Week 19, Day 4: A Better Covenant
Today’s Reading: Hebrews 9:1-10:39
Some thoughts from yesterday’s reading…
The book of Hebrews is so full of great information, it is very difficult to pick just one section to write about! Today, I’d like you to think about a few verses from chapter 8. In Hebrews 8:7-13, the writer addresses the concept of how much better the New Covenant is than the Old. Obviously, if the first had been without fault, there would be no reason for a second or “new” covenant (Hebrews 8:7). This new covenant would be so much better because it would realize the relationship between God and man that God had always wanted. Even in the Old Testament, God wanted His people to be faithful to Him so that He could maintain a relationship with them. Now, in the New Covenant that relationship is established. Those who refuse to be the people of God are not a part of His nation (something that was not true under the Old Testament Covenant).
In this New Covenant, the law would be written on the hearts, and in the minds of those that were faithful to God. Everyone would know the Lord, for they would not have to be taught Him after entering the covenant (like those in the Old Testament who entered the covenant at 8 days old).
The greatest part of this new covenant is found in Hebrews 8:12. God would forgive and forget the lawless deeds of His people. The Hebrew writer over the next couple of chapters will continue to show the greatness of the New Covenant, and how the sacrificial system of the Old Covenant was (intentionally) flawed. There was no forgiveness of sins in that Covenant, but only in the New that was based on a better sacrifice.
We are blessed to live under this New Covenant. We have our sins forgiven, something that the faithful of old only looked forward to. May we never forget how important this blessing is, and remember those who were faithful to God in times past, and were a part of bringing this wonderful New Covenant to us!
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2 Comments »
Peni said :
May 22, 2009 at 7:09 am
AND … we would do well to just think about the word. COVENANT … one of the most blessed terms in scripture.
The Higher Rock » Blog Archive » Week 19, Day 5: Insufficient Sacrifices… said :
May 22, 2009 at 6:05 pm
[...] yesterday’s post, I mentioned that the Old Covenant was intentionally flawed. We can see, in Hebrews 9 and 10 why [...]