“For I the LORD love justice; I hate robbery and wrong; I will faithfully give them their recompense, and I will make an everlasting covenant with them.” vs8

God makes an everlasting covenant with His people; it is ordered in all things and sure; it is all our hope and salvation.

In the covenant, God guarantees the saving: He satisfies the justice of His own law and meets all of our conditions. Does it require us to be holy, then He gives us holiness, just as He gives us faith. He puts His law - the new covenant - inside of our heart [Ezek 36:27]. Not the broken law of Moses or the terror of the Ten Commandments! He puts in us the forgiveness of sins [Heb 10:16-17]. He puts faith in Christ and love to the saints. 1 John 3:23, “And this is His commandment: that we should believe in the name of His Son, Jesus Christ, and we should love one another just as He commanded us.”

He enables us to show tangible acts of kindness and to sacrifice with our goods [1 John 3:16-17]. He makes us generous people who do our good works in secret, instead of for the praise of man [Matt 6:1-4]. He makes us upright people who walk wisely with godliness, fear, and trembling. He makes us worship God in the way that He prescribes, rather than in the murmuring of Korah, the brashness of Nadab and Abihu, or the hypocrisy of Balaam. He liberates us from the way of Cain, which is self-righteousness and callousness. He makes us bear the fruit of believing.

God’s covenant is made with all who believe the gospel. He predestined us and secured our obedience by the cross. He established His covenant and makes us yield to the terms gladly with full acceptance. We come to Christ, and we are saved, casting off everything contrary for eternal life.

Secondly, we are the blessed people. vs9

“All who see them shall acknowledge them,

that they are an offspring the LORD has blessed.”

Some can see it in this life, and some cannot, but one day everyone will acknowledge how God blessed us.

We are not fools chasing the world! We are good people, who’ve been redeemed. Acts 11:24, “For he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord.” We bear witness now to the eternal realities that they will see one day, even forgiveness, holiness, and love. We are already in the likeness of Christ, and many know that we are saved. Yet, they won’t draw near. Some, however, by the compulsion of God’s Spirit, are persuaded to follow us in sound teaching and lifestyle. Their consciences are awakened by our example and message, having nothing evil to say of us: They are convinced that, “These people worship Christ in truth.” Zech 8:23, “Thus says the Lord of hosts: ‘In those days ten men from every language of the nations shall grasp the sleeve of a Jewish man, saying, “Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.”’

It will one day be manifested, but do you see it now? Are the Scriptures properly opened, and does Christ receive the glory?

Thirdly, joy is our response to the gospel. vs10

“I will greatly rejoice in the LORD;

my soul shall exult in my God,

for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation;”

He has saved me, so I am happy. He gives great peace inwardly. His fellowship is sweet, and His face is beautiful, because He’s washed away our sins.

Let us testify with joy continually. Draw near, beloved, to Christ. Stay away from indebting God, and stay in grace always [Rom 4:4]. Receive freely and abundantly. Ask Him to purge your motives, so that your joy can be full. More of Christ and less of self is happiness. Be joyful as your inheritance.

Remember, the work is His, and He has done it! Finished it all at the cross. He is the Savior of sinners, and none who believe will be lost.