COVENANT OF SEASONS

While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease – Genesis 8:22

God initiated and declared the Covenant of Seasons between Himself and humanity. It promised that there shall be eternal seasons as long as the solar system continues. Genesis 1:14-18 records God’s creative command: “Let there be lights in the firmament of the heavens to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and SEASONS, and for days and years…” The Sun, Moon, stars, and the rest of the solar system will never have reason to shift from their orbit or disobey this covenant command. This same covenant has been reaffirmed to Noah, David and others of God’s people down the ages.

After the flood and in response to the sweet savour of Noah’s sacrifice, the LORD reaffirmed this covenant: “And the LORD smelled a soothing aroma. Then the LORD said in His heart, “I will never again curse the ground for man's sake…; nor will I again destroy every living thing as I have done. While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease” (Gen.8:21-22). According to this gracious covenant, the heavenly bodies have conserved their courses, the seasons their successions, and the earth its increase for the benefit of humanity. The sweet savour and soothing aroma of Noah’s sacrifice provoked this covenant. May the LORD teach us to be wise and sensitive, to offer covenant-provoking sacrifices and acceptable services to Him at all times and in all seasons!

God’s covenant with David was also hinged on the covenant of seasons: “MY COVENANT I not break, nor alter the Word that has gone out of My lips. Once I have sworn by My holiness, I will not lie to David. His seed shall endure forever, and his throne as the SUN before me. It shall be established forever like the MOON, even like the faithful witness in the sky” (Ps.89:34-37). The sun, moon, stars, and seasons are ordinances and faithful witnesses in the sky, to the integrity and consistency of God’s Covenant with His people (Jer.31:35-36). The LORD is faithful to His Covenant of Seasons. It behoves us to seek to know, understand, and maximise the blessings of our ordained Seasons of Life!