“And thou shalt set in it settings of stones, even four rows of stones: the first row shall be a sardius, a topaz, and a carbuncle: this shall be the first row. And the second row shall be an emerald, a sapphire, and a diamond. And the third row a ligure, an agate, and an amethyst. And the fourth row a beryl, and an onyx, and a jasper: they shall be set in gold in their inclosings. And the stones shall be with the names of the children of Israel, twelve, according to their names, like the engravings of a signet; every one with his name shall they be according to the twelve tribes.” (Exodus 28:17-21)
Precious stones also symbolize the twelve tribes of Israel, God’s chosen people. Each tribe was engraved upon the breastplate of the high priest, set in four rows of stones — twelve stones for twelve tribes, twelve tribes for one covenant.
Covenant is the heartbeat of God. The Hebrew word b’riyth means agreement or alliance — a binding promise sealed by God’s character.
God is not a man that He should lie. His promises to the believers are yes and amen.
Though humanity has broken covenant with God again and again, God remains faithful. Through Jesus Christ, the breach is repaired. The gap is closed. We can now come boldly before the throne of grace, carrying His Word written upon our hearts.
To walk in covenant with God is to walk in alignment with Him. This means we deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Him daily. When we do, the Holy Spirit nourishes us like a watered garden, causing rivers of living water to flow from within us.
When we delight ourselves in Him, the blessings of covenant unfold:
We are blessed going out and coming in. We are the head and not the tail. We are above only and not beneath. We are lenders and not borrowers. We are first and not last. All of this, every promise, rests upon covenant with God.
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