A Covenant of Love

I will sing of the mercies of the Lord forever;

with my mouth I will make known your faithfulness through all generations

In Psalm 89, Ethan the psalmist writes of God's covenant love.  The word mercies, or great love, or steadfast love is the word hesed which is repeated throughout the psalm.  He is singing because of his utter confidence that God will keep His covenant to establish the line of David forever.  This covenant cannot be violated based on any action on our part.  Yet the psalm also makes clear that sin will be punished but never at the expense of the covenant.

If his sons forsake my law and do not follow my statutes,

if they violate my decrees and fail to keep my commands,

I will punish their sin with the rod, their iniquity with flogging;

but I will not take my love from him,

nor will I ever betray my faithfulness.

I will not violate my covenant or alter what my lips have uttered (vv. 30-32)

When Jesus hung on the cross, he said "It is finished".  The word is tetelestai which means canceled, paid in full.  The debt our sins deserved was fully paid on the cross.  God signed a covenant with us with Jesus' blood.  The evidence of His acceptance or His signature is in the resurrection.  We cannot earn salvation nor can we lose it.  The covenant is permanent. Have you accepted this covenant of love?  On this Easter Sunday, will you accept God's covenant of love in your heart?