Few things will leave you with a better understanding of the nature and grace of God, than a study of covenants in the Bible. One of the benefits of the pre-marital counseling I am blessed to participate in, is the constant reminder of the covenant nature of God’s relationship with people. We use a book written by Glover Shipp entitled Marriage is a Covenant, Not a Contract, for the sessions. It teaches a few important concepts worth our time to examine.
First: Shipp describes what was known in the ancient world as a suzerainty covenant. This is not an agreement among equals. David and Jonathon entered into a covenant between peers (I Samuel 20:12-17) as did Jacob and Laban (Genesis 31:43-54). These were not suzerainty covenants because there was no suzerain involved. Suzerain is just a fancy word for dominant ruler. When you are king, you make the rules. God’s covenants with people are Suzerainty covenants because he sets the terms. Our Lord is The Suzerain.
Second: God is always faithful. Shipp says this kind of covenant typically follows, “the formula of prologue (identification of parties-JS), stipulations, blessings, curses, and witnesses.” God sets the rules and offers blessings for obedience and curses for disobedience. All covenants are entered into with a vow and the Lord is faithful to fulfill his promises. In marriage, the man and woman make a vow to themselves and to God. They accept his terms and are rewarded with covenant blessings if they are true to their spouse and God.
Third: Covenants are always ratified by the shedding of blood. In fact, the Hebrew word for covenant (berith) means, “in the sense of cutting…passing between pieces of flesh.” God’s covenants with Abraham (Genesis 15:7-21), the nation of Israel (Exodus 24:3-8), and the covenant of marriage (Deuteronomy 22:13-19) are all inaugurated by the shedding of blood. An understanding of covenants helps us appreciate the Love of God and the crucifixion of his Son. Let’s take a look at the Old Covenant and the New.
Old Testament: We tend to think of the OT as the first half of our Bible. In reality, the word testament is better understood as covenant. The “Old Covenant” refers specifically to the covenant between Jehovah and the people of Israel. God is the suzerain and the Old Covenant follows the formula. 1) Prologue: The parties are identified as, “all Israel…all of us here alive today.”-Deuteronomy 5:1,3 and “The Lord our God”-Deuteronomy 5:2. 2) Stipulations: The Ten Commandments represent the totality of the law given to Israel. God sets the terms. These are his rules (Exodus 20; Deuteronomy 5). 3) There are blessings for obedience and curses for rebellion (Deuteronomy 28). 4) Finally there are witnesses. “I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse.”-Deuteronomy 30:19.
New Testament: God’s new covenant is with all mankind (not just Israel). 1) Peter explains who is eligible: “everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”-Acts 2:21. 2) God sets the terms, “confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead,”-Romans 10:9, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins,”-Acts 2:38, “performing deeds in keeping with their repentance.”-Acts 26:20. 3) God promises blessings for the faithful (Matthew 25:21) and damnation for the rebellious (Matthew 25:30, 41). 4) As with all covenants, there are those who see and testify, “You are witnesses of these things.”-Luke 24:48.
Finally, there is blood to be shed. God offered his sinless Son on the cross to display his faithfulness to those who would trust his promises: “this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.”-Matthew 26:28. Praise God for his glorious covenant with me!
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