Covenant [ברית]: Birít

I Samuel 18:1-4

Now when he had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul. 2 Saul took him that day, and would not let him go home to his father’s house anymore. 3 Then Jonathan and David MADE A COVENANT, because he loved him as his own soul. 4 And Jonathan took off the **robe that was on him and gave it to David, with his **armor, even to his **sword and his **bow and his **belt."

(David and Jonathan cut a covenant with each other.)

David and Jonathan were more than just friends; they were like brothers because of their great love for each other.  They loved each other so much that they "cut a covenant" with each other.  We'll discuss this further on.

The Hebrew word for covenant is "Birít (bîr-eet) and looks like this:

[ברית] 

The Hebrew alphabet has 22 letters and is a form of picture writing, like Chinese.  These word pictures tell a story and give us information we would never get from any definition.  They are also a window on God's perspective.
 

[ב] bet is a picture of a house.
[ר] resh means head, think, meditate.
[bet and resh together [בר] spell "bar-Son."

[י] Yod is a picture of an open hand, like the open hand nailed to the cross.  It also means "power."
[ת] tav is a picture of the cross.

The pictures in the word, "birít" tell us this:
"Covenants begin with The Son: JESUS, and are sealed by the power of His sacrifice on the cross."

In ancient Israel, and in other cultures around the world, covenants were "cut" with another person, tribe or nation.  Unlike a contract, a covenant involves a shedding of blood to seal it.  Among other things, each person or tribal head made a small incision on their wrist, joined them together and mingled their blood. Now it flowed as one.  THIS IS WHY MARRIAGE IS A COVENANT, NOT MERELY A CONTRACT, as many would have you believe.  Many today would like us believe it is only a contract so they can "redefine" it to suit their personal agenda.

Both young men exchanged their respective outer garments, indicating an exchange of positions, and their respective weapons and armaments.  This meant that your enemies became their enemies, their enemies became yours.

Ruth.
Ruth, who was a Moabitess, was disqualified to enter the congregation of Israel by the Law covenant.  But she was qualified under the Grace Covenant and entered the congregation of Israel by faith.  Her name in Hebrew is spelled, {רות}.  It is derived from the Hebrew word for covenant!

You and I, Church, are blood brothers with Jesus now because of the shedding of His blood.  God, the Father, "cut a covenant" with His man--the perfect Man, Jesus, Who represented all of us to His Father.  He was made in the likeness of sinful man, yet without sin; and taking the form of a servant, He humbled Himself unto death; even death on a cross. He shed His precious blood on that forever sealed our covenant.

Now, when we accept His priceless gift, we wear His garment of righteousness and share His high position, seated next to our Father in heaven.  Our position is no longer as slaves or servants, but sons and daughters; and our battles now are not ours but His.  THE BATTLE BELONGS TO THE LORD!  HALLELUIA!

We stand forever secure in Christ because our Father has cut a COVENANT with us!