9 Know now then that the Lord your God is the only true God! He is the faithful God, who keeps the covenant and proves loyal to everyone who loves him and keeps his commands—even to the thousandth generation!
Reflection
The book of Deuteronomy finds the nation of Israel at the eastern edge of the river Jordan before entering the land promised to Israel’s ancestors. The book is very much about defining the relationship between God and the people and the promises made to each other to achieve common goals. On God’s side the covenant is a work of Grace, unmerited by any special feature of Israel’s ancestors and a consequence of God’s unfathomable choice.
Our scripture is only two sentences but packs a lot of meaning and power. First, there is no other true God. Second, God loves freely regardless of how unworthy the people might be. God’s faithfulness to the covenant lasts forever. This was called the Mosaic Covenant as it was delivered to the people by Moses. Psalm 103 helps to capture the eternal nature of God’s love for his people through the passage of time. “But the Lord’s faithful love is from forever ago to forever from now for those who honor him…”
The Mosaic covenant was impossible to keep perfectly since it relied on each person upholding their end of the agreement. But because of God’s Love and covenant desire, which have been in place since the beginning of time, at just the right moment it all came together in the Cross. Through Jesus’ death God sealed the covenant with humanity for all time.
In the last chapter of the last book of the Bible we find Jesus revealing himself as “the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.”
by Clarence Beverage
For Pondering & Prayer
I feel that my limited perception of space and time can make it hard to fully appreciate the Lord’s unending faithfulness and Love. How about you? Is there a place or time you might feel a special connection? Does being reminded of the Lord’s eternal love and presence help you to feel more connected to someone who has passed?
Prayer: Dear Jesus, The reminder here that you are, have been, and forever will be faithful in your Love for us is a blessing beyond measure. We are thankful and pray for the leading of your Spirit in our lives that we may be able to honor you through our faith and action. Amen.
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