Christian Daily

A song for pilgrims ascending to Jerusalem

The LORD:

Is the source of my help

Is creator of heaven and earth

Prevents me from stumbling

Watches over me without sleeping

Stands beside me as a protective shade

Keeps me from all harm

Watches over my life

Keeps watch over me as I come and go

Watches over me now and forever

God asks: “Do you believe I am powerful enough to act in this situation?”

What’s your answer?

The Lord is my shepherd. He leads me, feeds me, and protects me.

He lets me rest. He looks out for my well-being and mental health.

He leads me. He provides me with much desired guidance and structure.

He renews me. He repairs me from hurts, scars, traumas, and character flaws.

He guides me. He not only tells or shows me where to go, He walks alongside me.

He is close beside me even through the darkest valley. He never leaves me alone to face danger.

He comforts me with His guidance and correction. He chastens me because He loves me.

He prepares a feast for me. He feeds me and shows me favour in the sight of those who hate me.

He anoints me. He gives me His Spirit and charges me to answer His calling.

I will dwell in His house forever. His character is so loving and inviting, I can’t help but want nothing else except to be near Him all the time, forever! 

Dear God, Holy God, we honor You and extol Your mighty and loving name. We ask that in Your grace and mercy you will forgive us of our sins at this time and cleanse us of all unrighteousness. Renew Your Holy Spirit to us at this time and give us a new blessing of understanding as we go into Your Word, about Your Son. In His name we pray, Amen.

I know it has been a long, long time since the previous story, and if you want to catch up and read some previous lessons, click here. Other than that, let’s get right to it. 

Paul continues his explanation and discussion of the covenants. After noting that all believers throughout time received the “promised eternal inheritance” (Hebrews 9:15) upon Christ’s death, Paul looks at the subject of wills.

16 In the case of a will, it is necessary to prove the death of the one who made it, 17 because a will is in force only when somebody has died; it never takes effect while the one who made it is living. (Hebrews 9:16, 17, NIV)

In verse 16, he notes that an inheritance as outlined in a will cannot be given unless the benefactor dies. In the same way, no believer received the “promised eternal inheritance” (Heb. 9:15) of justification and eternal life until the Benefactor, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, our High Priest, first died. Then, and only then, could we receive His possessions of righteousness and a blameless standing before the Father. With this in mind, Paul looks at the covenants again:

18 This is why even the first covenant was not put into effect without blood.(AZ) 19 When Moses had proclaimed(BA) every commandment of the law to all the people, he took the blood of calves,(BB) together with water, scarlet wool and branches of hyssop, and sprinkled the scroll and all the people.(BC) (Hebrews 9:18, 19, NIV)

He notes that no covenant is ever established without blood just like a contract never takes effect without a signature. Even the old covenant, where man promised God to obey Him in exchange for blessings, was ratified with the blood of calves mixed with water, scarlet wool, and branches of hyssop.

20 He said, “This is the blood of the covenant, which God has commanded you to keep.”[e](BD) 21 In the same way, he sprinkled with the blood both the tabernacle and everything used in its ceremonies. 22 In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood,(BE) and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness. (Hebrews 9:20-22, NIV)

The sprinkling of the blood upon the ratification of a covenant indicates that failure to keep the covenant would demand the blood of the one who broke the covenant. Being sinful and disobedient, we have absolutely shattered this covenant, and naturally our blood was demanded for our sins. This is where Christ stepped in and shed His blood in our place.

In a covenant between God and man, we broke the covenant, and when our blood was demanded, God, the innocent party in the agreement, stepped forward and shed His innocent blood to save us even though we were wrong! Oh the love of God! This is the all-powerful, loving God being uplifted in this letter.

Basically, it’s all centered around the blood. In verse 21 Paul notes that Moses sprinkled blood on the tabernacle and everything used in its ceremonies. Without blood there is no remission of sin. Blood is necessary to establish a covenant and it is also required if it is broken. We made a covenant with God to obey Him. Blood. We broke it. Blood. And Christ stepped in to pay the debt for us, and to sign a new covenant with us, not for us to struggle in our own power to obey God, but by faith He will put righteousness and perfection on us. Thank God for the blood!

Source: MacDonald, William. Believer’s Bible Commentary (1995).