Faithful on Fridays Blog

Marriage is considered by the Church to be a covenant. It’s surely a legal contract but it’s so much more than that. It’s a declaration of love, for better or for worse, and loyalty in difficult times. Marriage on earth is the lower story picturing our eternal marriage, the upper story, with our Heavenly Bridegroom, Jesus Christ. His covenant, which now includes the Church, is described in one word: chesed. This word describes God as loving, kind, compassionate, and merciful. That’s covenant love. Even when we turn away from Him; His chesed is steadfast, loyal, unswerving, and enduring. This is lifelong love: a marriage covenant.

For the mountains may move and the hills disappear, but even then my faithful love for you will remain. My covenant of blessing will never be broken,” says the LORD, who has mercy on you. (Isaiah 54:10 NLT)

Psalm 119:41-48, our sixth octave, begins with this theme: come to me. His cry is for God to open the doors of salvation and receive that covenantal love. He desires it, he needs it, and he believes in it’s promises even when he can’t explain them. Jesus confirmed His salvation and covenant love when He said:

“Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28 NLT)

The Psalmist uses all six vital words that we began with in the first octave:

God’s rules, judgments, or decisions (vs. 43)
God’s law, instructions, or teachings (vs. 44)
God’s precepts or our responsibilities; what we should focus on (vs. 45)
God’s testimonies or what we’ve continually witnessed from Him (vs. 46)
God’s commandments, His commission or assignments (vs. 47)
God’s statutes or what He wants me to do (vs. 48)

These words are sprinkled throughout this section and give the heart of the message. His desire is to receive all that God has for him personally. My question for you, dear reader, is this: do you also have that desire? Do you trust God, in His chesed or covenant love, to lead and guide you into a deeper walk with Him? Will you echo the Psalmist?

Let your steadfast love come to me, O Lord, your salvation according to your promise; (Psalm 119:41 ESV)

I pray for our hearts to be open to all God has for us, whether we understand or can reason it out. I pray that He will open the gates of His Salvation and pour out His Holy Spirit in new and refreshing ways. We can never reach the limit of all God has for us but we can go deeper and wider in His covenant love. Lastly, will you lift up your hands in submission to Him (vs. 48), receive your commission (which he says twice that you’ll love), and meditate on what He wants you to do? I know He’s speaking to you right now and nudging you; will you pray,

“Come to me, O LORD?”