OUR MARRIAGE COVENANT WITH GOD IN CHRIST PRESUPPOSES STAYING THE COURSE
Before God and the company gathered for celebration of a marriage, the bride and groom affirm their commitment to forsake all others and devote themselves to each other for life. Thus, they enter into an unconditional agreement. An old-time tradition associated with marriages was stated in the form of a poem: "Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue" - said to represent continuity . . . hope . . . honor . . . purity.
Think of our personal relationship with God through Christ as a marriage covenant- marked by continuity--- hold onto old principles taught in the Old Testament . . . hope - take hold of that new hope in Christ presented in the New Testament . . . honor - hold dear to our hearts those saints whose pattern of behavior we have borrowed . . . purity -- hold in high regard Christian qualities that make for a sacred relationship, pure and undefiled . . .
During the reign of Israel's King Asa, when times were uncertain, God's people entered into a covenant with the LORD to seek a close relationship with Him so as to live life as an act of worship - in much the same way that two people who love each other seek to honor God by being true to their marriage vows.
From this segment of our study about Asa's spiritual reforms, we learn/our characteristics of a covenant with God and we discern that such celebrations by God's people before Christ were predictive of that new celebration to be instituted by Christ.
To better understand the context of the making of this covenant --- recall: the great victory granted to Judah after Asa reformed the nation's spiritual life . . . the stern lecture given to Asa upon his return from battle . . . the ominous warning to forget not the source of Judah's blessings . . . the wise advice to go on seeking the Lord.
As Judah's spiritual as well as sovereign leader, Asa listened to what he was told by the prophet . . . Rather than rest on his laurels, Asa continued his reforms, calling on the people to assemble for a unique worship experience - 2 Chronicles 15:10-19 . . .
Authentic worship consisted of two main elements: recognition of God's sovereignty and response to God's Word. For this purpose, three annual feasts were held, and all Jews were expected to participate via a pilgrimage to the Holy Place.
Mention of "the third month" tells us that the feast to which Asa summoned them was the Feast of Weeks - to honor God as the source of the harvest planted seven weeks earlier.
To recognize the LORD God Almighty, animals were sacrificed in large numbers to show how great God is and how grateful the people are. A great God is offered a great sacrifice!
To respond to the LORD's greatness and goodness, the people entered into a covenant in which they promised to be God's and to do God's will. To refuse to pledge one's loyalty to the LORD God Almighty was to reject Him and separate oneself from His presence - spiritual death.
To recognize the LORD as the one and only God and to respond in the affirmative to Him is to rejoice and reap God's reward of restoration which brings peace.
FOUR CHARACTERISTICS OF A VALID COVENANT BETWEEN GOD AND HIS PEOPLE:
(1) 'They gathered themselves together".
Coming together voluntarily, willingly, expectantly is vital to the making of any covenant if it is to be considered true and one that will last a lifetime. The covenant between Judah and the Lord was personal - an individual matter.
The covenant we entered into with Christ is personal and will endure due to its validity (heart was in it) . . . because we did so willingly (not coerced) . . . we took it seriously (with eyes wide open).
(2) "He was found by them, so the Lord gave them rest on every side."
Peace was Judah's great reward for seeking God with all their heart. Finding Him was easy once they made up their minds to do so. After all, God was not hiding as if playing a game. He was (is) there all the time, not hard to find unless the seekers are spiritually blind!
To seek the Lord daily without delay is to rest assured that God is with us - and will be with us all the way.
Our covenant with Christ gives us peace - provided our minds are focused on that which is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable (Philippians 4:8).
It's not that the power of positive thinking persuades God to grant anything to us but that our focus on those things that are excellent and praiseworthy brings honor and glory to God who grants us peace because we have kept our promise to be like Christ - to live a Godly life in an ungodly world.
(3) “Asa was wholeheartedly devoted his entire life."
Couples being counseled in preparation for marriage were advised by me: A contractual marriage will most likely be temporary. Divorce statistics tell the tale. A covenant marriage will most likely be permanent, the way God ordained it.
Permanence of Asa's covenant with the LORD is what we would expect of a believer who was known for doing good and right in God's sight all the time. God honored Asa's personal dedication with a long reign and a lasting influence.
(4)“Asa removed his grandmother from being queen mother . . . he brought the things his father had dedicated, and that he himself had dedicated."
Asa did not balk at the price he deemed necessary to be paid for satisfying his estimation of the worth of his relationship with God. The rings married couples wear remind us that covenants are costly in many ways, but worth it all. For you and me, considered to be the Bride of Christ, who can place a price on God's grace? Not Asa. Not you. Not me. "In my hand no price I bring, simply to Thy cross I cling."
If giving silver and gold, along with precious gifts of sentimental value, is what it takes- so be it. If swallowing pride and severing a once-close tie is what it takes, so be it.
Asa had the wherewithal and cherished his precious memories, but gave no second thought to placing his all on the altar of "sacrifice and service".
Asa and the people of Judah sealed their covenant with God by sacrificing animals … Jesus introduced the New Covenant and sealed it by shedding His blood ...When we enter into a covenant relationship with God through Christ, we promise to live our lives sacrificially as an act of worship - vowing to stay the course to the finish!
Committed to stay the course to the finish! May it be said of us what was said of Asa - whose commitment is summarized by four different versions: "The heart of Asa was perfect all his days" (KJV) . . . ''Asa's heart was fully committed to the LORD all his life" (NIV) . . . "The heart of Asa was wholly true all his days" (ESV} ... "Asa was whole-heartedly devoted his entire life" (CSB).
By now in our Christian journey, most of us have come to realize there's a lot more to worship than just "going to church", although many of my memorable experiences occurred in worship services "at church" - and still do.
Yet, with regard to wherever or whatever the place we "go" to worship, we enter to worship, we depart to serve - which means that we worship God by Godly living in an ungodly world. In that sense, therefore, we as Christians live life as an act of worship.
When Jesus ate the Passover meal with His disciples, He announced a new covenant (I Cor.11:24-26). The covenant Jesus asks His followers to enter into has four basic characteristics:
(1) personal. Each of us must decide for ourselves what we will do with Jesus.
(2) peace. Embracing Christ frees us from spiritual death and grants eternal life.
(3) permanent. In Christ - dedicated, devoted, defined -we are in it to the finish.
(4) price. Jesus paid the ultimate sacrifice for us. We are living sacrifices for Him.
“Therefore, in view of God's mercy,
offer ourselves as living sacrifices,
holy and pleasing to God -
a spiritual act of worship."
(adaptation of Romans 12:1)
Amen!
