Daily Reading: Psalm 46-50
Psalm 50:5
Gather my saints together unto me; those that have made a covenant with me by sacrifice.
It is said in Scripture that Judas Iscariot covenanted with the high priest to betray Jesus Christ for thirty pieces of silver (Matthew 26:14-15). Herein the principle of a covenant is explained. Judas had something that the priests desired, Jesus. The priests had something that Judas desired, silver. Judas would give that which he had, access to Jesus, and the priests would give that which they had, silver, in exchange. The priests did not have Jesus, and Judas did not have silver. So, they covenanted together; they both obtained that which they wanted but did not have.
The same is true with a mortal person and God. A mortal person does not have everlasting life. God does have everlasting life. God does not have each person, for He created every person to have a free will. Every person has themselves, they are their own free moral agent, if you will. God has something almost every person desires, everlasting life and He has the power to give it. Every person has something Almighty God desires, themselves. As a reminder, remember II Peter 3:9: The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
For individuals to obtain eternal life, God requests a sacrifice. In the Old Testament, the sacrifices were varied, however the Passover Lamb seems to be the one that rolled the individual’s sin forward another year. In the New Testament I Corinthians 5:7 states clearly: For even Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us… A person may want the everlasting life that God offers, and the Lord wants the proper sacrifice to be offered for the propitiation of sins. Therefore, individuals can enter into a covenant with God by giving the proper sacrifice which is Christ; the Lamb of God, as introduced by John the Baptist. God gives eternal life that has been purchased via the proper sacrifice of Christ. When He offered Himself as the sacrifice for sin it was a once for all time, for there remains no more sacrifice for sin today other than the one that has already been offered which is the Lord on the cross, his perfect life, crucifixion, burial, and resurrection.
Our verse today calls those who have made a covenant with God through sacrifice saints. If you have entered into that holy covenant with God, you are a saint as proven often in New Testament passages. Therefore, you are included in this group in Psalm 50. Why is it important? That you may know that verse 15 of Psalm 50 is a promise to you. And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me. It is a promise of God to all His saints. They are made saints by entering into a covenant with the Lord God. Him giving eternal life, they by giving the proper sacrifice of their own free will. Amazing!
Until tomorrow, live for Christ today.