Our God is a covenant God and Kingdom people are covenant people. If you have received Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior you are now in covenant with the King of kings and Lord of lords.

In our culture we rarely hear of someone cutting or establishing a covenant. Wikipedia has plenty to say about a “covenant”. There are several pages. Briefly it says, “Covenants in biblical times were often sealed by severing an animal, with the implication that the party who breaks the covenant will suffer a similar fate. In Hebrew, the verb meaning to seal a covenant translates literally as ‘to cut’, a binding set of laws…..”

God gave us a beautiful picture of covenant in the relationship between David and King Saul’s son, Jonathan. After David killed Goliath, Jonathan invited David to establish a covenant with him. Both parties counted the cost then they exchanged their robes, belts and weapons. These were symbolic, establishing a shared identity, strength and enemies (1 Sam. 18:1-3). When an enemy came against David, they also went against Jonathan and visa versa. Their covenant was so complete that David searched for any living children of Jonathan’s so that he might bless them. He was overjoyed to give Mephibosheth the inheritance that would have been Jonathan’s (2 Samuel 9:1-13).

When we make Jesus the Lord of our life we enter into a covenant relationship with Him. He will never break the established covenant. He will never leave us or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5b; Joshua 1:5b). Jesus counted the cost and chose to be in covenant with you and me. Jesus took our identity, our sin, our weakness, and our enemies. When we accept Him as Lord we put on His identity, His righteousness, His strength and will face attacks from His enemies. But He is ever with us, making the way of escape. Our covenant with Jesus is complete. He has committed to us His lovingkindness, which means “loyal love”. It is a strong word of commitment; it is agape love not just emotional love (2 Chron. 20:21 “Give thanks to the Lord, for His lovingkindness is everlasting.”),

He calls you friend, which means covenant partner. (John 15:15 “I call you friend.”)

When we are in covenant with Jesus even our unsaved family members are blessed! (1 Corinthians 7:14 “For the unbelieving husband is sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified through her believing husband; for otherwise your children are unclean, but now they are holy.”)

Lastly, Jonathan and David would have put a symbol on their hand or wrist to show others that they were in covenant. Enemies would see evidence of their covenant and know that when they came against Jonathan they also had to contend with David.

Jesus bears the sign of the covenant He has with us on His hands (Is. 49:16). Our sign is to walk in holiness and lift holy hands in praise to Him (Psalm 134:2).

Bless His Holy Name!

Patricia L. Wenzel
WOC Graduate