Monday 23 October 2023

Psalm 148

Background

The writer of the letter to the Hebrews has been contrasting the priestly order of Melchizedek at the time of Abraham with that of Christ as a new heavenly high priest, but now moves on to focus on another comparison of old and new. This time it’s the difference between the old covenant delivered to Moses (Exodus 24:3-8) and the new covenant as described by the prophets (Jeremiah 31:31-34), which is quoted at length here, and made real through Jesus Christ.

The author begins to explore the meaning of a renewed relationship between God and humankind as symbolised through a new covenant. This one is not written on tablets of stone, as was the case with Moses and the Israelites, and does not require those it is made with to remember the detailed laws that were part of it. Those religious requirements could all too easily be broken, as was the repeated experience of generation after generation in the Old Testament narrative.

Instead God has made a new covenant that is put directly in to the minds and written on peoples’ hearts. It isn’t a covenant that is just written on a page, read out loud and needs countless scholars to interpret it, as would be the case for any other legal agreement. This covenant reaches peoples’ souls and would be known and felt intimately.

The suggestion that the first covenant was faulty (v. 7) is a bold claim to make to those reading the letter, as anyone from a Jewish background would know that this first covenant was God-given and therefore could not be wrong. And yet, the writer suggests that it’s God who finds the fault (v. 8) and its God who takes the initiative to do something new and better. As a result the old covenant is now obsolete and will soon be forgotten about (v. 13).

Moreover, this is a unifying covenant that is for all people. It will be for both “with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah” (v. 8). Kingdoms that were long divided would be united through this common new commitment. And it would also apply to rich and poor, “the least of them to the greatest” (v. 11). This was a covenant that overcame barriers and was made universally to all people, regardless of status or state.

To Ponder:

• The quote from Jeremiah asserts that people will no longer need to be taught the law for they will already know God and God’s law. Consider your own experience of knowing God but still needing to learn and be taught.
• Pray for those who seek to break down barriers and enable the gospel message to be heard, felt and understood by all people, whatever their background.

Prayer

God of all people, open my mind and heart to receive your message of love and forgiveness and help me to know that you are God. Amen.