Relationships with God are created through covenant. From the beginning with Abram to Jesus and still today, 2000 years later. A covenant is not a promise, it is much more. A covenant is a sacred agreement and dedication that is eternally binding. 

At its beginning, America made a covenant with God.

This Covenant with the God of the Universe predates our country. The Virginia Covenant established in 1607 near present day Virginia Beach, was memorialized by Pastor Robert Hunt who erected a large wooden cross brought from England sharing these words:

“We do hereby dedicate this Land, and ourselves, to reach the People within these shores with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and to raise up Godly generations after us, and with these generations take the Kingdom of God to all the earth. May this Covenant of Dedication remain to all generations, as long as this earth remains, and may this Land, along with England, be Evangelist to the World. May all who see this Cross, remember what we have done here, and may those who come here to inhabit join us in this Covenant and in this most noble work that the Holy Scriptures may be fulfilled.”

In 1620, the Mayflower Compact was established in Plymouth Massachusetts, in the name of God, by the grace of God, for the glory of God and the advancement of the Christian religion, in the Presence of God. 

And then in 1776, the Declaration of Independence stated in tremendous boldness and humility that “appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude (moral thinking and behavior, righteousness) of our intentions” -inviting and invoking God into the shaping of individuals and the nation. 

The Founding Fathers understood the importance and power of a covenant along with the inevitable blessings for obeying and upholding it. They likely also understood the consequences for disobeying and rejecting that sacred covenant.

By 1789 in his First Inaugural address, George Washington again evoked the name of God stating, “It would be peculiarly improper to omit in this first official Act, my fervent supplications to the Almighty Being who rules over the Universe, who presides in the Councils of Nations. No People can be bound to acknowledge and adore the invisible hand, which conducts the Affairs of men more than the People of the United States.”  And since that time, every state constitution as our nation grew from 13 colonies to 50 states mentions God at least once and averages four references to our creator. 

There is no doubt scripture shaped the entirety of our US Government from Isaiah 33:22 “For the LORD is our Judge” (Judicial Branch), to “The LORD is our Lawgiver” (Legislative Branch), and “The LORD is our King” (Executive Branch). 

America’s covenant with God cannot be denied, and it must not be forgotten or rejected. Covenants are too important and the consequences of breaking them too weighty to be ignored. Let’s look at an example of HOW MUCH covenants matter to God.

 As the Israelites were moving into the Promised Land we see in Joshua 9 that the Gibeonites deceived Joshua and a covenant of protection was made. Four hundred years later Saul breaks this covenant and slaughters the Gibeonites. God sends a three-year judgement of famine to Israel as a result. David learns from Saul that it is because of the broken covenant with Gibeonites. David realizes he must make an atonement. Consequently, seven of Saul’s descendants are hanged. After the consequence is fulfilled, God heals the land. 

Look at that again: Four hundred years later, God still held them accountable to a covenant even birthed by deception. How much more would God hold the United States accountable for a covenant birthed by righteousness! 

Two hundred forty-five years after America’s covenant with God, He is holding us accountable for breaking it. There are serious consequences and judgments for breaking our covenant with God that are horrifically apparent as we review some modern statistics: 

Deuteronomy 28 reminds us of what we risk when we break a covenant with God. There are 15 verses that tell us the blessings we experience in obedience. But there are more than 52 verses on the curses/judgements for breaking a covenant. God is not playing games and is quite clear in His warnings to us. 

“The LORD will strike you with madness and blindness and confusion of heart.” – Deuteronomy 28:28