Lately I’ve been posting about God’s love. In my last article, I started dealing with God’s covenant of love. Covenant goes much deeper than any contract.

That’s why in ancient times it was always ratified through the shedding and mingling of blood. Then, both parties could always see the scar and remember their commitment to each other.

This is because when you’re in covenant you can hold nothing back. In my last post, I talked a little about Jonathan and David.

And Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself. Jonathan took off the robe he was wearing and gave it to David, along with his tunic, and even his sword, his bow and his belt.

1 Samuel 18:3-4 NIV

At this point in his life, David had nothing. Jonathan, on the other hand, was the king’s son. This exchange is only a shadow of God’s commitment to us.

Jonathan gave David his robe and tunic. God clothes us in His righteousness. Jonathan gave his sword, bow, and belt. We can be protected in the armor of God.

We don’t seem to get it. We keep acting like we’re under contract with God. If I do this then God will do that. God’s love for us is much deeper than this. Remember what I talked about a couple of posts ago.

He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all– how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?

Romans 8:32 NIV

This verse shows us the covenant mindset of God. It should be an example to us. He held nothing back for us. My response should be that everything I have is His. I must hold back nothing.

All the ways of the LORD are loving and faithful for those who keep the demands of his covenant.

Psalm 25:10 NIV

The literal Hebrew of this verse actually says that the Lord’s loving and faithful ways are for those who keep the covenant witness. This is a good way of saying it, because covenant demands commitment.

We say that we’re in covenant with God. This means that there was a shedding and mingling of blood. Christ explained this to His disciples.

This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.

Matthew 26:28 NIV

It means that there is unconditional trust. It means that nothing is held back. It also means that we are eternally committing ourselves to the covenant. It also means that God has committed Himself to the demands of the covenant.

Here is a trustworthy saying: If we died with him, we will also live with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him. If we disown him, he will also disown us; if we are faithless, he will remain faithful, for he cannot disown himself.

2 Timothy 2:11-13 NIV

This is a beautiful description of covenant. The covenant will be upheld. The only thing to ruin it is if I disown it.

In ancient times, if you broke covenant, your family would hunt you down and kill you. Breaking covenant was literally dying to the other partner. Thus the saying, “You are dead to me.”

But, being faithless – without faith – doesn’t break the covenant. God binds Himself regardless of what we think. No matter how discouraged you may get, He will not abandon you.

We may not understand what we see presently. But, we’re in a covenant of love with God. What we really need is a revelation of that covenant. We need to understand just how committed God is to us.

Question: How have you experienced God’s commitment to you?

© 2026 Nick Zaccardi