How does making a covenant with God influence our daily decisions and actions? Setting the Scene—2 Kings 11:17 “Then Jehoiada made a covenant between the LORD and the king and people, that they would be the LORD’s people—and also between the king and the people.” What a Covenant Is • More than a contract—an unbreakable, God-initiated bond. • Seals identity: “the LORD’s people.” • Establishes loyalty: exclusive allegiance to God. Immediate Implications for Judah—and for Us • The nation turns from the usurper Athaliah’s idolatry to wholehearted worship. • Leadership, worship, and daily life are reordered around the Lord’s standards. • For us, entering the new covenant through Christ (Luke 22:20) means the same wholesale realignment. Daily Decisions Shaped by Covenant Loyalty • Whose will? Decisions begin with “What does my covenant Lord desire?” • Whose voice? Scripture becomes the final authority (Psalm 119:105). • Whose glory? Motives shift from self-promotion to God-exaltation (1 Corinthians 10:31). • Whose people? Relationships are filtered through covenant community and witness (John 13:35). Concrete Actions Flowing from Covenant Commitment • Time: Regular worship gathers, Sabbath rhythm, family devotions (Hebrews 10:24-25). • Finances: Firstfruits giving, integrity in business (Malachi 3:10; Proverbs 11:1). • Ethics: Truth-telling, sexual purity, justice for the vulnerable (Ephesians 4:25; 1 Thessalonians 4:3; Micah 6:8). • Discernment: Rejecting idolatrous influences—entertainment, ideology, or ambition that rivals Christ (1 John 5:21). • Courage: Public allegiance even when costly, as Jehoiada risked his life for covenant renewal (Matthew 16:24). Linking 2 Kings 11:17 with the Wider Scriptural Witness • Exodus 24:7-8—Israel binds itself to obey “everything the LORD has said.” • Joshua 24:15—“Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve.” • Jeremiah 31:33—New-covenant promise: God writes His law on our hearts. • Romans 12:1-2—Covenant mercy calls for living sacrifice and transformed minds. A Closing Encouragement Every morning we wake up as covenant people. The vow made through Christ’s blood still stands, empowering us to weigh every word, plan, purchase, and relationship against the joyful declaration, “We belong to the LORD.” |
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