the sure mercies of David."
Isaiah 55:3
A family bought a new house in a covenant community. That meant their house had to meet certain standards and they had certain responsibilities to their neighbors. After they had lived there for a few months, his wife said, "I'm not sure I like living in a covenant community. We have to get permission to make changes on our own house." The husband replied, "You're right, but that's a two-way relationship. Our neighbors must also maintain their houses according to good standards. That upholds our property value."
We have a two-way relationship with God. His church is a covenant community. The Bible is our covenant manual. It outlines our responsibilities to God, and it assures us of God's promises to us. The Bible is a book that teaches us from beginning to end about God's everlasting covenant. He enters into relationship with us through covenant, which is like unto marriage. His covenant is based upon oath, vows and promises. He will never break covenant with us. It is the everlasting covenant.
God's everlasting covenant is based upon the sure mercies of David. God promised David through covenant that a Messiah, anointed One, would bring in the everlasting kingdom. It is sure because God promised with oath and vow (2 Samuel 7:12-17). It's all about the mercies of God through Jesus the promised Messiah, known also as Christ (Hebrews 13:20-21). The first eleven chapters of Romans describes these mercies in Christ, leading the apostle Paul to conclude: "I beseech you therefore brethren, by the mercies of God . . ." (Romans 12:1). God's sure covenant is about mercies upon us in Christ. Christ is our surety of receiving the covenant mercies.
Father, we receive the sure mercies of David in the name of Jesus our Messiah. Amen.
