All this talk about “old/new covenant” may be perplexing to someone who honestly wonders what it’s all about, what’s the difference. We could apologize for bringing it up, but then we can’t—it’s in the Bible almost everywhere.
Nicodemus comes to Jesus “by night” (old covenant people love the dark) with some old covenant flattery (“we know You are a teacher come from God”) and gets a stark new covenant response: “The son of man must be lifted up so that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:1-15).
The fear-laden jailer in Philippi asks an old covenant question, “What MUST I DO to be saved?” and gets a new covenant answer: “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you shall be saved” (Acts 16:30, 31). (No obeying the law? “Believe” and there will be no end to your law-obedience.)
The 23rd psalm is probably the most new-covenantish chapter in the entire Bible (forgive me for coining a word!). Nothing about “the law”? Not a word about “doing” anything except following where the Good Shepherd “leads”? The old covenanter (again, forgive me!) would probably re-write it, “The Lord is my Dog who DRIVES me home” ( no, that’s not the idea). The Shepherd psalm is the “Come unto Me and I will give you rest” idea (cf. Matt. 11:28-30).
The LORD who is your Shepherd is the special name for the “our Father which art in heaven” who loves to hear us cry, “Abba, Father!” when we are in distress (Matt. 6:9, KJV; Rom. 8:15, 16). The very fact that your perplexed heart cries out those words is proof that He has “adopted” you into the family of God (a 23rd psalm idea). Read Romans 8 carefully, to see who you are.
The new covenant truth: you are not a “wolf” to be shot down; you are a “lamb” (a prodigal son) who has gone astray. That same LORD is the “father” who welcomes the prodigal home and puts the best robe on him (Luke 15:22). Flee where you wish but you can’t escape that new covenant love that pursues you (Psalm 139:9-12).
Be sure to check your e-mail for "Dial Daily Bread" again tomorrow.
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