Day 7 A Beautiful Picture of Covenant
The concept of Covenant in the Bible is extremely personal and detailed. Covenant, whether in the Bible or in a human relationship always involves exchange and full access in each of the 5 areas:
- Identity
- Authority
- Protection
- Provision
- Possessions
Covenant as described in the Bible involves passing through or exchanging blood, making vows that are not to be broken, exchanging identity and authority and giving protection, provision and possessions. (1)
A Beautiful Picture of a Covenant Relationship
The Biblical truth of David & Jonathan in 1 Samuel 18 & 19 is a picture of Jesus’ Covenant with us.
1 Samuel 18:1-4 (NKJ)
1Now when he had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul. 2 Saul took him that day, and would not let him go home to his father’s house anymore. 3 Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul. 4 And Jonathan took off the robe that was on him and gave it to David, with his armor, even to his sword and his bow and his belt.
Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as his own soul. So Jesus loved us and we love Him because He first loved us.
Jonathan took off the robe. This was the robe of the King’s son. It identified Jonathan in public. When they saw that particular robe, the people knew they were in the presence of the King’s son. Jonathan and David exchanged identity. David, a shepherd only had a shepherd’s garb and he took on the identity of the King’s son and thus, even heir to the throne.
With that identity also came authority…
Samuel 18:5
5 So David went out wherever Saul sent him, and behaved wisely. And Saul set him over the men of war, and he was accepted in the sight of all the people and also in the sight of Saul’s servants.
David was given authority over Saul’s armed forces. He had the authority of the King’s son in the kingdom and yet it says, “he behaved wisely”. He was not arrogant and prideful because he was a Covenant Partner; he exchanged identity and authority with Jonathan out of love, not out of “moving up the ladder.”
With Identity and Authority Came Provision, Possessions and Protection
The People accepted David as a family member of the King…he had access to the riches of the kingdom, which v5 says he used wisely.
They exchanged armor…Protection. David’s original armor was his “Fear of The Lord” and a sling with rocks. He exchanged his sling for Jonathan’s armor, his sword, his bow and his belt, Jonathan also had a “Fear of The Lord”.
We Have the Armor of God
Ephesians 6:14-18
14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; 18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—
We Have Peace That Passes Understanding
Isaiah 26:1-3
We have a strong city; God makes salvation it’s walls and ramparts. Open the gates that the righteous nation may enter, the nation that keeps faith. You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord forever for the Lord, the Lord is the Rock eternal.
We Have Faith
Isaiah 26: 7-9, 12-13
The path of the righteous is level; O upright One you make the way of the righteous smooth. Yes, Lord, walking in the way of your laws, we wait for you; your name and renown are the desire of our hearts. My soul yearns for you in the night; in the morning my spirit longs for you.
12 Lord you establish peace for us; all that we have accomplished you have done for us. 13 Your name alone do we honor.
All Our Needs Are Provided For
30 And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith? 31 “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ 32 These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. 33 Seek the Kingdom of God[a] above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. 34 “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.
Our Western Culture, which has permeated the entire world says you have to “Be Your Own Person”, “Work for What You Want & Need”, “Climb the Ladder of Success”. But Jesus, our Covenant Partner says…”seek the kingdom of God”, “live in right standing with God” and he will give you everything you need.
Over and over in the Old Testament God provided for the needs of His people. Abraham was the most wealthy man of his day and all of his wealth was given to him by God through Abraham’s enemies. Abraham was a steward of God’s wealth. Abraham managed well what God provided for him.
Joseph, a Jew, was sold into slavery by his brothers and then wrongfully imprisoned and yet ended up being the 2nd highest authority in Egypt. God used Joseph to instruct the Egyptians that a famine was coming. God gave Joseph a plan to begin to store grain to survive the famine. Then God brought Joseph’s family to Egypt, restored their relationship with Joseph and kept the family alive during the famine on Egypt’s stored grain.
The Children of Israel left Egypt in a hurry, and as they left the Egyptians, who had been their captors for 400 years and kept them in slavery, gave them all their wealth. The record of The Exodus in Exodus 12:35-36 tells us,
35 And the people of Israel did as Moses had instructed; they asked the Egyptians for clothing and articles of silver and gold. 36 The Lord caused the Egyptians to look favorably on the Israelites, and they gave the Israelites whatever they asked for. So they stripped the Egyptians of their wealth!
When the Children of Israel “took” the promised land they did not have to fight…God did the battles for them and gave them the land, the houses, the fields, the vineyards and the animals.
When we seek God and become “Stewards” and “Covenant Partners” with Him, our work is simply to manage what he has given us. What freedom is there!
Living In Covenant
These concepts are really hard to get into our Western way of thinking! Can it really be? Philippians 4:5-8 tells us again:
5 Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon.[a]
6 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.
How I put this to practice in my real life. I’m still learning about the “stewardship” side, especially in my business. God keeps opening my mind and heart to these truths a little at a time. However, I do fully understand it and practice it from the “prayer” side.
Covenant Prayers
For years I “worry-prayed” Oh God, please do this…worrying all the time He wouldn’t and happily surprised when He did. I confess, I often start with “worry prayers” but little by little I’m moving away from those and into “covenant partner prayers”. Here’s an example.
David had access to the kingdom because of his covenant relationship with the king’s son. If he needed food he did not say “oh, I hope Jonathan remembers our covenant today”, nor did he grovel “Jonathan would you mind if I ate at the kings table or took food from the kings refrigerator?” Of course not…what an insult and yet…this is what we do with God when we “worry-pray”. If David needed something, “full access” meant he could take anything he wanted, just as Jonathan could.
So with “Covenant Prayers” I can go to God in the name of my Covenant Partner, Jesus Christ with full confidence He will provide my needs. Instead of “Dear God please help this to work out”, I’m praying God, Jesus is my Covenant Partner and in that Covenant I have been promised to have all my needs met. Father God, this is my need. I’m asking you to provide it and I’m asking you to change my heart and mind if I am wrong about this need. I want to have your mind about this. So I leave this need in your hands.
God provides! It’s amazing! There are times when I Think I need something and as I submit my mind and heart to be changed, if God has something else for me, I see His provision elsewhere.
Covenant Partnership Extends To Our Families
Another beautiful piece of the Jonathan and David story happens in parts of 2 Samuel chapters 4-9. Saul, the king, and Jonathan are killed in battle. David, who had been anointed King by God to replace Saul, took the throne; this started a battle between David, the anointed one, and Saul’s family who did not want to give up the throne. 2 Samuel 3:1 tells us the story in a nutshell:
3 That was the beginning of a long war between those who were loyal to Saul and those loyal to David. As time passed David became stronger and stronger, while Saul’s dynasty became weaker and weaker. (NLT)
Because of this uprising, Saul’s entire family was annihilated. However, 2 Samuel 4:4 tells of one son of Jonathan, Mephibosheth, who was 5 years old and became crippled in both feet when he was running with his “nurse” to hide him from David’s men.
A Covenant Relationship always went to the family line of the Covenant Partners. When all the trouble was over and David finally held the kingdom securely he asked his servants in 2 Samuel 9:3
3 The king then asked him, “Is anyone still alive from Saul’s family? If so, I want to show God’s kindness to them.”
David was told of Mephibosheth and sent for him. 2 Samuel 9:7,
7 “Don’t be afraid!” David said. “I intend to show kindness to you because of my promise to your father, Jonathan. I will give you all the property that once belonged to your grandfather Saul, and you will eat here with me at the king’s table!”
You see, David was honoring his Covenant promise to Jonathan…to his generations.
Our Covenant Partnership With Jesus Extends To Our Family As Well
Think of the wonder of this…no more “worry praying” for your family. If we are truly in covenant with Christ, seeking His Kingdom and His Righteousness, we just go to Him based on this covenant relationship.
Father, my family is included in My Covenant with Jesus, your Son. I ask you to bring my family (or family member) to your table. Provide their needs. Bring them into covenant with you.
I do this when my family has needs and I am amazed as Father God brings them what they need; whether resources, attitudes or healing. I love watching as my family begins to grasp (without me preaching at them) a true covenant relationship with Jesus Christ.
So no more “worry-prayers”…right? Go to your covenant partner. He will meet all your needs through HIS riches…not your resources.
How does this Mindset of Covenant affect your thinking about your everyday life?
References
(1)http://gracethrufaith.com/topical-studies/eternal-security/the-covenant-relationship/
About the Author: Celeste Davis, is a passionate follower of Jesus Christ with a heart to walk fully in Covenant with Him. As Founder of The Wellness Workshop, Celeste’s heart is to teach women and impact their families to “Be Nourished” as opposed to dieting or trying different life strategies. We nourish our bodies with God-Made Food, our Souls with God-Made Relationships and our Spirits with the Word of God and Prayer. More Info about Celeste
