“It came about when the sun had set, that it was very dark, and behold, there appeared a smoking oven and a flaming torch which passed between these pieces. On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, ‘To your descendants I have given this land, from the river of Egypt as far as the great river, the river Euphrates:’” Genesis 15:17-18
“As the sun went down and it was dark, Abram saw a smoking fire-pot and a flaming torch that passed between the halves of the carcasses. So that day Jehovah made this covenant with Abram: ‘I have given this land to your descendants from the Wadi-el-Arish to the Euphrates River.’” Genesis 15:17-18 The Living Bible
“Therefore, thus says the Lord, ‘You have not obeyed Me in proclaiming release each man to his brother and each man to his neighbour. Behold, I am proclaiming a release to you,’ declares the Lord, ‘to the sword, to the pestilence and to the famine; and I will make you a terror to all the kingdoms of the earth.
“’I will give the men who have transgressed My covenant, who have not fulfilled the words of the covenant which they made before Me, and cut the calf in two and passed between its parts – the officials of Judah and the officials of Jerusalem, the court officers and the priests and all the people of the land who passed between the parts of the calf. I will give them into the hand of their enemies and into the hand of those who seek their life. And their dead bodies will be food for the birds of the sky and the beasts of the earth.” Jeremiah 34:17-18
Most of us remember the very basic structure of a sentence as a noun and a verb. The noun is the subject or the ‘doer’ in the sentence and the verb is the action the doer takes. Example: The man (noun) jumped (verb).
In Scripture there seems to be something unique and special with the verbs that are associated with the noun ‘covenant’. The majority of occurrences of the word covenant are from God. The verbs used with covenants make them extra special.
The verbs include: establish (cause to stand), confirm, declare, command, remember, break, not forget, swear.
However, the most common verb used is one we would be unfamiliar with: karat or ‘to cut’. It is used in the Genesis quote and apparently comes from the ceremony noted above, where God appears as a smoking furnace and a flaming torch that cut between the prepared sacrifice Abram had prepared.
The secret to ‘covenant’ is in the verbs used to demonstrate that it is God who takes the sole initiative in both making and fulfilling covenants.
Take care with love, especially His, Darlene (who still prays for you each day)
PS: Find my statement of faith: https://especiallyhislove.blogspot.com (where you will also find a series of beginner Bible studies to share). You can easily find the WeakDay Devotion online by doing a Google search for ‘WeakDay Devotion’. (Also, there is an android ‘Google Blogger’ app you can download to read them on your phone. Not sure about Apple.). For the books, go Amazon books.
NEW PRAYER REQUESTS (any updates?)
Bettina – Please pray for her strength, courage and wisdom and for the Lord to comfort her as she remembers the loss of Jim, her husband who passed on 7th of October, seven years ago. Pray also for her five, married daughters and 17 grandchildren, that they remain faithful and caring of Bettina. Pray the Lord captures the hearts of two of her daughters’ husbands who are not yet believers and for one of her daughters who is working her way back to the Lord.
Robin – just lost her beloved mother (who had 93 wonderful years), please pray for strength and healing for her as she navigates through this time of mourning and for her daughter who comforts her during this time.
Tom and Elizabeth - planning their wedding. Please pray that they both are firm in their commitment to Jesus Christ as the priority and that Sue and Grant have wisdom in their advice to them.
Jill - travelling to Melbourne this week to spend time with her granddaughter but she is having pain in her foot from plantar fasciitis. Please pray her pain will ease for her visit.
Lyle - has broken his wrist and is unable to drive. Please pray for his healing and patience during this time and for Annette, who supports him during this time.
David – is now home. The doctors believe he has had a heart attack. Today they will do some more tests. Pray for wisdom for his health carers and for Heidi, who cares for him on a daily basis, that she will be strong and healthy through this time.
Denny – is having heart problems. Please pray for his health carers and for Marci, his wife, as she cares for him.
Jake – A friend of my brother who is living with COPD (emphysema) and heart problems. Please pray for a supportive family member or a friend who will come alongside him and encourage him.
Andrew and M – after months of planning a ‘picturebook’ wedding, they have concluded the wedding will not take place. He is devastated. As a Christian brother he needs our supportive prayer to get through this loss in a gracious and hopeful way.
UPDATE - Barbara – (my sister-in-law) recovering from an infection in her leg. The antibiotics have left her very tired. Please pray for her complete recovery and for Tim who is caring for her.
J and M – who were planning a life together and have just broken up. She is returning to Japan to regroup. Please pray for both of them that they remain civil and grow through this difficulty.
Simon, Tamara and their children – Simon (my pastor) has been chosen to support the Lord’s work in a new, more far-reaching way. Help them prepare throughout this year for the new challenges that await them. And when Simon takes up the new role, let him fill it with the same grace, devotion and love he has consistently demonstrated while at St. Marks. Strengthen the congregation to rejoice with them and their decision.
Andrew – a man devoted to leading a worldwide ministry to the deaf is currently separated from his family. Please pray for this time that Andrew will discover new insights.
Christine – give her strength as she journeys to heart-healing and pray her husband gives his heart to the Lord.
Family of Eric – Eric at 52 died suddenly leaving his 47-year-old wife and three girls (ages 16, 19 and 23). Pray the Lord comforts the family through this time of mourning. Pray for their wisdom and for trustworthy, honourable, Bible-based friends to support them.
Peyton and Carter- Grandchildren of Jeff and Rachael. Payton is eldest granddaughter and now in her third year at college. Carter is a senior in high school. Both are exceptional students and love the Lord. Please pray they are not distracted by worldly things, that they continue do well in their studies and that their love of the Lord increases with each day.
Pat and Isobel –as they serve tirelessly in challenging times. Pray the Lord refreshes and strengthens them.
Jasper and Bec – the new youth pastor. Still studying at Moore College and living on campus there. Pray for balance between academic studies and common-sense family focus.
Elaine and Jim Pounder and their Little Church ministry have begun a new work. Continue to pray for their healing strength and time with family as their ministry continues to spread around the world in a model of home churches. They have begun a YouTube channel Please consider watching and subscribing to their sound teaching episodes. Website: The Little Church World. And https://www.youtube.com/user/thelittlechurchworld.
Jenny S– A woman who has served the Lord as a Bible teacher at a local Bible school for 25 years, has been called into a new ministry. Give her courage and strength as she finds her way in this new role. Give her a hungry curiosity under change. Help her identify the balance and value of her unique contribution. Pray the Lord maintains her health in this time of stress.
Audley M – In his 90s has just gotten married. Pray for their union in Christ and for their health and strength. Pray for his wisdom and the effective growth of his wonderful radio ministry (Florida, Virginia, Alabama, Indianapolis) as America hunger for ‘True meat’!
Sophie– five-year old daughter of a friend is chronically unwell and frail. Please pray for her, her parents and health carers to find ways to manage the symptoms and heal her.
Hans– a dear friend in Germany, continues his battle lung cancer and financial difficulties. Pray his new social worker will be able to help him through this time. Pray for his patience and God’s mercy. Pray for his healthcare providers and that he is surrounded by faithful and compassionate Christian friends who will support him through this journey. Pray for his Mom (age 84) -- that their time together is filled with extraordinary good memories and lots of love.
Callilah- a lost child. Pray the Lord will capture her heart.
Pray for those in full-time service
Pray to uphold our Christian leaders – that they never compromise God’s Word and remain bold and courageous in the face of evil. Pray for their wisdom, safety, ingenuity, strength and for their families.
Pray for those with ongoing health concerns
Many of us have family, friends and loved ones with fragile health. Pray God takes special care with them and protects them in practical ways and that the Lord will have mercy on them during this challenging time.
Pray for the World
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