The First 15

Thursday February 2, 2023

by Jan Davis

Today is Thursday, February 2 and we are studying what the Bible says about covenant.

Opening Prayer

Jesus, I am yours. As I approach the newness of a dawning day, I sit quietly in the joy of your presence and relish the comfort of your abiding love. Open the scriptures to me, speak into my life and teach me about covenant.


Pause and Pray

Holy Lord God, I am no longer my own, but yours. Put me to what you will, rank me with whom you will; put me to doing, put me to suffering; let me be employed for you, or laid aside for you, exalted for you, or brought low for you; let me be full, let me be empty. Amen. (The Wesleyan Covenant Prayer, part 1)

Scripture Reading

I rejoice in God’s wisdom and praise him for his righteous commands with the words of Psalm 19.

The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul. The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple. The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes. The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever. The decrees of the Lord are firm, and all of them are righteous. They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the honeycomb. Psalm 19:7-10

Pause and Pray

The covenant of God’s Law was made with Moses at Mount Sinai. God leads his people out of slavery in Egypt, across the Red Sea and south into the desert wilderness. On their back country journey, they are guided, protected, nourished and fed. Their wanderings eventually bring them to the place where God speaks. A thick cloud covered the mountain, a loud trumpet blast sounded, smoke billowed up like a furnace and the people trembled. God called Moses to climb to the mountain’s summit and it was there that God spoke the words of the Ten Commandments making a covenant agreement with his people for all time. This is the Mosaic Covenant.

Then the Lord said to Moses, “Write down these words, for in accordance with these words I have made a covenant with you and with Israel.” Moses was there with the Lord forty days and forty nights without eating bread or drinking water. And he wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant—the Ten Commandments. When Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the covenant law in his hands, he was not aware that his face was radiant because he had spoken with the Lord. Exodus 34:27-29

Reflection

This week we have explored the great covenants God made with his people in the Old Testament of the Bible. After the Fall of humanity through the disobedience of Adam and Eve, God provided a series of covenants intended to restore humanity to a right relationship. These covenants were made with Noah, Abraham, Moses and David. The words of the Ten Commandments were given directly to Moses by God and recorded on two stone tablets. These words of God are to be obeyed by his people for all time. That includes me. I am a person of the covenant. The Ten Commandments can be found in my Bible in the book of Exodus chapter 20.

Ask: Have I made it a priority to faithfully observe the Ten Commandments of God? How are these commands still relevant today for my life and the world?

Pause and Pray

Lord God, you are holy and mighty and worthy to be praised. You set expectations and standards for your people to obey. It is my obligation to faithfully observe and conscientiously follow the commandments given to Moses on Mount Sinai. Because of Jesus Christ I know that I am a child of Abraham and I understand these commandments to continue to have importance in my life. I read the words from Exodus again and listen for the message you have for me.

Then the Lord said to Moses, “Write down these words, for in accordance with these words I have made a covenant with you and with Israel.” Moses was there with the Lord forty days and forty nights without eating bread or drinking water. And he wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant—the Ten Commandments. When Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the covenant law in his hands, he was not aware that his face was radiant because he had spoken with the Lord. Exodus 34:27-29

Ask: What image, word or phrase stands out to me when I slowly read this passage? What is God trying to say to me through these words of scripture?

Pause and Pray

God’s covenant is for me. The words of ancient commands given to Moses on a desert mountain continue to have wisdom and value for the world today. In observing these commands I am invited to love God and love others from a standpoint of community, faithfulness and sincerity. As Moses was invited to spend time in God’s presence and hear the voice of God, returning with a radiant face, I also have the opportunity to spend time in God’s presence and listen for the voice of the Holy Spirit speaking into my life. May my face reflect the joy of his presence.

Pause and Pray

Come, Lord God. Remind me of the faithfulness of your covenant through generations of your people. Reveal the wisdom of your Law and the timeless nature of your requirements. Show me the places I have fallen short and strengthen me in the power of your Holy Spirit to obey your Law and fulfill your covenant. Amen.

You came near and stood at the foot of the mountain while it blazed with fire to the very heavens, with black clouds and deep darkness. Then the Lord spoke to you out of the fire. You heard the sound of words but saw no form; there was only a voice. He declared to you his covenant, the Ten Commandments, which he commanded you to follow and then wrote them on two stone tablets. Deuteronomy 4:11-13

Closing Prayer

I leave this time of prayer intent on following the commands of the God who loves me. I go in the name of Jesus Christ to love others.

Amen

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