Words of Life - September to December 2020 - preview

From the writer of Words of Life Covenants and Restoration UNTIL 2004 people joining The Salvation Army were asked to sign the articles of war. It fitted the military theme but in the 21st century was no longer apposite and, in certain situations, was open to misunderstanding.

Instead the alternative title Soldier’s Covenant would be used. This title also put us on solid biblical ground, reflecting the covenants God had made with his people from Noah onwards.

This edition of Words of Life considers the covenants with Abraham and Israel as well as Christ’s new covenant. We do not follow Israel’s disobedience and decline but catch up with Judah’s exiles returning to Jerusalem and their restoration. Ezra concentrates on the restoration of God’s Word because he had devoted himself to the study and observance of the Law. Nehemiah directed the rebuilding of the walls but he too was concerned about Israel’s relationship with God and restored Sabbath observance. Malachi spoke the word of the Lord about how the people were still breaking the covenant. He also promises ‘the sun of righteousness will rise’ and we see that fulfilled in Zechariah’s song.

The work of comparing and contrasting the covenant of the Old Testament with the future covenant written in minds and on hearts is done for us in the Letter to the Hebrews. Here we are promised that ‘Jesus ... is the one who mediates for us a far better covenant with God, based on better promises’.

We continue to journey with Jesus, sharing well-known parables and miracles. We leave him at the time he sends his disciples out to share his mission, and the Saturday readings allow us to try and learn a little more about them and other followers of Jesus.

We learn much of Israel’s history through the psalms and, through songs we sing, about Jesus’ ministry as well as the testimonies of Christ’s followers. Sunday’s readings allow a study of a few of these songs. I commend to you the Advent series written by Matthew Stone, his reflections prompted by his personal story.

As I worked through this edition there was a recurring theme: God is in control. The truth of that is seen in his eternal covenant with his people.

Christine Clement International Headquarters London

TUESDAY 1 SEPTEMBER

GENESIS 11:27–12:9

I will, I will, I will The Lord had said to Abram, ‘Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you’ (12:1)

WE are still at the beginning of the story of God, his Creation and his relationship with humankind. Of course, we do not know how many years are represented by the first 11 chapters of Genesis but in those chapters we have witnessed Adam’s failure and the world’s failure to obey God. A third incident that displeased God was when the people thought they could reach into Heaven. Despite these failures God does not forsake his Creation. He has chosen Abraham – we shall use his changed name – as the man with whom he will enter into a covenant and through him make a great nation and bless all peoples of the earth.

At the conclusion of Genesis 11 we see the beginning of Abraham’s journey when Terah, his father, moved the family from Ur of the Chaldeans to Haran in Canaan.

Ur was a centre where the moon god Nannor was worshipped, so migrating from Ur enabled a break with the culture of the Chaldeans. What some of us may find more difficult to appreciate is Abraham’s call to then leave his father’s household.

We may think of the early patriarchs as being nomadic tribes but Terah seemed happy to settle in Haran, therefore Abraham needed to make a further break. However, responding to God’s call in this way was a great risk on his part. Consider the promises God made: ‘I will make you into a great nation … I will bless you … I will make your name great … all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.’

Abraham and Sarah could not realistically claim the first promise as they had no children, nor was it likely that they would have any in the future. C.S. Lewis observed: ‘When you come to knowing God, the initiative lies on His side. If He does not show Himself, nothing you can do will enable you to find Him.’1 God called Abraham, he made these promises, he took the initiative, and overcoming any obstacles would demonstrate his power to honour what he had said.

ch 3 6:5-8 11:4

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