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Bible Essentials
 March
Bible Challenge 2005
 

In the last Bible Essentials article, we began a discussion of the importance of the �covenants� within the Old Testament and explored the Edenic, Adamic and Noahic covenants. We will conclude our study of covenants with a look at the final three Old Testament covenants-the Abrahamic, Mosaic, and the Davidic, and then look at our final covenant-The New Testament.

• Abrahamic (Gen. 12:1-3; 13:14-17; 15:1-8; 17:1-8) God narrows his focus on one man and his family-Abram and Sarai. Abram receives special instructions to separate himself from his clan and to travel to a region directed by God. Abram follows God�s leading and through his faith and obedience he receives a blessing from God-called the Abrahamic covenant. The covenant contains three parts:
• A. Nation. Abram�s offspring would become a �great nation� (12:2).
• B. Blessing to the nations. Abram (soon to be called Abraham) would become the channel through which all peoples and nations would receive God�s blessing. Through Abraham�s nation redemption would come. (12:2)
• C. Land. Abraham and his offspring would have the land of Canaan as their possession and inheritance (12:7).

The rite of circumcision is instituted as a perpetual sign of the Abrahamic covenant. All descendants of Abraham became known as �the circumcision� (Acts 10:45) and Gentiles were called �the uncircumcision� (Eph.2:11). It is also the sign and seal of the righteousness which Abraham had by faith (Rom. 4:5).

• Mosaic (Exodus 19-34) Up until the time the people were led to Mt. Sinai, there had been no direct law from God. Now he offered them a conditional covenant when he spoke to Moses: Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel: You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles� wings and brought you to Myself. Now therefore, if you indeed obey My voice and keep my covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine. And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation (NKJV Exodus19:3-6). The condition? If you obey, I will bless. The covenant included the Ten Commandments and many other miscellaneous laws for the conduct of the children of Israel
• Davidic (2 Sam. 7:1-29) King David wanted to build a temple for the ark of God. From the time of Exodus, the ark (which contained the Ten Commandments) had been kept inside tent curtains. David informed Nathan the prophet of his intention to build a house for the ark. Then the word of the Lord came to Nathan, and he was told that David would not be allowed to build a temple.

The Lord revealed to Nathan an unconditional covenant which he would make with David. When your days are fulfilled and you rest with your fathers, I will set up your seed after you, who will come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. I will be his father, and he shall be My son. If he commits iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men and with the blows of the sons of men. But My mercy shall not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I removed from before you. And your house and your kingdom shall be established forever before you. Your throne shall be established forever. (NKJV 2 Samuel 7:12-16).

Instead of David building the Lord a temple, the Lord would build David a house and eternal dynasty, from which a king from the lineage of David would always rule. Fourteen generations later, Christ became the legal heir to the throne of David thorough Solomon, as seen in Joseph�s genealogy in (Matt. 1) and in Mary�s genealogy in (Luke 3).

• The New Testament, meaning the �New Covenant�, is the final destination in the progression of covenants we studied in the Old Testament. The covenants showed God�s progressive attempts at
  redeeming his people. Each step along the way God reached out to his people, blessed them, and asked for obedience and worship. Each time the people failed, as they continued to worship idols and not put their trust and faith in Yahweh. They couldn�t follow the strict commands of the Law, their sacrifices were never sufficient, and sin remained in their midst, so God offered a new and final covenant for redemption of his people.

Bible Dictionary

Covenant is a special bond or yoke between two parties. A biblical covenant is initiated by God and refers to a special relationship He establishes with a people He calls His own.

Grace is the divine love and protection bestowed freely on mankind; an unmerited gift.

Reconciliation describes a change of personal relations between people. It denotes an end of hostility or estrangement and a new state of peace and fellowship.

Redemption is a term meaning to purchase, buy back, or ransom. To ransom someone is to gain their release by paying a price. Redemption is salvation by payment of ransom. Christ redeemed believers by paying the price necessary to set them free from the power of condemnation of sin and the law.

 

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