God's Covenant of Mercy

# 277 - Today's Du-votional comes from: 1Sa 20:14-16, "And you shall not only show me the kindness of the LORD while I still live, that I may not die; 15 "but you shall not cut off your kindness from my house forever, no, not when the LORD has cut off every one of the enemies of David from the face of the earth." 16 So Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David, saying, "Let the LORD require it at the hand of David's enemies." (1 Sam 20:14-16) It was customary in these days that when a king was dethroned, his offspring was also killed so that they would not be a threat to the new king. Jonathan knew that and so he sought to make a solemn covenant with David, that would protect him from any retaliation. Jonathan knew that if Saul answered roughly against David, it was game on. It would be David's house versus Saul's house, and I think he knew by now that the Lord was on David's side. He had an inkling about who would win this battle. So Jonathan seeks to make a covenant with David, if indeed, there would be a struggle between the two families, he asks that David would show the same kind of mercy toward him and his offspring, that God shows to His covenanted people. What is this mercy? A quick definition of mercy is “not getting what we deserve.” Saul's murderous intent toward David was deserving of retaliation, just as our rebellion against God is deserving of retaliation, but God in His mercy covenants with us through faith in Jesus Christ, and we do not get what we deserve. And if David were to break this covenant of mercy against Jonathan and his family, Jonathan is calling on the Lord to deal with David in like fashion. Hear the Good News! God will never break His covenant with His people (those who have faith in Jesus). Now hear the bad news. “If we break the covenant, (that is depart from the faith by ceasing to trust in Jesus, we will be “cut off” from the kindness of God, but we have no one to blame but ourselves for it is our unbelief that does the cutting off....the breaking of the covenant. More Good News! God keeps the door open for our return. If you have broken covenant with God, return today! Father Thank You for Your mercy through Jesus Christ. May You help me to guard my faith.