The Covenant of Blood

God made a solemn covenant
And sealed it with blood,
His people were to follow Him
And know Him as their God.

A covenant of blood declares
That he who breaks its terms
Will shed his blood for breach of faith,
A witness this affirms.

This covenant of blood was made
Twixt God and those He chose –
The children born to Abraham.
See now what will transpose:

The people sinned and sinned again,
They broke the covenant.
God in His mercy drew them back,
Each time till they’d repent.

Though death was due, God waited long,
He disciplined and taught,
Yet every time they would rebel –
In grosser sin then caught.

At last the patience had expired,
And justice must be done.
Blood must be shed for all the sin
Which had gone on and on.

This solemn word was read to all,
The future seemed so bleak.
Wait! What was that I heard just now?
Whose death does justice seek?

The Son of God? That cannot be
For Abram’s sons have erred.
God kept His part – with mercy too –
And yet it was declared!

The Son of God, how can He pay
For our side, for our sin?
Only our people can be held
Accountable to Him.

Hark! Hear the news! The Son of God
Will take on flesh and live
A son of Abraham to die,
New life to us to give.

How can that be? Why would He come
And keep the terms for us,
Then die when He deserves to live
To save His enemies?

This cannot be, and yet it is –
Great mystery of God!
He dies Himself to set us free,
In our place sheds His blood.

And with that blood a covenant
On our behalf is made
Between this Son, now one of us,
And God – see grace displayed!

We cannot fail this covenant,
New covenant of blood,
For we are benefactors, yet
The terms are paid by God.

The righteousness of Christ is pledged
On our behalf to stand,
That we might be inheritors
Of all that’s in Gods hand.

What strange design, but O how blessed –
In Christ’s own place I stand!
His life was forfeit for my own,
See what His love has planned.

Christina Joy Hommes