Covenant Essay

Covenant Essay-Final Draft

September 12, 2013

By Scott Trowbridge
BIB – 351
Professor Shane Kraeger

Covenant Essay B’rit (Berit) its Hebrew word translated to into English meaning “covenant” and its original development is uncertain, (Zondervan Illustrated Bible Dictionary, (20110, (p. 315). This Old Testament word provides possibly two types of legal relationships in the Old Testament. Looking back into the days of Abraham and Moses; one could see covenants, first between men (human beings), who both accept the terms and agreements for said arrangements, and the is what could be considered a horizontal relationship. Second, we can look on the covenants made with Abraham and Moses as a vertical relationship, as God appears from heaven to make agreement(s) with His chosen man, Israelites with Old Testament cultures and languages. Hopefully one can see that a covenant between God and one’s self; should be a walk and not a work.
A covenant could be used in a few different ways in the Old Testament; starting with friendship(s) (1 Samuel 18:3-4), marriage according to (Malachi 2:14) to name a few. Second, is a disposition from one side by a more superior party such as God or a king, like in (Ezekiel 17:13-14), or when God “commands” his servants to obey, (Joshua 23:16) “Covenant of Works” used sometimes, probation was placed on Abraham giving meaning to life should prove him faithful. Third, when God imposed reconciliation between Himself and sinners (Deuteronomy 7:6-8), and God’s earliest covenant between Himself and Abraham (Genesis 17:7). “Synthḗkē”, is a Greek word for covenant also and the Septuagint avoided this word due to its other meaning in Greek; “contract” thus stating both parties are equal with one another, (Zondervan Illustrated Bible Dictionary, (20110,(p. 315). God was not the only one issuing covenant’s with people. Pagan gods participated in covenant practices, as pagan covenants differed from God because God remained in His own covenant. In an article, Foster “The Missiology of Old Testament Covenant” (2010), refers to pagan gods as “covenant keepers and makers”. Their enforced their own covenant like a football referee, said to not be a party to the covenants. God took over and created a covenant with His people; never leaving or forsaking His role or His promises He made unlike the practices of the pagans.
God’s biggest and major covenants were Abraham then Moses and the Israelites. Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus provide these accounts made with Abraham and Moses. Covenants just did not cover these two great patriarchs of our time, however covenant covered and provides for their sons and families to live long and prosper through God on their journeys; to settle land, grow a people, free their own people and when the people turned away from God; He used these men to bring them back to a relationship with Him. He first made covenant with Abraham (Abram) when He called him from his land he had only known, his father’s house and everything Abram knew to be his comfort zone, (Genesis 15). God had Abram go to the land of Canaan where God would begin to work in Abram and his family that from God through (Abram) Abraham would lead a people, grown a nation and more; all beginning at the age of seventy-five years old. Abram (Abraham), as humans are is weak in his faith; however God is patient on several occasions and consults with Abram to begin fresh. Abram (Abraham), is said to have taken his wife Sari whose name would become Sarah and Abram’s brother Lot with him on His journeys.
Gods mercy and grace pours over Abraham and his family, when God Sarah and blessed her with child as God had promised. Abraham was one-hundred years old when Abraham and Sarah’s son Isaac was born. God checked Abraham’s devotion by asking Abraham to sacrifice his only son to Himself, (Genesis 22). Abraham did as God asked and took his only son to the land of Moriah and up to the mountains; to sacrifice Isaac as a burnt offering to God. As Abraham was ready to sacrifice Isaac; the Lord interceded, and provided Abraham with a lamb in a thicket to use as a burnt offering. God knew Abraham was a man after Gods heart and was a faithful and just servant to God. Moses proved to be of the same caliber man, Abraham was. Moses comes on the scene with his birth (Exodus 2:1ff), and from his birth; his mother, a Levite woman knew he was special and hid him in the reeds for three month from Pharaoh. Moses’ mother weaves a basket of reeds cover it in pitch, and places Moses in the basket by the river to be found. Moses is found by Pharaohs daughter and Gods greatness is shown, while the sister of the daughter leaves the scene to find a Hebrew woman to nurse and provide for the Moses. Moses’ mother is the Hebrew woman found, to nurse and raise him.
God, His grace and love pours over Moses throughout the Exodus accounts. As God Himself appears to Moses in a burning bush, He introduces Himself to Moses and begins to lay out what would become a legacy that trickles down through time; to our modern day. God has seen the affliction in His people, (Exodus 3:7-12) first hand and asks Moses to go to Pharaoh and ask for the Israelites to be freed. Thus begins a few of Moses’ excuse as the human he was. Moses provides several excuses to God why he could not be the right choice for the Jobs he is asked to do. God is slow and patient and Moses will take on the tasks asked of him. Moses returns to Egypt to see if his brethren are still living with his wife and sons, (Exodus 4:18-20) is the begging of it all. There would be much strife going back to such a place, as Pharaoh was not an easy ruler and did like the God of the Israelites. After many plea attempts from Moses and Aaron; Pharaohs heart grows harder and harder toward the people and will not release them. God ushers in the plagues. God now provides Moses with specific instruction on speaking to the people about a final plague that will surely be the release of the Israelites, (Exodus 11:1-10). Passover was given during the three days of darkness. This prepared the people for their exodus from Egypt.
God made His covenant with the released, Israelite people from Egypt because the people had lost their way of sorts. The covenant provides ten basic rules for living a holy and just life; known as the “Ten Commandments”, also known as the “Law of Moses”. These laws were to be kept holy and followed. The laws are passed down and relevant to the modern day and cross over into our modern day; daily walk with God. The “Ten Commandments” are also known as a Decalogue. This can be seen as precept or command given to a second party. Ten Commandments were or may be grouped into two categories, the vertical and the horizontal. Horizontal was mainly was mainly man’s relation with community and Vertical was man’s relationship with God. Secondary one might see the category with one exception, an interpretive plus the explanation (V12). The Ten Commandments can be seen as theology and a true form of worship, honoring God, the Sabbath, life, marriage, family, property, truth, and virtue are protected well.
The covenant also provided some very distinct laws for the unclean things in their lives. The covenant expresses the heart of all God’s revelation, for living holy and just under the law, and sacrificing in a way to honor God. Leviticus also provides two distinct ways for living holy and pure life for God, (Leviticus 11-16) Providing direct access to God and provides detailed Guidelines for practical holiness; a how to guide for being spiritually acceptable to God, by walking obediently with God, (Leviticus 17-27). Gods roll in a covenant is surly the best way to go for a purer way of living life. In another article, Barrick’s “International Bulletin Of Missionary Research” (2007); and Foster, “The missiology of Old Testament covenant” (2010); argue the parallel between new covenant theology and Old Testament covenants and that, “Evidence for the association of NCT with supersessionism includes NCT's claim that New Testament writers employ Old Testament texts in ways that the prophets never intended”. The covenant between God and His people the love of God poured out to a once oppressed people. God provided them with instructions for a life that held values as an individual, for a wife and family, parents, neighbors and a day to rest and honor God for them. Covenant is an Old Testament word that provides an individual with holy and just way to live for God and to have a relationship with Him. First, would be a two way covenant between two parties (human beings) who both accept the agreements and terms for said arrangements; otherwise could be looked at as horizontal rather than the Vertical relationship we have with God. Second, would be between God and His people, then covenant and its many definition to other Old Testament cultures and languages. Hopefully one can see that a covenant between God and one’s self; should be a walk and not a work. Covenants are a personal commitment to God alone and should prove as a walk with Him and not a work.

References
Douglas, J.D, & Tenney, M.C. (2011). (pp.314-317).
Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan
(2011). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan. NIV
Foster, S.J. The mission of the old testament covenant. (pp.
205-208). Missionary Research. Retrieved from http://ehis.ebscohost.com.library.gcu.edu:2048?eds/ pdsid=a6dcs6dd-39d3-470c-82cc-165/db3505b1@ sessionmgr13&vid=12&hid=115 Barrack, W. D. New Covenant Theology and The Old Testament Covenants. Retrieved from http://ehis.ebscohost.com.library.gcu.edu:
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