A Better Covenant

Sustaining Hope
The Days Are Surely Coming
Restoration

Hebrews 8:1, 7-13 The Message

A New Plan with Israel

8 ^1-2 In essence, we have just such a high priest: authoritative right alongside God, conducting worship in the one true sanctuary built by God.

^6-13 But Jesus’ priestly work far surpasses what these other priests do, since he’s working from a far better plan. If the first plan—the old covenant—had worked out, a second wouldn’t have been needed. But we know the first was found wanting, because God said,

Heads up! The days are coming
    when I’ll set up a new plan
    for dealing with Israel and Judah.
I’ll throw out the old plan
    I set up with their ancestors
    when I led them by the hand out of Egypt.
They didn’t keep their part of the bargain,
    so I looked away and let it go.
This new plan I’m making with Israel
    isn’t going to be written on paper,
    isn’t going to be chiseled in stone;
This time I’m writing out the plan in them,
    carving it on the lining of their hearts.
I’ll be their God,
    they’ll be my people.
They won’t go to school to learn about me,
    or buy a book called God in Five Easy Lessons.
They’ll all get to know me firsthand,
    the little and the big, the small and the great.
They’ll get to know me by being kindly forgiven,
    with the slate of their sins forever wiped clean.

By coming up with a new plan, a new covenant between God and his people, God put the old plan on the shelf. And there it stays, gathering dust.

 
For Reflection

God's promise of the developing Kingdom of God never changes.  God's promise is just expanded to include all of humankind.  God is not about changing the other guy.  God is about changing you.  Accept God's overture for peace and justice.  Change your perception of yourself as a victim of your culture.  While there is little you can do about the other guy, there is great peace and satisfaction in changing your own perceptions.  Let God deal with others who are in conflict with you.  God is good at that.

 

Pray

Kneel before God.  Pray prayers of confession, repentance, obedience, praise and thanksgiving.  Pray to serve God.