The Covenant: God's Eternal Words
Minister: |
Rev. Ronald Van Overloop |
Date: |
6/24/2012 PM
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Text:
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Isaiah 59:21
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Psalters: |
394, 367, 243, 359 |
Sacrament of Baptism |
- God?s dealings with His own people are covered in the term: ?covenant.?
- This expression embodies the merciful relationship of friendship that God has with His people.
- It is God?s (?my covenant?).
- It is a relationship which abides forever in generations (most often, but not always).
- In our text the covenant is set forth in terms of ?my words.? Friendship is communication, often with words.
- God?s words are what God says or speaks, i.e., His revelation of Himself.
- ?Words? (plural) because God?s revelation has much content.
- How is this realized? Remember that the context is the great sinfulness of God?s people.
- First, God realizes His covenant when He puts ?My Spirit upon thee.?
- Through His Spirit the church of all ages receives the words of God, through the prophets and then the apostles.
- This Spirit subjectively equips us to hear, understand and to speak the words of God.
- God realizes His covenant: His words He has ?put? in their mouth.
- These words ?in thy mouths? are in their hearts too because His Spirit is on them putting it deep within.
- They will be praising God!! And they will be teaching their children!
- 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.?
- With whom is this covenant realized? With His elect who are redeemed and turn from transgression (20).
- The language must refer to the elect church of that day and of our day.
- It cannot refer to the individual Isaiah nor to the whole nation of Israel.
- Isaiah appears as the head of God?s people at that time.
- God also realizes His covenant with the seed of His people, in their generations.