen already in Hebrews the promise making and promise keeping God. He swore by himself (for there is no one greater than God, He must swear by himself) to keep his promise. Today we read of the covenant promise. A covenant is usually a contractual promise between two equal parties that bonds them together for a mutual cause. For example, a marriage is a covenant between a husband and wife to be bonded together for life. Many times throughout the scriptures, covenants are made with the use of a sacrificial animal.
The problem of a covenant between God and people, however, is that these are not two equal parties. One party could not keep the covenant. God’s people remained unfaithful, and walked away.
The writer to the Hebrews quotes Jeremiah 31:31-34 to remind us of the superior covenant, a new covenant that God would make, one that would be written upon our hearts and would be a joy to keep, and one that would be perfectly kept for us by Jesus. You see, the new covenant is a promise made between God. No one else. Just Him. This means that it cannot fail! What great confidence we can have in our salvation!
So just what is this promise to us through this new covenant? An intimate and salvific knowledge of God and a new identity as His people. If you’ve ever asked yourself the questions “who am I?” and “what is my purpose?” then you can find that answer in the new covenant promise – to know God and to be His, forever!
A new and greater priest made a better a covenant, in order that you and I could glorify God and enjoy him forever!
Reflect
- Why do you think the old covenant between God and people failed?
- Why is it good news that the old law is made obsolete?
- Because of the new covenant, what confidence do you have in your salvation?
Pray
Father God, thank you for keeping the promises that I can’t keep and that through Jesus I can have a new identity and purpose. Amen.