The constituents of covenant are: a promise, an oath, a sign or sacrifice, a seal, and finally a shared meal.
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There are five clearly described
God-given key covenants:
- with Noah (to preserve a
functioning world until its end) [Genesis 8:21-22],
- with Abraham (a land for his
descendants) [Genesis ch15, ch17]
- with Moses (laws and blessings
for that people) [Exodus ch19 - 24]
- with David (an everlasting
kingdom and King from his tribe) [2 Samuel ch7]
- and the new covenant (laws
written on hearts and minds, forgiveness from iniquity, and the promised
eternal inheritance) [Jeremiah 31:31-34, Hebrews ch8-9]
These covenants progressively
build on one another to form a comprehensive redemptive narrative. In my view
there is actually only one covenant, made up of successive declarations to an
individual, to a tribe, then to a nation that could be used to bless all
nations. God rescued contaminated humanity through Noah, initiated redemption
through Abraham, promised an everlasting shepherd-king through David, then
fulfilled all of this in Jesus, making redemption available, not only to the
chosen Hebrew people, but to us all.
The world functions around
contract, being an agreement amongst equals, supposedly to the mutual benefit
of all, yet so often utilised to exploit and control. But the Bible is based on
covenant, being an arrangement between a greater (suzeraine) and a lesser
(vassal). The vassal has only to offer loyalty but gets in return protection
and prosperity, safety and security. Man-made covenants existed, but God
perfected the practice.
The constituents of covenant
are: a promise, an oath, a sign or sacrifice, a seal, and finally a shared meal.
Jeremiah (ch 31:31-34) looks
forward to the new covenant, which is then quoted in full by the writer to the
Hebrews (ch 8:6-12). Then we find the words:
'In speaking of a new
covenant, He makes the first one obsolete. And what is becoming obsolete and
growing old is ready to vanish away.' (v13)
Does this mean we can do away with the entire
Hebrew Bible (Old Testament)? By no means. God has seen to its preservation so
that we may be instructed in the complete redemptive narrative, and the crucial
connection between Jew and Gentile, linking Jewish Messiah and Saviour of the
world.
The wider context of the letter makes this
clear. Firstly, the letter wasn't written to gentile people looking for ways to
set aside the Jewish identity of Jesus, but was written to Jews who were
contemplating slipping back into Jewish law in order to avoid persecution as
Christians.
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So all the rest of the covenant story is intact,
and as relevant today as it was at its inception. The seasons promised to Noah
still provide for seed and harvest. The land of Canaan promised to Abraham's
descendants has been miraculously restored to them and is still their homeland despite
threats from all sides. A Prophet like Moses intercedes for us in heaven. A
King in the line of David sits on the throne in the Kingdom of Heaven and will
one day judge us all. And today the Holy Spirit visits us, instilling His
instruction into our hearts and our minds, as we look forward to sharing an
everlasting inheritance with Jesus who has gone before us.
“Lord, the God of Israel,
there is no God like you in heaven or on earth—you who keep your covenant of
love with your servants who continue wholeheartedly in your way." (2Chronicles 6:14)
Author: John Plumb
May God bless and enrich your life
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