COVENANTS
Suggested Reading: 2 Kings 23
Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).
This is the view looking south from the temple mount in Jerusalem where the Kidron Valley joins the Valley of Gehenna. In today’s reading, the Valley of Gehenna is referred to as the Valley of the Son of Hinnom (2 Kings 23:10).
GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.
Key Verse: 2 Kings 23:3
Then the king stood by a pillar and made a covenant before the Lord, to follow the Lord and keep His commandments and His testimonies and His statutes, with all his heart and all his soul, to perform the words of this covenant that were written in this book. And all the people took their stand for the covenant.
Three times in our key verse the word COVENANT is repeated! A covenant is the most solemn and most binding agreement into which two parties can enter. In verse two we read, “The king…read in their hearing all the words of the book of the COVENANT which had been found in the house of the Lord.” The King himself read the book out loud to all the people. What an experience this was! Imagine the loud voice of the young king ringing out across the crowded plaza. As did the people, will we commit with all our hearts and souls to perform the words of the covenant? According to Hebrews, for the past 2000 years we have had “A better COVENANT, which was established on better promises.” We may want to read (out loud if possible) Hebrews 8:1-13 & 2:11-15. Let us meditate on this amazing grace of God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Almighty and eternal God, I am amazed that You would bind Your Self to such an eternally binding covenant with me and all who will personally sign the covenant with all our hearts and souls. You signed in blood at the cross. I am absolutely confident that You will keep Your end of this eternally and legally binding agreement. The courts of Heaven witness to Your signature, and those same courts rang with great joy when I signed on, and they continue to celebrate over each new name written in the Book of Life. Grant that I may bring another person to sign in today, I pray. In the Name of the “Mediator of the New Covenant,” Jesus my Lord and Saviour, Amen!
100 PERSONAL WORDS:
I am deeply moved to read the responses of readers of this blog.
1. What insight you make David. If we (as in this generation) fail to reach-out to the next generation, the Word of God will be something we only see as an article on a shelf in the museum. Christ must be our life, we need to be filled daily anew with His Holy Spirit, and then go forth in His service. We mustn’t miss the opportunity to proclaim the gospel, for life in this world passes quickly.
2. Please don’t think for a moment that this blog is a chore. This blog has brought me renewal and great joy every day! I’ve been a Christian for 30 years, but have never felt so alive in my Christian walk as I have this last year. Thank you David for bringing this to us daily, you’ll never know how it has enhanced my Christian walk. I can’t wait to see what you have in store for us in 100words for this next year. God Bless you for being a faithful servant in bringing this to us every day David.
3. What a beautiful picture of both you and Myles at the park, he is indeed a handsome young man. It must bring you great joy to have the opportunity to see and to know your great-grandchildren, and even greater joy to know that many if not all of your family has accepted the Lord as their personal Saviour! Oh what satisfaction, security and joy that must bring you!!! I pray that we all might know that same joy of having our family members ‘in Christ’ as we enjoy our walk with the Lord, unto eternity. What a gift from God that would be!
Yours, celebrating the new covenant,
David
P.S. On the side post of each door in every hotel here in Jerusalem is a mazuzah (see photo below). As Jewish people enter the doors, they caress the mazuzah. Inside each mazuza is a Bible verse. It’s the Scripture found in Deuteronomy 6:7. From yesterday’s reading where I wrote about my great-grandchildren, I am reminded to obey Deuteronomy 6.
The southern wall of the temple mount in seen on the left and in the distance are some of the thousands of graves on the slopes of the Mount of Olives. You can even see a Jewish funeral service taking place. In todays reading, verse 6, the ashes of the wooden image King Josiah had burnt were thrown on the graves of the common people.
Such a beautiful prayer, David! Thank You, Lord, for Your undying love for us; that we may live in honour worship and praise of You. To await Your splendour in heaven and share in the glory everlasting–oh, that we may look forward to! Blessings fellow saints!
I look forward to the blog every day. I have seen a mazusa on the door frame of a unit in our condo building. I don’t know the people but there is a Jewish Synagogue in our area. I have kept the Crossroads Compass from June 2013 where you ministered to a Jewish doctor and through the reading of Isaiah 9: 6 and the whole chapter of Isaiah 53 omitting the name, “Jesus” as per his request. He then realized after hearing the word read to him and thinking of Who it could possibly be about, that it is “Jesus”. Praise God.
This blog is my “church” service. What an honour to have it every day. Thank u Rev. M. Looking forward to many more days/years with u and your “congregation”:-)
Found this article very interesting:
WHY ARE THERE SO MANY DENOMINATIONS?
Category: Cultural CommentaryPublished: Wednesday, 06 November 2013 04:45Written by Jim Denison
Let’s begin with the 16th-century Reformation. Martin Luther, John Calvin and the Church of England rejected anything they found within Catholic tradition which they did not consider to be biblical, such as the authority of the pope and councils. But they kept and reinterpreted Catholic teaching which was not expressly unbiblical. These movements are usually called “magisterial” since they were supported by the magistrates, the government leaders of the day. Their successors in America are the “mainline” Protestant denominations such as Presbyterian, Lutheran, Episcopalian, and Methodist.
As an example, the Bible nowhere forbids the baptism of infants, but it does not teach that such baptism washes away inherited original sin. So Luther, Calvin and Anglicans kept the practice of infant baptism but changed its meaning. For Luther, baptism is a means by which Christ confers his saving grace, but it stands on the faith commitment of the parents who are bringing their child to be dedicated to God.
The other branch of Protestant tradition is called “radical” reform. Whereas magisterial Protestants kept whatever they found in Catholic tradition which was not unbiblical, radical reformers kept only that which is expressly taught in Scripture.
Take infant baptism once again as an example. This practice, while not prohibited by the Bible, is not prescribed by God’s word. So the radical reformers returned to the New Testament practice of baptizing by immersion those who made a personal commitment to Christ as Lord. Since radical reformers did not find denominational hierarchy in the New Testament, they insisted on local church autonomy without bishops or outside governing authority. As they stood outside government support, these reformers usually argued for the separation of church and state as well.
Today the radical reform movement is continued by Baptists, Bible churches, Churches of Christ, and most nondenominational churches as they seek to practice only that which they find expressly taught in the word of God.
As important as our theological convictions may be, the unity of Christ’s body is also crucial to our effectiveness. Jesus prayed that his followers “may be one” so the world would believe the Father sent the Son (John 17:21). Richard Baxter’s motto is an appropriate way to relate to other members of the family of faith: “In necessary things, unity; in doubtful things, liberty; in all things, charity.”
Blessings fellow saints.
Thanks for your words and prayer today Pastor David. Also thank you Lynda for your interesting article. Dear friends in Christ have a Blessed day.
Thanks for your words and prayer today Pastor David. Also thank you Lynda for your interesting article. Dear friends in Christ have a Blessed day.
Prayed the powerful prayer with you this moment…thank you Lord, Your word tells me when we ask in prayer, You will answer. Thank you for the answer in advance Jesus. Amen!!!
The photos are special…thank you.
Josiah was faithful…and yet so quickly upon his death…his sons did not follow his way, but turned away from God…doing evil in His sight.
Congratulations Rev David on your award,well deserved.
Thank you thank you,for obeying our Lord. You must make our SAVIOUR very happy,when he looks down on you & hears your prayers,and you are always striving to do His will.
I have only been with the blog about a year, you make it so much more interesting . I thank all your family for thier input. I have tried many times to read the bible and failed. This time I can’t wait for the next morning to read new insights to our Lords precious words to us.
Just had opportunity to logon to the blog as we’ve been on the road since 5.45am. At present we’re with a bunch of Christan seniors in Lancaster, Pennsylvania and will take in an Amish ordination of ‘ Josiah for President ‘ which I’m asu,I got will cover the account in the last few blogs.