Reflections on God’s Covenant

Hi everyone,

Entering this weekend with Christ, most of us have already broken at least one of the 10 commandments, so we may feel they serve more as guidelines like the cartoon below.  Rather than guidelines or policies, in the attached reflections, our Scripture readings assure us the commandments are intended to serve the covenantal love of God for all of us.

Pastor Tim

"God has led you to the desert, and spoken to your Heart."

Mount of Olives Lutheran Church

3546 E. Thomas Rd

Phoenix, AZ 85018

602-956-1620 office

Reflections on God’s Covenant

Righteous Anger and Steadfast Love

As we enter this 3^rd weekend in Lent, our Scripture readings give us a look at the biblical interplay between our righteous anger and God’s covenantal love in Exodus, Corinthians, and John

I. The Commandments: A Covenant of Love (Exodus 20:1-7)

In Exodus, God's deliverance of Israel from Egypt was not merely about liberation; it was about entering into a covenant of relationship.  The gift of the 10 Commandments are a gift indeed!  They are expressions of covenantal love, not simply rules to obey. They guide believers into a way of life that reflects God’s character of love, faithfulness and justice.  Breaking the Commandments harms our relationship with others, but God’s covenant is infinite love filled with restoration and renewal.

In John’s Gospel, we see Jesus overturning of tables in the temple, not in unrestrained rage, but in a righteous response to injustice.  Jesus saw the Temple as a place of covenant renewal with His Father.  His anger was motivated by love, for his Father’s house and for the people whose faith was abused by greed.  

Paul tells us in Corinthians that the cross is the ultimate expression of God’s covenantal love.  It is sacrificial, counter-intuitive and transformative.  Our human world is swayed by outward power. God calls us to a deeper wisdom, the wisdom of covenantal love that sacrifices for the sake of restoring relationships.

As we move through Lent, it is important to remember that not all expressions of human anger are justified.  We need discernment to distinguish between destructive rage and righteous zeal for what is good and holy.  When we see injustice in our world, it should stir an anger similar to Jesus’ anger, coming forth from love for God’s ways and love for others.  This can be easily distorted into self-righteousness and destructive actions, so we are called to pray for the Holy Spirit to guide us, with the deep wisdom that transcends our world.

Where is God calling you towards righteous anger on behalf of the oppressed or marginalized?