What Covenants Are Essential to Return to God’s Presence?

My Come Follow Me studies for this week took me to the book of Judges, particularly Judges 2-4; 6-8; 13-16, in a lesson titled “The Lord Raised Up a Deliverer.” The following information introduced the lesson. 

We all know what it’s like to sin, feel bad about it, and then repent and resolve to change our ways. But too often we forget our earlier resolve, and, when temptation comes, we find ourselves committing the same sin. This pattern appears frequently in the book of Judges. Influenced by the beliefs and worship practices of the Canaanites – whom they were supposed to drive out of the land – the Israelites broke their covenants with the Lord and turned away from worshipping Him. As a result, they lost His protection and fell into captivity. And yet each time this happened, the Lord gave His covenant people the chance to repent and raised up a deliverer, a military leader called a “judge.” Not all of the judges in the book of Judges were righteous, but some of them exercised great faith in delivering the children of Israel and restoring them to their covenant relationship with the Lord. These stories remind us that no matter what has led us away from Jesus Christ, He is the Redeemer of Israel and is always willing to deliver us and welcome us back as we return to Him.

Some principles taught in this scripture block are (1) The Lord forgives as often as I repent (Judges 2:1-19; 3:5-12). (2) I can inspire others to have faith in the Lord (Judges 4:1-15). (3) The Lord can work miracles when I trust in His ways (Judges 6-8). (4) God strengthens me as I am faithful to my covenants (Judges 13-16). I have chosen to discuss the fourth principle about being blessed by being faithful to covenants.

Judges 13-16 contains one of the most famous stories in the Old Testament, the story of Samson. His parents shared a frequent problem found in the Old Testament, the inability to have a child. Manoah and his wife were blessed to have a son. Judges 13:3-5 tells the first part of the story.

3 And the angel of the Lord appeared unto the woman, and said unto her, Behold now, thou art barren, and bearest not: but thou shalt conceive, and bear a son.

4 Now therefore beware, I pray thee, and drink not wine nor strong drink, and eat not any unclean thing:

5 For, lo, thou shalt conceive, and bear a son; and no razer shall come on his head: for the child shall be a Nazarite unto God from the womb: and he shall begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines.

6 ¶ Then the woman came and told her husband, saying, A man of God came unto me, and his countenance was like the countenance of an angel of God, very terrible: but I asked him not whence he was, neither told he me his name:

7 But he said unto me, Behold, thou shalt conceive, and bear a son; and now drink no wine nor strong drink, neither eat any unclean thing: for the child shall be a Nazarite to God from the womb to the day of his death.

The above verses tell us that this pregnancy was not only miraculous, but it also had certain conditions. The mother-to-be was instructed to be careful about what she drank – no wine or strong drink – and what she ate – no unclean thing. Once the son was born, his hair was allowed to grow and not cut. He was a Nazarite from his conception to the day of his death.

Samson was under covenant to God, but he failed to keep his covenants with God. He lost both his physical strength and his spiritual strength because he violated his covenants with God, particularly those that applied specifically to Nazarites.

Sister Ann M. Dibb taught: “Samson was born with great potential. His mother was promised, ‘He shall begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines’ [Judges 13:5]. But as Samson grew, he looked more to the world’s temptations than to God’s direction. He made choices because they ‘pleaseth [him] well’ [Judges 14:3] rather than because those choices were right. Repeatedly, the scriptures use the phrase ‘and he went down’ [Judges 14:7] as they tell of Samson’s journeys, actions and choices. Instead of arising and shining forth to fulfill his great potential, Samson was overcome by the world, lost his God-given power, and died a tragic, early death” (“Arise and Shine Forth,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2012, 118). 

In the April 2024 General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, then-First Counselor in the First Presidency, President Dallin H. Oaks concluded his talk titled “Covenants and Responsibilities” with the following testimony: 

The Church of Jesus Christ is known as a church that emphasizes making covenants with God. Covenants are inherent in each of the ordinances of salvation and exaltation this restored Church administers. The ordinance of baptism and its associated covenants are requirements for entrance into the celestial kingdom. The ordinances and associated covenants of the temple are requirements for exaltation in the celestial kingdom, which is eternal life, “the greatest of all the gifts of God.” That is the focus of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. (Liahona, May 2024, 93-96).