COVENANT RENEWAL IN JERUSALEM
This is the third in a short series of articles considering the principle of Covenant Renewal
Occasionally some married couples renew their wedding vows. They may do so for a variety of reasons, but their goal is to strengthen their marriage by renewal of their covenant.
Importantly, however, any bridegroom and bride – even when they take their vows for the first time – are already obligated by Scripture to perform their duties as husband and wife (Ephesians 5:22-33; Colossians 3:18, 19; 1 Peter 3:1-7). The fact that during the marriage (or marriage renewal) ceremony they turn these obligations into vows, additionally binds them to that which is already their duty.
Scripture describes Jesus Christ as the bridegroom and the Church as his bride. With the Father and the Holy Spirit, Jesus Christ has pledged in Covenant to be our God (the Covenant of Grace). Christ has obligated himself to love and to cherish the Church now and throughout eternity.
God’s Covenant Faithfulness
God expressed his covenant love and faithfulness to his people redeemed from Egypt in the promise, “And I will walk among you and will be your God, and you shall be my people” (Leviticus 26:12). That promise is found repeatedly in Scripture and also relates to life in heaven, where the relationship between God and his redeemed people from all nations will find perfect expression because we will be perfectly holy as God is holy (Revelation 21:3).
The Need for Covenant Renewal
Until that day comes God’s people struggle to live out our covenant commitments. While God remains faithful (1 Corinthians 1:9; 2 Timothy 2:13) often his people go astray; we fail to keep God’s Covenant – the Ten Commandments. We sin each day in “thought, word and deed” (Westminster Shorter Catechism 82).
Scripture shows us several occasions when, aware of their shortcomings and convicted to repent, God’s people renewed their covenant commitment to him. When King Josiah came to the throne of Judah (639 BC), the nation was almost completely given over to idolatry. In that context the Word of God was rediscovered, read to the people and, led by King Josiah’s example, the nation repented and engaged in an act of covenant renewal (2 Kings 23:3). Once again, God’s people were not taking on any new obligations; they simply renewed their commitment to carry out their existing obligations.
Nehemiah: Covenant Renewal in Jerusalem
Another example of covenant renewal in the Old Testament occurred in the days of Nehemiah. Despite the end of exile in Babylon and the restoration of temple worship the city of Jerusalem remained in a dilapidated state (Nehemiah 1:3). Through the inspiring example and spiritual leadership of Nehemiah the city’s walls were rebuilt (Nehemiah 6:15).
However, Nehemiah recognised that not only physical but spiritual reformation and renewal were essential if God’s people were to enjoy God’s blessing. How was this to be accomplished? Nehemiah and the other spiritual leaders knew the means God had authorised to revive his people – the reading and preaching of his Word. Ezra the scribe was called upon to fulfil this task: “So Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly, both men and women and all who could understand what they heard… And the ears of all the people were attentive to the Book of the Law.” (Nehemiah 8:2, 3)
The reading and preaching of the Word that day had a dramatic impact on those who listened: “For all the people wept as they heard the words of the Law” (Nehemiah 8:9). They understood how dismally they had failed to obey the Lord. Nonetheless, while their sorrow for sin was appropriate, Nehemiah encouraged them to rejoice that they were once again hearing and understanding God’s Word (Nehemiah 8:12).
What precisely they understood we are not told. However, God’s Word always points to the Messiah, the Promised One, the Saviour who would redeem them from all evil. In the light of his coming, joy was a perfectly appropriate emotion: “And do not be grieved, for the joy of the LORD is your strength” (Nehemiah 8:10).
The reading and preaching of God’s Word exposes our sin. Our initial reaction will be to grieve. But if Christ is our Redeemer then joy should fill our hearts because “… the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all” (Isaiah 53:6).
The rejoicing of these Jews did not mean they were complacent about their sin. With penitent hearts we read in Nehemiah 9:2 that “they confessed their sins and the iniquities of their fathers.” In this context, led by Levites, they worshipped the Lord, recounting his mighty deeds in nature (creation and preservation of the universe) and in grace (calling Abram and establishing his Covenant with him and his descendants (Nehemiah 9:6-25). Remembering that God is the one “who keeps covenant and steadfast love” (Nehemiah 9:32) these chastened people, aware of their sin, pleaded for mercy.
Covenant Renewal in Jerusalem
To demonstrate their resolve to be faithful the people took action: “Because of all this we make a firm covenant in writing; on the sealed document are the names of our princes, our Levites, and our priests” (Nehemiah 9:38).
Nehemiah’s name is at the head of the list of signatures to the covenant followed by 22 priests, 17 Levites and 44 chiefs of the people. Then we read in Nehemiah 10:28, 29 that “The rest of the people”, including “their wives, their sons, their daughters, all who have knowledge and understanding” committed themselves to the curses and blessings of God’s Law. In other words, they publicly renewed covenant commitment to God.
Covenant Commitment
It is interesting to read the language employed to express their commitment. It was to:
“observe and do all the commandments of the LORD our God” (Nehemiah 10:29)
“take on ourselves the obligation to give …” (Nehemiah 10:32)
“bind ourselves to bring … to the house of the Lord” (Nehemiah 10:35)
“not neglect the house of our God” (Nehemiah 10:39)
These three chapters in Nehemiah are very instructive. In chapter 8 God’s Word is read and explained and the Jews are convicted of their sin. In chapter 9 they remember God’s abundant grace to them throughout their history showing himself to be faithful to his gracious Covenant. In this context they confess their sins and their failures to keep God’s Covenant (the Ten Commandments). In chapter 10 they enter into a solemn covenant to obey the Lord and honour him. They responded to God’s faithfulness by expressing their own faithfulness.
Any covenant renewal today should follow a similar pattern. The reading and preaching of God’s Word will reveal our sins. That should make us weep. But God’s Word will also remind us that in Christ we have a Saviour who “bore our sins in his body on the tree”. This should fill us with joy.
Forgiveness should never lead us to complacency. First Peter 2:24 reminds us that redemption should lead to holy living: “He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness” [emphasis added].
As we reflect on God’s faithfulness to us, in spite of our waywardness, we should resolve in covenant to be faithful to him all our days.
This article was originally written for the Covenanter Witness, the official magazine of the Reformed Presbyterian Church of Ireland. Make sure you check out their magazine as it arrives in your churches every month for more great articles like this!
