Unholy Covenants Make a False Peace

The word covenant is used 318 times in the Bible. The Hebrew word for covenant is berit, which means "to cut." It is defined as a treaty, compact, or agreement between two parties; a pledge; and a binding oath or promise.

If we are going to avoid entering into unholy covenants, we need to understand what God defines as a covenant and how He handles them.

Jesus said, “But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one.” – Matt 5:37

And Jesus’ brother James wrote,

“But above all, my brethren, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath. But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No,’ lest you fall into judgment.” – James 5:12

Covenants involve oaths and binding agreements. God holds us to a standard of holiness. Therefore, we must be people of our word. The Ten Commandments tell us not to make false statements, be a false witness, or lie against anyone. When we don’t keep our word, we break God’s commandment to be holy. Jesus said we would be held accountable for every word, spoken or unspoken, implied.

The Consequences of Breaking Covenant

Whenever God’s people broke their oaths, vows, or covenants, they suffered as a result. Jeremiah proclaimed the consequences of breaking God’s covenant:

“Therefore thus says the LORD, ‘You have not obeyed Me in proclaiming release each man to his brother and each man to his neighbor. .......20 I will give them into the hand of their enemies and into the hand of those who seek their life. And their dead bodies will be food for the birds of the sky and the beasts of the earth.” – Jer 34:17–20 NASB

God does not take covenant lightly — and neither should we.

Joshua and the Gibeonites: A Warning About Ungodly Alliances

In the book of Joshua, we read an account in which a group of men from Gibeon devised a crafty plan to trick Joshua and the Israelites into making a covenant of protection with them.

These men had heard that Joshua was taking territory and that the Lord God was with him, so they devised a plan whereby they pretended to be ambassadors from a faraway nation.

“And they took old sacks on their donkeys, old wineskins torn and mended, old and patched sandals on their feet, and old garments on themselves; and all the bread of their provision was dry and moldy. And they went to Joshua, to the camp at Gilgal, and said to him and to the men of Israel, ‘We have come from a far country; now therefore, make a covenant with us.’” – Josh 9:4–6

The men of Israel suspected that these men might not be from a far-away nation, but instead of praying about it, they fell for the false evidence. Joshua asked them who they were and where they came from, and the phony ambassadors told them and showed him the evidence of their long journey — which were really props.

So the men of Israel yielded to their story, gave them provisions, and did not ask the counsel of the Lord. This poor choice would soon reveal itself.

“Then the men of Israel took some of their provisions; but they did not ask counsel of the LORD. So Joshua made peace with them, and made a covenant with them to let them live; and the rulers of the congregation swore to them.” – Josh 9:14–15

Three days later, after they made the covenant, Joshua heard that these men actually were neighbors. But because of the covenant, the Israelites would not attack them. They did, however, make them woodcutters and water carriers for the congregation and for the altar of the LORD.

“This we will do to them: We will let them live, lest wrath be upon us because of the oath which we swore to them.” – Josh 9:20–21

The Lesson: Ungodly Covenants Carry Consequences

We see both sides of what happens when we make ungodly alliances. We will suffer the consequences of such actions.

God expects His people to be discerning, prayerful, and faithful to their word. When we enter covenants without seeking His counsel, we bind ourselves to agreements that may cost us spiritually, emotionally, or even generationally.

We see this in marriages. Many Christians want to be married because they don't want to sin against God by having intimate relationships outside of marriage. However, more often than not, these marriages are not built on God's best for these people. The result is often divorce. Divorce is covenant-breaking. God hates divorce because it breaks covenant, but also because of the ripping and tearing it does to two families, especially when there are children involved.

Don't take a covenant relationship lightly. Seek God for His perfect will in your relationships before you bind yourself to someone.

Let's pray,

Heavenly Father, I repent for every idle word I have spoken. I repent for any time I lied or bore false witness against another. I repent for taking covenant lightly and entering into it without Your direction. I ask forgiveness for these things and for every time I added to my yes-or-no. I ask for help in making the right decisions going forward. Direct my speech and my heart to be of Yours. In Jesus name, Amen

To hear Dr. E. Graham teach this message, click below.

Does God's Covenant Still Hold Value