Covenants with God
Covenants- Given, Made & Received ? 1st Sunday in Lent
Genesis 9:8-17
Psalm 25:1-9
1 Peter 3:18-22
Mark 1:9-15
In U.S. Naval Institute Proceedings, the magazine of the Naval Institute, Frank Koch illustrates the importance of obeying the Laws of Sea. Two battleships assigned to the training squadron had been at sea on maneuvers in heavy weather for several days. I was serving on the lead battleship and was on watch on the bridge as night fell. The visibility was poor with patchy fog, so the captain remained on the bridge keeping an eye on all activities.
Shortly after dark, the lookout on the wing reported, "Light, bearing on the starboard bow."
"Is it steady or moving astern?" the captain called out.
The lookout replied, "Steady, Captain," which meant we were on a dangerous collision course with that ship.
The captain then called to the signalman, "Signal that ship: 'We are on a collision course, advise you change course twenty degrees.'"
Back came the signal, "Advisable for you to change course twenty degrees."
The captain said, "Send: "I'm a captain, change course twenty degrees.'"
"I'm a seaman second-class," came the reply. "You had better change course twenty degrees."
By that time the captain was furious. He spat out, "Send: 'I'm a battleship. Change course twenty degrees.'"
Back came the flashing light, "I'm a lighthouse."
We changed course.
Max Lucado, In the Eye of the Storm, Word Publishing, 1991, p. 153.
We do make choices. Covenants in the Scriptures involved choices. What is a covenant exactly and where do we see them in the Holy Scriptures? In today’s first lesson we hear of the choices that Noah made, as well as see the covenant or agreement that God made with him. Q. What is a sacred covenant? A. A relationship that God sets up with us and guarantees by his word. (Children’s Catechism) Genesis 9:9 God says to Noah, “ And I , behold, I establish my covenant with you, and with your seed after you; and with every living creature….” Earlier of course Noah responded to God’s direction when he said,” Make thee an ark of gopher wood…and behold, I , even I , do bring a flood of waters upon the earth, to destroy all flesh…but with thee will I establish my covenant…” 6:14
Of course our response is important to God’s call. If we do not ratify, or agree to the agreement that God makes with us then the covenant has been broken. This was certainly the case with our first parents, Adam & Eve who made and entered into the Covenant of life with God. The condition was perfect obedience.
Page 2. Covenants, 1st Sunday in Lent.
In the reading from Peter we read of another covenant that is compared to saving of eight souls by the ark. “ God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is eight souls were saved by water. The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God…” I Peter 3:20-21 Baptism is also a covenant that God makes with us. We make promises to believe in His Son and trust and Him forever. When we baptize our children the baptismal service is not completed until the day when the child ratifies the covenant made on his/her behalf for themselves, “ Yes, I believe and trust in the blood of Jesus shed for me on my behalf and will be a faithful member , communing in the Sacrament of Holy Communion and sharing in His body the community, the Church.” Again, people can say no. If they do, the covenant is broken.
Archibald Alexander former Presbyterian instructor at Princeton Seminary has written a book called, Thoughts on Religious Experience, 1844. Here is a short sample, “ It is also a strong evidence of growth in grace, when you can bear injuries and provocations with meekness, and when you can from the heart desire the temporal and eternal welfare of your bitterest enemies. An entire and confident reliance on the promises and providence of God, however dark may be your horizon, or however many difficulties..is a sign that you have learned to live by faith; and humble contentment with your condition, though it be one of poverty and obscurity, shows that you have profited by sitting at the feet of Jesus.”
Jesus even though He was the eternal Son of God was true man. In the Gospel for today we read of how Jesus in Mark 1 :9 was baptized of John in Jordan. He did not need that but fulfilled the law by keeping it for us. He was in the wilderness forty days , tempted of Satan as well. Here again, Jesus endured testing even though as God He could have said no. As God the Son, He endured the testing and trials on our behalf in the wilderness.
We rejoice this time in seeing that certain people were faithful both in the Old and New Covenant that we may inherit the promises. I Corinthians 10 says “ but with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness. Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as theNow these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. I Cor 10:6
Promises are made in our baptism, and in our membership, communicant vows. Here in this way to the Cross is a time to ask ourselves what are our true priorities and how those order our daily lives and how our lives come across to others knowing that the time is short , “ and the world is passing away, and the lust thereof: but he that does the will of God abides for ever.” I Jn 2:17
Genesis 9:8-17
Psalm 25:1-9
1 Peter 3:18-22
Mark 1:9-15
In U.S. Naval Institute Proceedings, the magazine of the Naval Institute, Frank Koch illustrates the importance of obeying the Laws of Sea. Two battleships assigned to the training squadron had been at sea on maneuvers in heavy weather for several days. I was serving on the lead battleship and was on watch on the bridge as night fell. The visibility was poor with patchy fog, so the captain remained on the bridge keeping an eye on all activities.
Shortly after dark, the lookout on the wing reported, "Light, bearing on the starboard bow."
"Is it steady or moving astern?" the captain called out.
The lookout replied, "Steady, Captain," which meant we were on a dangerous collision course with that ship.
The captain then called to the signalman, "Signal that ship: 'We are on a collision course, advise you change course twenty degrees.'"
Back came the signal, "Advisable for you to change course twenty degrees."
The captain said, "Send: "I'm a captain, change course twenty degrees.'"
"I'm a seaman second-class," came the reply. "You had better change course twenty degrees."
By that time the captain was furious. He spat out, "Send: 'I'm a battleship. Change course twenty degrees.'"
Back came the flashing light, "I'm a lighthouse."
We changed course.
Max Lucado, In the Eye of the Storm, Word Publishing, 1991, p. 153.
We do make choices. Covenants in the Scriptures involved choices. What is a covenant exactly and where do we see them in the Holy Scriptures? In today’s first lesson we hear of the choices that Noah made, as well as see the covenant or agreement that God made with him. Q. What is a sacred covenant? A. A relationship that God sets up with us and guarantees by his word. (Children’s Catechism) Genesis 9:9 God says to Noah, “ And I , behold, I establish my covenant with you, and with your seed after you; and with every living creature….” Earlier of course Noah responded to God’s direction when he said,” Make thee an ark of gopher wood…and behold, I , even I , do bring a flood of waters upon the earth, to destroy all flesh…but with thee will I establish my covenant…” 6:14
Of course our response is important to God’s call. If we do not ratify, or agree to the agreement that God makes with us then the covenant has been broken. This was certainly the case with our first parents, Adam & Eve who made and entered into the Covenant of life with God. The condition was perfect obedience.
Page 2. Covenants, 1st Sunday in Lent.
In the reading from Peter we read of another covenant that is compared to saving of eight souls by the ark. “ God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is eight souls were saved by water. The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God…” I Peter 3:20-21 Baptism is also a covenant that God makes with us. We make promises to believe in His Son and trust and Him forever. When we baptize our children the baptismal service is not completed until the day when the child ratifies the covenant made on his/her behalf for themselves, “ Yes, I believe and trust in the blood of Jesus shed for me on my behalf and will be a faithful member , communing in the Sacrament of Holy Communion and sharing in His body the community, the Church.” Again, people can say no. If they do, the covenant is broken.
Archibald Alexander former Presbyterian instructor at Princeton Seminary has written a book called, Thoughts on Religious Experience, 1844. Here is a short sample, “ It is also a strong evidence of growth in grace, when you can bear injuries and provocations with meekness, and when you can from the heart desire the temporal and eternal welfare of your bitterest enemies. An entire and confident reliance on the promises and providence of God, however dark may be your horizon, or however many difficulties..is a sign that you have learned to live by faith; and humble contentment with your condition, though it be one of poverty and obscurity, shows that you have profited by sitting at the feet of Jesus.”
Jesus even though He was the eternal Son of God was true man. In the Gospel for today we read of how Jesus in Mark 1 :9 was baptized of John in Jordan. He did not need that but fulfilled the law by keeping it for us. He was in the wilderness forty days , tempted of Satan as well. Here again, Jesus endured testing even though as God He could have said no. As God the Son, He endured the testing and trials on our behalf in the wilderness.
We rejoice this time in seeing that certain people were faithful both in the Old and New Covenant that we may inherit the promises. I Corinthians 10 says “ but with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness. Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as theNow these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. I Cor 10:6
Promises are made in our baptism, and in our membership, communicant vows. Here in this way to the Cross is a time to ask ourselves what are our true priorities and how those order our daily lives and how our lives come across to others knowing that the time is short , “ and the world is passing away, and the lust thereof: but he that does the will of God abides for ever.” I Jn 2:17
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