Sabbath: Covenantal Love
Daily Lesson for Sabbath 4th of January 2025
Image © Pacific Press
Read for This Week’s Study: 2 Peter 3:9, Deuteronomy 7:6-9, Romans 11:22, 1 John 4:7-20, John 15:12, 1 John 3:16.
Memory Text:
“Jesus answered and said to him, ‘If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him’ ” (John 14:23, NKJV).
Many have been taught that the Greek word agape refers to a love that is unique to God, while other terms for love, such as phileo, refer to different kinds of love, more deficient than agape. Some claim, too, that agape refers to unilateral love, a love that only gives but never receives, a love entirely independent of human response.
However, careful study of divine love throughout Scripture shows that these ideas, though common, are mistaken. First, the Greek term agape refers not only to God’s love but also to human love, even sometimes misdirected human love (2 Timothy 4:10). Second, throughout Scripture, many terms other than agape refer to God’s love. For example, Jesus taught, “ ‘The Father Himself loves [phileo] you, because you have loved [phileo] Me’ ” (John 16:27, NASB). Here, the Greek term phileo is used not only of human love but also of God’s love for humans. Thus, phileo does not refer to a deficient kind of love but to God’s love itself.
Scripture also teaches that God’s love is not unilateral but deeply relational, in that it makes a profound difference to God whether or not humans reflect His love back to Him and to others.
*Study this week’s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, January 11.
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I studied natural language processing way before we had entities such as Siri and Alexa. I became acutely aware of how difficult it is to pin down meaning in a phrase or sentence. Part of the problem is that we associate ideas with words. Because we all come from different backgrounds we often have different idea associations with words. This can be confusing and embarrassing at times. I know that I am misinterpreted in this forum because of my Australian/New Zealand background.
I know that for many of our readers, English is a second language. One of the issues we have is that with that background, readers often look for exact meanings of words, when in fact, there are a whole range of nuances associated with the context.
The same is true when we look at ancient languages such as Greek. Much as been made of the different words used for love in Koine Greek and we like to define the meaning of each. I suspect, just as in the English language, the meanings of these words are a bit more fuzzy than their dictionary definitions.
Our lesson author makes this point in today's lesson. God's love is not just "agape" but should be part of the nuance or association of ideas we have with the other words used for love in the Bible as well.
Man didn't invent love. It was bequethed to mankind in Creation by a God that is the totality of love. In 1 John 4:8 the Greek word used here is Agape. Some claim it is the highest form of love because it is said to be unconditional and universal. Meaning that it is a type of love that loves equally the "good" people, as well as the "bad" people.
It grieved the Father's heart when Lucifer rebelled, and grieved it again when Adam & Eve did, and all down the corridor of time whenever any one rebels against His love. If only humans would understand "how wide and long and high and deep" is the love of God. Ephesians 3:17-19
It would take ten thousand lifetimes to fully grasp the totality of the love of God. He wants to lavish that love on His created beings. 1 Cor. 2:9 reveals how he intends to reciprocate His love to those that love Him.
Yet, He will still love and miss those that choose to separate themselves from His love,
Rev. 21:4 says that God will wipe away our tears in heaven, presumably over those that have chosen not to be there. My question is, who will wipe away His tears? I hope that I will.
Perhaps add Eph. 3:17-19 to get a fuller meaning.
Words, such as love, can often be misconstrued and misinterpreted. Our actions though, can usually be interpreted far more easily. May our Love for God be increasingly demonstrated by action and not mere verbal assent!!!!
Love has many interpretations — perhaps as many as there are people who love. I recently saw a commercial soliciting funds for the treatment of children with severe physical limitations. They were asked, “What is love?” Each child’s response directly reflected their personal experience: “Love is dancing,” “Love is having a prosthetic leg,” and “Love is the ‘love-doctor.’ For them, love was synonymous with the improvements that brought joy and possibility to their lives.
“Love” is arguably one of the most challenging words to define in any language. Even as I expand my vocabulary and understanding of English, I still find myself lacking the intuitive connection that comes from being immersed in a native tongue. As Maurice observed, learning a second language rarely mirrors the depth of understanding one has with their own.
For me, Agape represents the original, universal Love with which God established His creation — the foundational 'glue' that holds everything together. It is this unconditional love which I want to express toward the Father and His Son, Christ Jesus, as my life is now rooted in them.
The Greek language categorizes love into distinct forms:
Agape: God’s unconditional love for humanity.
Phileo: A bond of friendship or brotherhood, characterized by mutual affection, trust, and shared values.
Storge: Natural, familial love, such as the bond between a parent and child.
Eros: Passionate or romantic love, akin to the modern understanding of romance.
Each form of love is essential. Together, they illuminate our path coming out from the darkness of this world into God’s heavenly Light. None is lesser than another, as all originate from the Agape Love God has bestowed upon us.
May we allow His Agape to pour over us, awakening His Love in our hearts and minds to share with our fellow man. This is my prayer. 1 John 4:7–11; 17–19.
It is interesting to note how God, who is all self-reliant and the Creator of all things, could enter into a covenantal relationship of love with his people even when He knew they would fail to keep their part of the deal. Why could God enter into covenants with His people? Why did God who is sovereign act unilaterally? All biblical covenants (Noahic, Abrahamic, Mosaic, Davidic, and the New Covenant) were exclusively for the benefit of mankind. Why did God use covenants per se? In the ancient Jewish society, covenants were a common means of transacting deals. Therefore, God used a cultural norm to communicate his intentions in terms that could be easily understood. What does this tell us about the love of God?
1. God is relational - Regardless of his self-reliance and, not wanting anything to achieve his goal, wants to involve mankind out of love. He could not act unilaterally because our God is not authoritarian. God wants to build trust, love, and faith with his people.
2. God cares to remind us of our responsibilities - From time to time, mankind is bound to forget and go astray. Therefore, a loving God constantly reminds us of what is expected of us in writing, such as the Ten Commandments in the Mosaic covenant. As a loving God, He puts in place a sort of structural guidance for his people to follow. God does not want to take us by surprise.
3. Our God is redemptive - Through covenantal relationships, God lovingly instructs his people about salvation (Jeremiah 31:33). It is comforting to note how gently God stirs us to salvation through the messages contained in the covenants through the ages. Covenants are God’s expressions of love and commitment to redeem mankind.
4. God provides assurances - Human beings are always uncertain and fearful of the future. God steps in to provide certainty and assurance through covenantal promises (Exodus 6:7, Deuteronomy 7:9).
5. God keeps His promises – A loving God is faithful who has kept the Old Testament covenants through the New Covenant, Jesus Christ. A covenant enshrined in grace (John 3:16). God’s eternal love is foundational to our salvation.
“But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God” (John1:12 – NLT).