A Covenant of Love

Daniel 9:4-6 I prayed to the Lord my God and confessed: “O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with all who love him and obey his commands, 5 we have sinned and done wrong. We have been wicked and have rebelled; we have turned away from your commands and laws. 6 We have not listened to your servants the prophets, who spoke in your name to our kings, our princes and our fathers, and to all the people of the land.”
 
DANIEL does what we all must do. He reads Scripture and he prays. He knew Jeremiah’s and Isaiah’s prophecies regarding the end of the Jews’ exile in Babylon. In response, he prayed for God’s will to be done on earth.  
    He begins the prayer with reference to Moses’ words. The covenant of love he refers to is God’s specific promise – covenant – to the Jews through Moses. Here again is a beautiful illustration of God’s will to love the Jews even as they turn from him: Deuteronomy 30:1 When all these blessings and curses I have set before you come upon you, and you take them to heart wherever the Lord your God disperses you among the nations, 2 and when you and your children return to the Lord your God and obey him with all your heart and with all your soul according to everything I command you today, 3 then the Lord your God will restore your fortunes and have compassion on you and gather you again from all the nations where he scattered you. 4 Even if you have been banished to the most distant land under the heavens, from there the Lord your God will gather you and bring you back. 5 He will bring you to the land that belonged to your fathers, and you will take possession of it. He will make you more prosperous and numerous than your fathers.  
    Do you understand why Daniel calls this a covenant of love? The LORD God prophesied through Moses of his people’s dispersion to a foreign land. In love he warns them of disobedience. In love he promises reward to those who love the LORD God and obey his commands.
    We often wonder, “Why do some people have so much trouble in their lives?” The fundamental answer most often is their disregard for God’s commands, his will and purpose for a close relationship with him. I know the culture wants to tell us, “God loves everyone and lets us do as we desire.” But in truth, God will curse those who disobey and bless those who lovingly obey. This is really very simple, isn’t it? 
 
John 15:10 If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love. 
 
Would you rather remain cursed or remain loved?