Questions & Answers
With Dr. Bob Burrelli, Grace Bible Church
This title is a favorite among proponents of Covenant Theology--a particular method of approaching the Bible--but neither limited nor unique to them. It is a perfectly good title with which all believers should become familiar, for it points us to the reality, one among many, that God has obligated Himself to us. As strange as it may sound to speak of the Almighty as being bound to His people, it is nevertheless a truth we must reinforce in our lives as we sojourn across this dark world.
A cursory reading of the Old Testament reveals that God dealt with people, by and large, through covenants, which was really a normal and accepted way the ancients related to each other. God established covenants with the patriarchs and "cut" (established) His last one with those who would come to Messaih through faith and repetance. It is referred to in Scritpure as the New Covenant. It is founded upon the person and work of Jesus Christ and has made everthing before it obsolete (Hebrews 8:13). All who belong to Christ stand to receive the great promises of God. He promises you a great inheritance (Ephesians 1:14), never to forsake you (Matthew 28:20), to meet all your needs (Matthew 6:33), work all situations in your life for your ultimate good (Romans 8:28), to conform you to the image of His son (Romans 8:29), to complete the good work of redemption that He began in you (Philippians 1:6), and never bring trials into your life that you cannot bear (1 Corinthians 10:13).
When you refer to God as your covenant God, you are proclaiming the truth that God has obligated Himself to you in these ways. You call attention to His faithfulness and justice, His love and mercy and grace. You proclaim that He is the promise-keeping God and that He is your hope of salvation. The psalmists reserved a Hebrew word to capture this truth throughout the psalms. It is best translated in English as "loyal love". They spoke of God's covenant relationship with them throughout in terms of loyalty, "Turn, O Lord, and deliver me; save me because of your loyal love" (Psalm 6:4). God will always be loyal to us, whether or not we are loyal to Him. You should expect that, trust it, especially during the times of your distress.
Space prevents us from considering the precious other truths associated with this beautiful title for God, such as our loyalty to Him. The fact that God has obligated Himself to go before us to fight for us and model for us the blessed life and bring us someday to that other shore, should motivate us to be loyal to Him. Let's not forget; God may be our covenant God, we are His covenant people.