Sun.’s Devo - A Better Covenant

Read: Ezekiel 14:12-16:41; Hebrews 7:18-28; Psalms 106:1-12; Proverbs 27:4-6 God gave Ezekiel a hypothetical situation. If the people of a country sinned against him and he cut off their food supply, or sent wild animals to invade their country and kill them, or brought war from enemy armies, or sent an epidemic to kill the people and animals, even if Noah, Daniel or Job were alive, they would only be able to save themselves. Noah, Daniel and Job were three men who had remained faithful to the Lord their whole lifetime. Their righteousness would not save their children, but only themselves. He was looking ahead to the day where salvation would be personal. Then God said that all these four situations would fall upon Jerusalem and yet there would be survivors who would come and join them in Babylon. When they arrived, Ezekiel and the rest of the exiles would see how wicked they are and understand why God had to punish them as he did. God asked Ezekiel to consider the difference between a vine and a tree. A vine was good for nothing but to make a fire and even then, it burned too quickly. But a tree was useful to make many things and also good for burning. The people of Jerusalem were like the vine - good for nothing so God was tossing them in the fire. God told Ezekiel to confront the people of Israel and remind them of their history. They started from nothing and it was God who raised them up, blessed them with wealth and riches and made them a nation. They chose to prostitute themselves with enemy nations who did not serve the Lord but served idols and foreign gods. They chose to worship the gods of their enemies and became more wicked than the nations God delivered them from. Because they chose other gods, God would gather all their allies and enemies together and strip Israel naked before them so they can see their demise. They would be punished for their murder and adultery and turned over to the nations who they had made their lovers. These nations would destroy them. In Hebrews God explained that the old priesthood, Aaron’s priesthood was weak and useless and never made anything perfect. But we have a new covenant and a new system that was sealed with God’s oath. In the new covenant, Jesus was made our high priest forever. His new covenant is a better covenant with God. Jesus is eternal so his priesthood saves us forever from sin. He continually makes intercession for us. The priests of Aaron were limited by human weakness but Jesus is perfect and unlimited. He is our High Priest forever. Lord, thank you for your covenant of grace and mercy. May we choose to worship You alone. Thank you for praying for us and being our high priest who loves us and saves us from death.