The messenger of the covenant

‘The messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in.’ Malachi 3:1

Suggested Further Reading: Hebrews 8:1–13

The Lord’s people delight in the covenant itself. It is an unfailing source of consolation to them so often as the Holy Spirit leads them to its green pastures, and makes them to lie down beside its still waters. They can sweetly sing of it from youth even to hoar hairs, from childhood even to the tomb, for this theme is inexhaustible.

They delight to contemplate the antiquity of that covenant, remembering that before the day star knew its place, or planets ran their round, the interests of the saints were made secure in Christ Jesus. It is peculiarly pleasing to them to remember the sureness of the covenant. They love to meditate upon ‘the sure mercies of David.’ They delight to celebrate the covenant in their songs of praise, as ‘signed and sealed, and ratified, in all things ordered well.’ It often makes their hearts dilate with joy to think of its immutability, as a covenant which neither time nor eternity, life nor death, things present, nor things to come, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, shall ever be able to violate—a covenant as old as eternity and as everlasting as the Rock of ages. They rejoice also to feast upon the fulness of this covenant, for they see it in all things provided for them; God is their portion, Christ their companion, the Spirit their comforter, earth their lodge and heaven their home. They see in it not only some things, but all things; not only a help to obtain some desirable possessions, but an inheritance reserved and entailed to [bestowed on] every soul that has an interest in this ancient and eternal deed of gift.

For meditation: God’s covenant with his people in Christ is described as new (1 Corinthians 11:25; Hebrews 8:8; 9:15; 12:24), better (Hebrews 7:22; 8:6) and everlasting (Hebrews 13:20). Does this agreement afford you delight? Is your future covered by it?

Sermon no. 470
5 September (Preached 7 September 1862)