As for you also, because of the blood of your covenant, I will set your prisoners free from the waterless pit. Zechariah 9: 11, NKJV.
Merciful God, we give You thanks for both providing the blood of the covenant, and covering us with that blood for our salvation. In the name of Jesus Christ we give You thanks. Amen.
There is much that has been said about the blood in Sacred Scripture. From Genesis to Revelation, directly, or indirectly, mention is made of the blood. The blood covers, it makes atonement, it protects, it cleanses, it saves. Where would we be without the blood? This was the title of one of our devotionals a couple of years ago. The question is very sobering. The answer is even more so: We would be dead!
This is a very significant chapter in the Bible. It contains one of the prophecies of the coming Messiah. It speaks of Jesus’ triumphant entrance into Jerusalem (9). We saw this fulfilled at the beginning of His last week on earth just before He was crucified (Matthew 21: 4, 5).
This chapter speaks of freedom that was made possible, because God remembered the blood of the covenant! Time and again Israel fell in and out of their covenant relationship with God – but God never defaulted on His part of the covenant. He never forgot the promise He made to our first parents (Genesis 3: 15). He did not forget – because of the blood. Even though the time came when He abhorred the meaningless sacrifices of the Israelites (Isaiah 2: 11-13), He remembered that the blood of the innocent lambs, and goats, turtle doves and pigeons, represented the blood of His Son that would be shed for the sins of the world.
When Israel found herself in a dry and spiritually “waterless,” situation, devoid of the Water of Life because of her sin, God promised that, because of the blood, He would deliver her. He is the same God today, and will be forevermore! You too can take hold of this promise and make it yours. Are you dwelling in a barren land at this time? Have your dreams withered? Are you experiencing a drought that has caused your hopes to die? Do not despair, God will have mercy, and will rescue you, because of the blood! He will send you “showers of blessing” (Daniel W. Whittle).
The blood was important to God even before His Son came to earth to take our place on the cross. The blood is important to God as His Son intercedes in heaven on our behalf. The blood is important, because “the life is in the blood” (Leviticus 17: 11; Hebrews 9: 19-22). And glory be to God, we have been forgiven, and have been given the gift of eternal life, because of the blood!