DCLM Daily Manna 10 May 2023 Devotional By Pastor W. F. Kumuyi — His Unfailing Covenant
TOPIC: His Unfailing Covenant (DCLM Daily Manna 10 May 2023)
KEY VERSE: “Howbeit the LORD would not destroy the house of David, because of the covenant that he had made with David, and as he promised to give a light to him and to his sons for ever” (2 Chronicles 21:7).
TEXT: 2 Chronicles 21:1-11 (KJV)
1 Now Jehoshaphat slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David. And Jehoram his son reigned in his stead.
2 And he had brethren the sons of Jehoshaphat, Azariah, and Jehiel, and Zechariah, and Azariah, and Michael, and Shephatiah: all these were the sons of Jehoshaphat king of Israel.
3 And their father gave them great gifts of silver, and of gold, and of precious things, with fenced cities in Judah: but the kingdom gave he to Jehoram; because he was the firstborn.
4 Now when Jehoram was risen up to the kingdom of his father, he strengthened himself, and slew all his brethren with the sword, and divers also of the princes of Israel.
5 Jehoram was thirty and two years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eight years in Jerusalem.
6 And he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, like as did the house of Ahab: for he had the daughter of Ahab to wife: and he wrought that which was evil in the eyes of the Lord.
7 Howbeit the Lord would not destroy the house of David, because of the covenant that he had made with David, and as he promised to give a light to him and to his sons for ever.
8 In his days the Edomites revolted from under the dominion of Judah, and made themselves a king.
9 Then Jehoram went forth with his princes, and all his chariots with him: and he rose up by night, and smote the Edomites which compassed him in, and the captains of the chariots.
10 So the Edomites revolted from under the hand of Judah unto this day. The same time also did Libnah revolt from under his hand; because he had forsaken the Lord God of his fathers.
11 Moreover he made high places in the mountains of Judah and caused the inhabitants of Jerusalem to commit fornication, and compelled Judah thereto.
MESSAGE:
In theology, a covenant or pact, is described as a solemn “agreement which brings about a relationship of commitment between God and His people”. For instance, the Jewish faith is based on the biblical covenant God made with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and later reiterated in the days of Moses and David. It obliged Him to bless, guide and protect His people among other benefits, under the condition that they would wholly obey Him.
Repeatedly, these descendants of Abraham failed to honour their part of the deal. Kings, in particular, led the rebellion. A case was Jehoram who reigned in Judah after the death of Jehoshaphat his father. He embarked on a murderous voyage on ascension, killing all his brethren and doing much evil in the sight of the Lord. This should have provoked the Lord to withdraw from the covenant.
Our loving God, however, would not move against Israel or destroy the house of David because of the covenant He had made with him wherein He promised to give a light to him and to his sons forever. Built into God’s nature and covenant is an elastic justice system that accommodates mercy for the repentant, even in the severest instances of imposing penalties for wrongdoings.
Close to his death, after decades of enjoying life under God’s covenant, Joshua said of the Lord’s promises, “And, behold, this day I am going the way of all the earth: and ye know in all your hearts and in all your souls, that not one thing hath failed of all the good things which the LORD your God spake concerning you…” (Joshua 23:14). His time-honoured statement is worth repeating and embracing.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
We can safely put our faith in God’s faithfulness because He keeps His every promise.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
1 Corinthians 5-7
Deeper Life Daily Manna was written by Pastor W. F. Kumuyi; is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Life Bible Church situated at KM 42 on the busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Nigeria.