covenant – Be Still…

2 Chronicles 23:12-21 – Bye-Bye Evil Queen

Read 2 Chronicles 23:12-21

With all the rejoicing underway, the evil queen was bound to realize some momentous occasion was happening in the temple. Before she could plot any sort of revenge, the priest, Jehoiada, had the queen removed from the festivities. Queen Athaliah met her demise that day, some distance away from the Temple.

How do you think the young king felt when he received so much attention? The Chronicler does a good job of describing the scene. It sounds like the people were fed up with the evil queen’s leadership. God had prepared their hearts to be ready for Jehoiada’s plan to play out. “Then Jehoiada made a covenant between himself and the king and the people that they would be the LORD’s people.” Note how the priest inserts himself into this covenant, it wasn’t just between the king and God. Jehoiada’s desire is clear. He wants to reinstate the godly kingship of David.

Jeremiah 34:8-22 – God is Watching

Read Jeremiah 34:8-22

Big blue eye with reflection of the 3 crosses reflected inside

Why do you think the people “really” let their slaves go free in the first place? Was it that they were finally being obedient to God’s covenant command? Perhaps it was because it was hard being responsible for additional people in your household when a foreign army is attacking. What do you think?

God saw their actions. He saw them repent and do what was right. They freed those fellow Hebrews and even made a solemn covenant with God in the temple. How pleased God must have been to see this take place!

Jeremiah 11:1-17 – Remember the Covenant

Read Jeremiah 11:1-17

How brilliant! God uses Jeremiah remind the people to remember the covenant. It is clear from their behavior that they have not given much thought to this covenant in some time. Maybe ever! The people have no excuse, the answers to life found in the covenant aren’t hidden from them.

“Cursed is anyone who does not obey the terms of my covenant!” Do they even fear or tremble at the curse? Does being obedient to God “show up on their radar” as something they aspire to be better at doing? If so, then they still have a chance to be saved from doom.

Joshua 8:30-35 – The Covenant Restored

Read Joshua 8:30-35

sticky note with "God Bless You" written on it

How many times have you had something go wrong with your computer, wonder what’s happening, only be told the solution is to “restart?” It always amazes me how that restart does the trick. In our Bible account, we see that a cleansing was needed, a “restart” of sorts. We get a front row seat to watch the covenant between God and his people being restored.

In our recent readings, we saw how God was with Joshua as he led the people across the Jordan River. We saw a magnificent display of power dismantle the fortified city of Jericho. Then one bad apple angered God by being disobedient. It didn’t end well for him, did it? Then we saw the great victory over Ai. Before much more time was to pass, Joshua followed Moses’ instructions to restore the covenant with God.

Joshua 5:1-12 – Re-Establishing the Covenant

Read Joshua 5:1-12

A heart puzzle with a missing piece moving into place

Our reading starts with a bit of a glimpse of what is happening in the area to those hearing about God’s mighty act involving the Jordan River crossing. That fear will have a bit of time to percolate and resonate in their hearts. We might think of the old saying, “waiting for the other shoe to drop.” The anticipation of attack must have been quite something. Would they let fear move them forward or keep them stuck. We can find ourselves dealing with fear in much the same way.

But the main focus of our reading today focuses on re-establishing the covenant between God and his people. We learn that nobody has been circumcised since leaving Egypt. We know from Genesis 17:12, “From generation to generation, every male child must be circumcised on the eighth day after his birth. This applies not only to members of your family but also to the servants born in your household and the foreign-born servants whom you have purchased.” For some reason, this was God’s desire for his people.