By: Elder Mark Wattenbarger

“For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the LORD that hath mercy on thee.” Isaiah 54:10

“That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.” Eph. 2:7

The beauty of God’s word is in the poetic use of parallelism in Isa. 54:10. The mountains and hills are compared to God’s covenant in such a way as to emphasize the permanence of God’s promise to His children. As the language is explored in this text, it becomes apparent that God’s children are covered by a covenant so sure and unshakeable not even a mighty range of the oldest mountains can compare in steadfastness.

The words “depart” and “remove” have the same meaning, whether referring to the mountains or the covenant. To depart is to withdraw, take away or sever. Imagine a mountain being cut off at its root. How deep do the roots go? What power on earth could do such a thing? Man has developed explosives to cut through solid rock, ingenious machines that can carve out rock and dirt in massive quantities. But can man pick a mountain up at its root and move it away?

The natural laws, implemented by nature’s God, can cause mountains to depart. Wind and rain, snow and sun beat down on the highest peaks and cause them to crumble. Erosion eats away from above and from beneath, even at the roots of the mightiest pinnacle and over the course of time can cause the mountains to disappear. And, the power of God that established the laws of natural erosion is the same power that keeps His kindness from departing from Israel.

God’s kindness will never be made to withdraw nor can it be taken away by a more powerful force, as nothing is mightier than the Creator of the Universe. Neither is it possible for God’s children to depart from him. David wrote, “If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.” Psa. 139:9-10.

Not any force of earth or hell can move God’s children out of God’s reach, for they are in His hand always. John 10:29. It is quite possible for the mountains to depart but quite impossible for God’s kindness to be severed from His loved ones.

Hills certainly can tumble and slide into oblivion, as the natural laws governing the movement of the earth’s crust can cause violent and destructive upheaval and tear mountains down. And we know, in our lives, how easy it is for something to just slip away; one step leading to another in life and eventually we wonder how did we get here. A moment of ingratitude, inattentiveness or inaction can make it easier to perpetrate another, more wicked act, and so it goes.

Yet, it is not possible for God’s covenant to slide into nothingness or for God’s children to slip out of His mind! Never! This is the assurance God gives Isaiah.

The Israelites were a people made special by God’s blessings of health and promise of their own land. By reason of their national sins they were facing captivity and exile to Assyria and Babylon. But God’s message through the prophet Isaiah is that no matter how bleak the outlook, or how hard the captivity may be, His children will never slip out of His grasp.

God said, “My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips. Once have I sworn by my holiness that I will not lie unto David.” Ps 89:34-35. Because God cannot lie and because He can swear by none greater (Heb 6:17-18), the idea that God’s covenant can be altered or shaken is inconceivable.

God has performed His covenant obligations and protected His people throughout all ages past and will continue to do so throughout the ages to come. The comfort for each of God’s children is the knowledge that the covenant of God will never depart from His people and His people can never slip from His protective hand.  □

Posted: 2013-02-16 by MW