“But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, insomuch as He is also Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises.” – Hebrews 8:6
Scripture reading: Hebrews 8:1-6
Can you picture it? Moses is coming down from the mountain, and has been in God’s very own presence. But the Lord sent him back down. Why? As he comes closer to the foot of the mountain, he knows why… He sees that God’s people who promised obedience to God’s covenant and law, have terribly broken His commandments. They are feasting and dancing around the golden calf! In wrath and disappointment Moses throws the two stone tablets of the law down into shambles, a visible sermon: a broken law, a broken covenant!
Why did they break the covenant? They were led out of Egypt, but Egypt was still in their hearts! They needed laws that were not just written down… They needed a law in their hearts! That’s why the Lord made a new covenant with them, a similar covenant, but one of a better quality. A covenant that climaxes and excels all the other previous covenants, made with Abraham, Noah, Moses and David.
Now, notice what verse 8 tells us about the Maker and Initiator of the covenant. I will make it! The word ‘make’ here means conclude, or consummate. In other words, this is going to be the climatic, final, and most glorious covenant! This is covenant with transforming power! It is all based on God’s promised ‘I wills’, all of grace! This covenant is a one-sided covenant! That means God will take the punishment when it is broken by His people. That’s why Jesus is the Mediator of a better covenant!
Suggestions for prayer
Confess your sins against God’s broken law and covenant. Ask the Lord to remove all your sins and deeply change your heart. And thank God for His one-sided covenant and trustworthy covenant promises.
Rev. Pieter van der Hoek has been serving the Heritage Reformed Church of Hull, Iowa, since July 2023. Prior to that he served the Heritage Reformed Church of Burgessville, Ontario. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. This devotional is made available by the Nearer To God Devotional team, who also make available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com.
