Covenant is the structure of divine love. In Genesis 12 and 15, God placed Himself under an unbreakable covenantal promise, binding His own faithfulness to Abraham’s future, and ours! Covenant is how God organizes His Ḥesed into relationship: His love expressed through promise, presence, and purpose. God’s story has been one of loyal commitment. Covenants are not a contract we keep but a relationship God sustains, inviting our trust in His unfailing word.

Dear friends,

The more I study the Old Testament, the more I see that God’s love always has structure (e.g., the Old Testament is a love letter). God’s love is patterned and relational. That pattern is called covenant, in Hebrew, berit.

This is a powerful word. It means to cleave.

Yes, both meanings: to separate and to bring together.

And isn’t that how God operates? He cleaves (separates) us from the fallen world so we can cleave to Him in covenantal communion.

Covenant is the form God’s Ḥesed takes when He binds Himself to His people. If Ḥesed is God’s heartbeat, covenant (berit) is the rhythm that keeps it steady.

In the ancient Near East, binding covenants (berit) shaped every relationship. Kings made treaties with conquered peoples, promising protection in exchange for loyalty and tribute. These treaties followed a pattern:

Deuteronomy mirrors this form, but with one profound difference. God is not a tyrant demanding tribute. He is a loving Father offering relationship. He reminds Israel of His deliverance (“I brought you out of Egypt”), invites their loyalty (“Love the LORD your God”), and promises blessing and protection in the land of promise, not exploitation.

God transforms what had been a political tool of ancient kings into a personal bond with his treasured people.

The scriptures are saturated with this covenantal structure. Here are a few significant highlights:

Covenant is not spiritual paperwork; it is family language. When God says, “I will be your God, and you shall be My people” (Leviticus 26:12), He speaks as a Father, not a lawyer.

Abraham’s covenant shows this beautifully. God promises descendants and a homeland, yet Abraham contributes only trust. God alone passes through the sacrificial path (Genesis 15), declaring that He Himself will bear the cost.

That is Ḥesed, the faithful love that carries the promise even when we cannot.

Israel’s story is one long rhythm of covenant breaking and renewal. From Sinai to Jeremiah’s “new covenant,” God keeps returning to restore what was lost. The commandments matter because they protect relationship as signals to God of our loving loyalty to Him and our willingness to receiving all the blessings He has promised.

When Hosea declares, “I desire Ḥesed, not sacrifice” (Hosea 6:6), he reminds us that God seeks covenant closeness, not ritual compliance. God wants to gift us the riches of eternity.

The Book of Mormon breathes the same air.

At the temple, King Benjamin rehearses the covenant form: God’s goodness, human loyalty, and a binding oath of discipleship.

Centuries later, the risen Christ renews that same covenant with His people: “I have given unto you the commandments; therefore keep my commandments. And this is the law and the prophets, for they truly testified of me.” (3 Nephi 15:10).

From Lehi to Moroni, the Book of Mormon shows that God’s Ḥesed continues through covenant. This is how heaven stays bound to earth.

To “keep” our covenants means to abide in them. It is not checklist obedience but relationship fidelity. Like marriage, it thrives through trust and regular recommitment.

Each Sabbath, the sacrament renews this divine rhythm: remembering His deliverance, pledging loyalty, and receiving promised strength.

Covenant is a cord of love that draws us in (Hosea 11:4).

When you remember your covenants, you remember that you are already bound to a God whose Ḥesed has no expiration date.

But more importantly, we should remember God’s covenants (Genesis 12:1-3; Genesis 15:17). For ultimately, we are saved because of HIS LOYALTY and HIS FAITHFULNESS to covenantal cleaving.

Next week, we will turn from the pattern of covenant to the practice of listening. Scripture is a key way how God still speaks to His covenant people. We will learn how to recognize His voice in the written word and how ancient Israel’s call to shema—to hear and obey—continues in our discipleship today.

—Taylor Halverson, Ph.D.
Learn Deeply. Live Meaningfully. Spread Light and Goodness!

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Note: I created the audio narration using experimental AI enhancement of my voice. I think the narration is functional…but not quite authentic! What do you think? Keep it or drop it?