
A covenant is a promise or undertaking, resting on certain conditions, with a  sign or token attached to it. The rainbow on the raincloud, the Lord's Supper,  the wedding-ring, are signs and seals of the respective covenants to which they  belong. Whenever we see them we should bethink ourselves of the covenant.  Whenever you see a rainbow, recall the covenant into which God has entered with  thee; for as He has sworn that the waters of Noah should no more go over the  earth, so His kindness shall not depart from thee, nor the covenant of His peace  be removed. Three things are needed to make a rainbow.
A cloud. - When  man's sin overshadowed Paradise, the bow of promise shone; and when the  thunderclouds gathered about the Saviour's path, the Divine voice assured Him  that as He had glorified the Divine Name by His life, He should glorify it much  more by His death. When the black clouds of conviction, bereavement,  soul-anguish beset thee, look out for the bow: it is always there, though  sufferers do not always perceive it.
Rain. - There are no rainbows unless  there be falling drops to catch and unravel the sunbeams. It may be that all  evil is worse in its anticipation than in its endurance; but this is certain,  that the big drops of sorrow have to patter on our souls before we can realize  all that God is prepared to be to us.
Sunshine. - It is only when God  comes into our grief that we can' see the treasures of Love and Grace which are  stored for us in Him. We never know how great a blessing sorrow may be till we  carry it into the light of the King's face. It is the dark canvas on which the  artist produces his most marvellous effects.