Covenant Mercies

Isaiah 55:1–3 NKJV

“Ho! Everyone who thirsts, Come to the waters; And you who have no money, Come, buy and eat. Yes, come, buy wine and milk Without money and without price. Why do you spend money for what is not bread, And your wages for what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, And let your soul delight itself in abundance. Incline your ear, and come to Me. Hear, and your soul shall live; And I will make an everlasting covenant with you— The sure mercies of David.

Are You Thirsty and Hungry?

Are you thirsty for something that will satisfy the thirst in your soul? The woman at the well was thirsty for living water.

Are you hungry for something that will fulfill your soul’s appetite? Jesus is the Bread of life!

Do you feel unqualified or unable to obtain what you are looking for? God offers His blessings freely to those who will incline their ears, come, and hear.

Will you incline your ear to hear? Will you come to Him and receive?

The LORD (YAHWEH) is a God of Covenant.

The LORD works through covenant.

The LORD works through a covenant people.

The Sure Mercies of David

God made an “everlasting covenant” with David, His anointed.

2 Samuel 22:51 NKJV

“He is the tower of salvation to His king, And shows mercy to His anointed, To David and his descendants forevermore.”

2 Samuel 23:5 NKJV

“Although my house is not so with God, Yet He has made with me an everlasting covenant, Ordered in all things and secure. For this is all my salvation and all my desire; Will He not make it increase?

HESED: Covenant Mercies

The LORD’s covenant promises and provisions are not based upon our merit but upon His covenant mercies.

HESED (Strong’s #H2617)

“Hesed” is mainly translated as “mercy” or “lovingkindness”.

It means “loyalty” or “loyal love” as in joint obligation, faithfulness, goodness, graciousness, godly action.

One lexicon renders it, “to have love or affection for someone or something based on association.” (Louw Nida 25:33-25.58)

The LORD is a God of “Hesed”

1 Chronicles 16:34 NKJV

Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.

The LORD extends His covenant “mercies” to those who love Him and are faithful to His covenant.

Deuteronomy 7:9 NKJV

“Therefore know that the Lord your God, He is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments;

Nehemiah 1:5 NKJV

And I said: “I pray, Lord God of heaven, O great and awesome God, You who keep Your covenant and mercy with those who love You and observe Your commandments,

Psalm 103:1–5 NKJV

Bless the Lord, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits: Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, Who satisfies your mouth with good things, So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

Psalm 23 NKJV

A Psalm of David. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the Lord Forever.

The people of Israel longed for the coming of the Son of David to usher in God’s covenant mercies to them.

Luke 1:67–73 NKJV

Now his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying: “Blessed is the Lord God of Israel, For He has visited and redeemed His people, And has raised up a horn of salvation for us In the house of His servant David, As He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets, Who have been since the world began, That we should be saved from our enemies And from the hand of all who hate us, To perform the mercy promised to our fathers And to remember His holy covenant, The oath which He swore to our father Abraham:

The people cried out for God’s covenant mercies “Hesed” through Jesus Christ, the Son of David.

Matthew 9:27–29 NKJV

When Jesus departed from there, two blind men followed Him, crying out and saying, “Son of David, have mercy on us!” And when He had come into the house, the blind men came to Him. And Jesus said to them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” They said to Him, “Yes, Lord.” Then He touched their eyes, saying, “According to your faith let it be to you.”

Matthew 20:30–31 NKJV

And behold, two blind men sitting by the road, when they heard that Jesus was passing by, cried out, saying, “Have mercy on us, O Lord, Son of David!” Then the multitude warned them that they should be quiet; but they cried out all the more, saying, “Have mercy on us, O Lord, Son of David!”

Jesus often healed and delivered as He was “moved with compassion” (hesed)

Matthew 14:14 NKJV

And when Jesus went out He saw a great multitude; and He was moved with compassion for them, and healed their sick.

Mark 1:41 NKJV

Then Jesus, moved with compassion, stretched out His hand and touched him, and said to him, “I am willing; be cleansed.”

His covenant mercies are benefits of His covenant and are not the right of those who are not in covenant with Him.

Matthew 15:22–28 NKJV

And behold, a woman of Canaan came from that region and cried out to Him, saying, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! My daughter is severely demon-possessed.” But He answered her not a word. And His disciples came and urged Him, saying, “Send her away, for she cries out after us.” But He answered and said, “I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” Then she came and worshiped Him, saying, “Lord, help me!” But He answered and said, “It is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the little dogs.” And she said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.” Then Jesus answered and said to her, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed from that very hour.

Can God touch those who are outside the covenant? Yes, He does it on the basis of “faith” rather than covenant as He did with people prior to any covenants. Example: the Syro-Phoenician woman, etc. Jesus said she had “great faith”! and delivered her daughter from demons. (Matthew 15:28)

God’s Covenant Mercies are Accessed through Faith in Jesus Christ.

Acts 13:34 NKJV

And that He raised Him from the dead, no more to return to corruption, He has spoken thus: ‘I will give you the sure mercies of David.’

Matthew 9:27–29 NKJV

When Jesus departed from there, two blind men followed Him, crying out and saying, “Son of David, have mercy on us!” And when He had come into the house, the blind men came to Him. And Jesus said to them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” They said to Him, “Yes, Lord.” Then He touched their eyes, saying, “According to your faith let it be to you.”

Ephesians 2:11–13 NKJV

Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh—who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands— that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

Response to the Word

God is a covenant-keeping God.

God’s covenant mercies are extended to those who love Him and are faithful to His covenant.

God’s covenant mercies are found in Jesus Christ.

God’s covenant mercies are released to those who believe.

Cry out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”