The Covenant: God's Eternal Words

Minister:
Date: PM
Text: Isaiah 59:21
Psalters: 394, 367, 243, 359
Sacrament of Baptism
  1. God?s dealings with His own people are covered in the term: ?covenant.?
    1. This expression embodies the merciful relationship of friendship that God has with His people.
      1. It is God?s (?my covenant?).
      2. It is a relationship which abides forever in generations (most often, but not always).
    2. In our text the covenant is set forth in terms of ?my words.? Friendship is communication, often with words.
      1. God?s words are what God says or speaks, i.e., His revelation of Himself.
      2. ?Words? (plural) because God?s revelation has much content.
  2. How is this realized? Remember that the context is the great sinfulness of God?s people.
    1. First, God realizes His covenant when He puts ?My Spirit upon thee.?
      1. Through His Spirit the church of all ages receives the words of God, through the prophets and then the apostles.
      2. This Spirit subjectively equips us to hear, understand and to speak the words of God.
    2. God realizes His covenant: His words He has ?put? in their mouth.
      1. These words ?in thy mouths? are in their hearts too because His Spirit is on them putting it deep within.
      2. They will be praising God!! And they will be teaching their children!
    3. The effect of God?s work of putting them in their mouths is that they ?shall not depart out of thy mouth? nor ?of thy seed?s seed...from henceforth.?
  3. With whom is this covenant realized? With His elect who are redeemed and turn from transgression (20).
    1. The language must refer to the elect church of that day and of our day.
      1. It cannot refer to the individual Isaiah nor to the whole nation of Israel.
      2. Isaiah appears as the head of God?s people at that time.
    2. God also realizes His covenant with the seed of His people, in their generations.