Renewed Covenant: Embracing God’s Faithfulness
From Bondage to Glory • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Call to Worship
Call to Worship
A Song of Ascents.
Out of the depths I called to You, O Yahweh.
O Lord, hear my voice! Let Your ears be attentive To the voice of my supplications.
If You should keep iniquities, O Yah, O Lord, who could stand?
But with You there is forgiveness, That You may be feared.
I hope for Yahweh, my soul does hope, And for His word do I wait.
My soul waits for the Lord More than the watchmen for the morning, The watchmen for the morning.
O Israel, wait for Yahweh; For with Yahweh there is lovingkindness, And with Him is abundant redemption.
And it is He who will redeem Israel From all his iniquities.
New Testament Reading
For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace,
because the mind set on the flesh is at enmity toward God, for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so,
and those who are in the flesh are not able to please God.
However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him.
But if Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness.
But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.
Old Testament Reading
Old Testament Reading
The hand of Yahweh was upon me, and He brought me out by the Spirit of Yahweh and caused me to rest in the middle of the valley; and it was full of bones.
He caused me to pass among them all around, and behold, there were very many on the surface of the valley; and behold, they were very dry.
He said to me, “Son of man, can these bones live?” And I answered, “O Lord Yahweh, You know.”
Then He said to me, “Prophesy over these bones and say to them, ‘O dry bones, hear the word of Yahweh.’
“Thus says Lord Yahweh to these bones, ‘Behold, I will cause breath to enter you that you may come to life.
‘I will put sinews on you, make flesh come up upon you, cover you with skin, and put breath in you that you may come alive; and you will know that I am Yahweh.’”
So I prophesied as I was commanded; and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and behold, a rumbling; and the bones came together, bone to its bone.
And I looked, and behold, sinews were on them, and flesh came up upon them, and skin covered them; but there was no breath in them.
Then He said to me, “Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath, ‘Thus says Lord Yahweh, “Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these who were killed, that they may come to life.” ’ ”
So I prophesied as He commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they came to life and stood on their feet, an exceedingly great military force.
Then He said to me, “Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel; behold, they say, ‘Our bones are dried up, and our hope has perished. We are completely cut off.’
“Therefore prophesy and say to them, ‘Thus says Lord Yahweh, “Behold, I will open your graves and cause you to come up out of your graves, My people; and I will bring you into the land of Israel.
“Then you will know that I am Yahweh, when I have opened your graves and caused you to come up out of your graves, My people.
“And I will put My Spirit within you, and you will come to life, and I will place you on your own land. Then you will know that I, Yahweh, have spoken and done it,” declares Yahweh.’”
Intro:
Intro:
Bible Passage: Exodus 34:1-4, Exodus 34:10-17
AG:
Summary: In these passages, God instructs Moses to renew the covenant after the Israelites' sin with the golden calf, demonstrating His unwavering faithfulness and mercy despite their disobedience.
The renewal of the covenant includes God’s promise of protection, presence, and the importance of remaining faithful to Him.
Application: This sermon encourages Christians to recognize the power of God’s grace in our own lives, reminding them that no matter how far they stray, God is always ready to renew His covenant with them. It teaches them to embrace God's faithfulness and to recommit themselves, leaving behind past mistakes.
Big Idea: God's unwavering faithfulness invites us to renew our commitment to Him, showcasing that our relationship with Him remains intact despite our failures.
1. Renewed Tablets, Renewed Hope
1. Renewed Tablets, Renewed Hope
Now Yahweh said to Moses, “Carve out for yourself two stone tablets like the former ones, and I will write on the tablets the words that were on the former tablets which you shattered.
“So be prepared by morning, and come up in the morning to Mount Sinai, and present yourself there to Me on the top of the mountain.
“And no man is to come up with you, nor let any man be seen anywhere on the mountain; even the flocks and the herds may not graze in front of that mountain.”
So he carved out two stone tablets like the former ones, and Moses rose up early in the morning and went up to Mount Sinai, as Yahweh had commanded him, and he took two stone tablets in his hand.
EX: God initiates a renewed covenant
Moses had spent 40 days and nights on the mountain with God receiving His covenant
10 Commandments
Elders came and ratified the covenant
Details of the tabernacle and all that accompanied it.
That journey ended when God alerted Moses to the spiritual adultery in the camp.
Israel had asked Aaron to make an idol to represent God. (a violation of God’s commands). He had done so and they were partying in the camp worshipping it.
This broke several aspects of God’s covenant
They had suffered for their rebellion in judgement
However, God here reveals His grace and mercy
GOD initiates a renewal of the broken covenant
God, after the Israelites' failure with the golden calf, instructs Moses to carve new tablets.
Renewal of the covenant began with carving tablets to replace the original tablets Moses had broken when he discovered the golden calf and Israel’s spiritual adultery by worshipping it.
Moses is once again called to the mountaintop in God’s presence.
This begins his 2nd time of 40 days and nights with God.
It began with granting Moses’ request to see God we discussed last week.
God fulfilled it in Exodus 34:6–9
Then Yahweh passed by in front of him and called out, “Yahweh, Yahweh God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and truth;
who keeps lovingkindness for thousands, who forgives iniquity, transgression, and sin; yet He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished, visiting the iniquity of fathers on the children and on the grandchildren to the third and fourth generations.”
And Moses made haste to bow low toward the earth and worship.
And he said, “If now I have found favor in Your sight, O Lord, I pray, let the Lord go along in our midst, even though they are a stiff-necked people, and pardon our iniquity and our sin, and take us as Your own inheritance.”
God took the initiative to renew the covenant and move forward in His plan to get Israel to the promised land.
This shows His desire to restore and renew.
It is part of God’s character
He has grace and mercy as a part of His very being.
For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law but under grace.
Yet He is also just.
For I, Yahweh, love justice, I hate robbery in the burnt offering; And in truth I will give them their recompense And cut an everlasting covenant with them.
This act illustrates God’s readiness to rebuild broken relationships and His faithfulness despite human failure.
AP: God offers a path to reconciliation and renewal.
Let’s be honest. We all fail Him at times.
We violate His standards.
We do things He forbids and we don’t do the things He commands.
We need His renewal!
We need His forgiveness, grace, and mercy.
We deserve Justice, which for our sinful selves means judgment
I’m so glad He gives grace!
He initiates renewal when He convicts us of sin.
AT SALVATION: The word convict is a translation of the Greek word elencho, which means:
“to convince someone of the truth; to reprove; to accuse, refute, or cross-examine a witness.”
The Holy Spirit acts as a prosecuting attorney who exposes evil, reproves evildoers, and convinces people that they need a Savior.
During our ongoing life:
Conviction from God is the Holy Spirit’s loving, gentle nudge making believers aware of sin to lead us toward repentance, restoration, and spiritual growth, rather than shame. Unlike condemnation, which causes hopelessness, divine conviction brings specific awareness of wrongdoing, encouraging a change in direction, deeper holiness, and a renewed focus on Christ.
Key Aspects of Divine Conviction
Purpose: It is a gift aimed at restoring fellowship with God, not punishing or crushing the spirit.
Source: It comes directly from the Holy Spirit, often manifesting as a troubled spirit, loss of peace, or an inner awareness that something is wrong.
Nature: It is specific, hopeful, and focused on turning back toward God’s grace,
2. Presence Promised, Power Revealed
2. Presence Promised, Power Revealed
Then God said, “Behold, I am going to cut a covenant. Before all your people I will do wondrous deeds which have not been created in all the earth nor among any of the nations; and all the people among whom you live will see the working of Yahweh, for it is a fearful thing that I am going to do with you.
“Be sure to keep what I am commanding you this day: behold, I am going to drive out the Amorite before you, and the Canaanite, the Hittite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite.
“Beware lest you cut a covenant with the inhabitants of the land into which you are going, lest it become a snare in your midst.
EX: God’s Declaration:
Then God said, “Behold, I am going to cut a covenant. Before all your people I will do wondrous deeds which have not been created in all the earth nor among any of the nations; and all the people among whom you live will see the working of Yahweh, for it is a fearful thing that I am going to do with you.
Warning and promise
“Be sure to keep what I am commanding you this day: behold, I am going to drive out the Amorite before you, and the Canaanite, the Hittite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite.
God promise to do wonders among His people and drive out their enemies, as an assurance of His powerful presence.
As He begins renewing the covenant, God restates His promise.
Promise:
He would drive out their enemies.
He is reminded them of HIS commitment to get them to the promised land and to fulfill His promise to give it to them.
“Beware lest you cut a covenant with the inhabitants of the land into which you are going, lest it become a snare in your midst.
God warned them to conquer the inhabitants of Canaan and drive them out instead of attempting to live peacefully with them.
Warning:
Keep what I am commanding
They had just gone through a lesson in the consequences of disobedience
God now warns them to keep HIS commandments
By making a covenant, they will be laying a snare for themselves.
The Canaanites will become a snare to Israel.
Sadly, Israel didn’t heed His warning and failed to drive them out.
It is important to remember that despite past disobedience, God remains committed to His people, showcasing His grace and strength.
AP: Trust GOD
We can trust in God’s power regardless of any challenges we face.
God still doesn’t want us to compromise with evil
Many verses warn about being in close relationships with unbelievers, it warns us that they will corrupt our morals, they will lead us astray. In short, they are a snare.
But God is faithful!
He is faithful to keep HIS promises to us.
He will be with us always
He will make a way of escape in every temptation
He remains faithful to forgive
He continues to forgive when we confess.
It is amazing love that allows Him to continue to forgive, but it only through the sacrifice of Jesus.
He knows we are flesh and blood and cannot live without sin.
So He makes a way to carry us through.
3. Purity Preserved, Idols Removed
3. Purity Preserved, Idols Removed
Following up to the commanded to not compromise through covenants, God goes on to command the removal of their idols.
“But rather, you are to tear down their altars and shatter their sacred pillars and cut down their Asherim
—for you shall not worship any other god, for Yahweh, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God—
lest you cut a covenant with the inhabitants of the land, and they play the harlot with their gods and sacrifice to their gods, and one of them invite you to eat of his sacrifice,
and you take some of his daughters for your sons, and his daughters play the harlot with their gods and cause your sons also to play the harlot with their gods.
“You shall make for yourself no molten gods.
This time the admonition on international treaties included a warning of how idolatry could easily ensnare them by seemingly innocent invitations to join the festivities like a good neighbor or by intermarriage, because these events would require recognition of the contracting parties’ deities.
Homes which are unequally yoked, believer with non believer, have a tug of war going on at all times.
God knew the allure of comprise for peace would lead Israel into spiritual adultery again.
Their future history demonstrated the urgency of such instruction and the disaster of disobeying it.
God desired Israel's faithfulness.
This command underscores the importance of distinctiveness and purity in their relationship with God.
God did not want to share Israel’s affections.
He wanted a 100% exclusive relationship.
AP: God calls us to faithfulness
This calls us to examine areas where we might compromise our own commitment to God, encouraging purity and dedicated worship.
Examine your life
What are areas, people, or things which might lead you to compromise?
Though they are probably not idols dedicated to false gods, there are things that tend to lead us to comprise our faith.
Examine your amusements and entertainment. Are they tempting you to break God’s word?
What about your friends? Do they push you to question your faith?
Satan’s original attack on Eve was,
Legacy Standard Bible CHAPTER 3
Indeed, has God said, ‘You shall not eat from any tree of the garden’?”
Questioning God’s word is often the first step in drifting
Be honest with yourself and God.
Commit
Renew your commitment to GOD by cutting off the temptations!
There may be subscriptions we need to cancel.
There may be places we need to ban.
Yes, there may be people we need to limit or cease all contact with.
Conclusion
Conclusion
God renewed the Covenant
renewed Tablets and Hope
Promised His Presence and Power
Purity was preserved as idols were removed
Citation
MacArthur Study Bible NASB (Commentary)
