This chapter has two main sections. The first, which reads like a psalm, describes how the Lord will make His people’s mourning into joy. The second section describes the new covenant.
” ‘Behold, the days are coming… when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, not like the covenant that I made with their fathers… that they broke… For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people. And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, “Know the Lord,” for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the Lord. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.’ ” (v31-34)
The main difference between the two covenants was our role. In the original covenant, we had to memorize and uphold a series of laws, and make blood sacrifices of animals to atone for sin. In the new covenant, God ‘writes the law on our hearts’ (gives us the indwelling Holy Spirit) and Jesus’ flawless sacrifice paid the blood price for all sin for all time.
Since God is all-knowing, He knew before we were created that we would sin against Him, and fail to keep any covenant with Him. This is why He designed the new covenant through Jesus to rely solely on His grace, mercy, and love for us – this way we can’t fail to uphold our end of the agreement.
Let’s praise God, confess any unconfessed sin, and reaffirm our commitment to obeying Him. Though the new covenant doesn’t rely on our input for it to work, we still need to be purposeful about our response to it. I also encourage us (especially me) to share this great news with those around us, so they too may receive the free gift of salvation through Jesus’ blood.
Father God, we praise You, our Merciful and Gracious Creator. Thank you Jesus for your life-giving redeeming sacrifice that brought in a new covenant. Thank you Holy Spirit for writing the Father’s words in our hearts. Thank you Father for the ongoing lovingkindness and guidance that only You can provide. May we honor, glorify, praise, and obey You, with every word and action, out of response for who You are and what You have done. Amen.
~ Conqueror in Training