God of Covenant

"Covenant" is a word that we throw around a lot in the Christian world, but it seems antiquated to the culture at large. A covenant was a binding heart agreement entered into by two parties, and in human terms, it is most often referenced in talk of marriage - i.e. the marriage covenant. 

We use it in the Christian world to talk about our keeping our promises to God and God keeping His promises to us, and certainly, a covenant is very good when both parties are keeping it. That's ideal. 

But it's not necessary. 

Think about marriage for a minute. Marriage is ideal when both parties are faithfully covenanted to one another and both are keeping their promises. This is the goal; it's what we all dream about when we dream about the kind of relationship we want to have with our spouse. 

But the truth about marriage is that sometimes, it's broken. And it's broken because we're human and we are broken. We all go through seasons that draw us further away from the covenants that we've made - seasons when, any couple will tell you, it's just harder. For one reason or another. 

There are times when one partner is unfaithful. Or one partner is sick. Or one partner is unemployed. Or one partner is facing a physical or mental health challenge. Or one partner is facing legal trouble. Or whatever it is. (This is, by the way, the vow of the covenant - for better or for worse, in sickness and in health, richer or poorer, etc. It's the vow because these are the things that actually happen.) 

Human nature, when we're broken, doesn't make us very good covenant keepers, but we also know that when one party is struggling, it's entirely possible for the other to keep the covenant alive. To keep it going. Through sacrificial love and steadfast commitment and a measure of goodness and hope and faith and whatever else it takes, one party can keep the covenant going. One party, totally committed to it, keeps the marriage together while the other struggles. 

We know this. We've seen it. And...we've lived it. 

At least, we've lived it in our Christian covenant, the covenant that we have with God. 

Because we are human. We are broken. We are troubled. We face trials in this world. We have things that we face that make us bad covenant keepers sometimes. And yet, God continues to love us. He continues to be good to us. He continues to be faithful, even when we're not. 

Make no mistake - God keeps this covenant going. Period. Even when, if it were up to us, it would fail miserably. 

Nehemiah opens with this in the book that bears his name, in a prayer that he prays right at the outset. He says, "You are the keeper of the covenant." You, God. Not me. Not Your people. Not Israel. Not Jerusalem. Not the church. Not the pastor. You. God. Through thick and thin, up and down, sickness and health, richer and poorer, better or worse, God is the keeper of the covenant. 

And isn't that good news?