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I. WHAT THIS COVENANT IS, AS REVEALED TO A PEOPLE AMONG THE JEWS IN THE YOUTHFUL PERIOD OF THAT NATION. Now, then, "nevertheless," notwithstanding all this heathenism, "I will remember My covenant with thee in the days of thy youth." The covenant was made with a people among the Jews in the youthful time of that nation. First, in the 3rd verse of the 12th of Genesis, the Lord said to Abraham — and that was the infancy, the commencement of the nation, — "In thee shall all families of the earth be blessed"; which is afterwards explained to mean that in Jesus Christ shall all families of the earth be blessed. That is God's covenant. Now, just look at the suitability of this. It is in Christ Jesus. What is it that we need? Why, the very first thing that every man needs is a Saviour. We are by sin lost. And so, in the very first chapter of Matthew, "Thou shalt call His name Jesus, for He shall save His people from their sins." Here, then, this covenant is nothing else but a positive engagement on the Lord's part to bring about eternal salvation. He has done that. And how suited this is! suited not only in itself, but in its manner — that "whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved"; that is, brought to see what Jesus Christ is as the Mediator of this covenant. Let your confidence be in His person, in His righteousness, in His atonement, and in the promises that are by Him; and if you can do nothing else but go on from time to time with "Lord, save me; Lord, have mercy upon me; Lord, look upon me; Lord, teach me; Lord, direct me"; — if you have these desires, together with an acquaintance with the Lord Jesus Christ, in whom the blessings are, then thou wilt not be lost, for "whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."

II. HOW THIS COVENANT IS AN EVERLASTING COVENANT. The covenant the Lord made with the Jews, that He was to be their God, and that they were to have the land of Canaan, and the great advantages of national distinction, as described in the Word of God — Leviticus, Deuteronomy, and many other places — they were to continue to enjoy all these on the ground of their conformity to that covenant; they were to continue in the purity of it. But instead of this they forsook God's covenant, threw down His altars, the altar of sacrifice and the altar of incense; and the next thing, of course, was to slay those prophets and ministers that preached even this national covenant. There was no righteousness belonging to that temporal covenant that was eternal, and that could therefore perpetuate the covenant. There was no sacrifice in that covenant that could take away sin, and that could consequently perpetuate that covenant. If the people apostatised, or gave way, then everything was gone. But here the Lord says, "I will establish unto thee an everlasting covenant." Here is a testamentary will wherein God has willed everything by Christ Jesus. Now, Jesus Christ has brought in everlasting righteousness, for His righteousness is everlasting, and this perpetuates the covenant. This covenant and the promises cannot fail while Christ's righteousness remains what it is; and as His atonement is perfect, and He has perfected forever all them that are sanctified, here it is the covenant is perpetuated. It must remain.

III. THE NOTE OF TIME. Now, when you are brought to receive this covenant, there is a certain temper of mind. "Then thou shalt remember thy ways, and be ashamed." Saul of Tarsus, before he was brought to this covenant, remembered his ways and was delighted.

(J. Walls.)

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KJV: And I will establish my covenant with thee; and thou shalt know that I am the LORD:

WEB: I will establish my covenant with you; and you shall know that I am Yahweh;