The Mosaic Covenant In The History Of Ancient Israel

Examining areas of the history of ancient Israel, one can see how the influence of the Mosaic covenant is seen “as a legalistic covenant, in which you are saved by keeping the laws” (Shepherd, 2000), and the Decalogue dictated the boundaries God was setting for His Nation, where there is no room for doubt or defiance being tolerated. The literary theme from the Pentateuch emerges in the writings of Isaiah, Micah and Jeremiah as prophetical books which were written relating to the spiritual issues of the southern kingdom of Judah (Israel). These three prophets used these Mosaic covenants and the Decalogue in their critique regarding the rebellion of Israel.
The Nation of Israel was God’s chosen nation in which the people were under the theocratic rule where the rules and promises were dictated to the people within the Mosaic covenant and the Decalogue. But the people of Israel were a rebellious nation, full of sin and revolt. They were to be God’s chosen people who were given simple guidelines, within the covenant God
made with them, to provide them with a wonderful life which would be full of blessings. The Israelites were seen as “rebellious and stiff necked” (Deut 31:27) and in the same verse Moses goes on and says to Israel; If while I am alive now, and you have been rebellious against the Lord, then how much more will you be after my death? The Mosaic covenant exposed how disobedient His people were and the laws within the Pentateuch were set to teach Israel how to have fellowship with God as sinful men. In, Exodus 19:4-6, Yahweh presents Israel with a unique and sobering challenge before revealing to the Mosaic covenant. The covenant caused them to be a distinct nation among the pagan nations of the world (Grisanti, 2002).
The Laws within the Pentateuch, which God gave to Israel, was to show God’s holiness and give an example for Israel’s holiness (clean or unclean). In Leviticus (11-15) the term clean or unclean is given to show Israel of the sin which is in every man and as result of this sin, not everything on earth is fit for worship of God. So Israel is being taught she must be holy, the same as God. Within the Pentateuch, God gives us the history of the development of the theocracy, until the end of Moses’ ministry and life, and then moment when Israel was about to receive her chosen land starts the history of Israel.
The literary themes from the Pentateuch appear in the writings of Isaiah dealing with the sins of the people of Judah, while telling what the people were guilty of: Judah’s rejection of repentance when chastened by God and Judah’s strict continuation of religious ceremony when the hearts of the nation were far away from God. “Their land is also full of Idols; they worship the work of their own hands, that which their fingers have made” (Isaiah 2:8). Micah’s main idea from the Pentateuch was condemnation of Israel’s sin, a forewarning of judgment which is to appear as penalty for that sin, and a guarantee of mercy following the judgment when it has been fulfilled. Micah 1:2-9 tells us of the Lord coming down in judgment against Israel and Judah because of idolatry. In Micah 3:9-12 it reads about the first prophecy of Jerusalem being destroyed because of their sins. Jeremiah main theme referencing from the Pentateuch is one of punishment which was coming upon Judah because of her sin. In all of his messages of judgment, repentance was always implied as certain. But very seldom did Jeremiah issue an order of repentance from Judah.
Looking at the prophets Isaiah, Micah and Jeremiah, used the Mosaic covenant and the Decalogue in their critique of Israel to have show what Israel was doing wrong to receive the judgment from God at that current time, in order to receive a judgment or punishment from God. Restoration of His people, who were being sinful, and giving correction or critique was the key to what the prophets tried to teach God’s people and make them understand there needed to be a change. God showed different elements in the lives of the prophets allowing the teaching or correcting to come in different genres. Hosea reflected God’s love, Jeremiah was often called the “weeping prophet” (Jeremiah 9:1) and Isaiah’s message was more evangelical being he taught of the redemptive work of the coming Messiah because of the collective problems of Israel.
The people of the nation of Israel throughout the Old Testament, continued to reject the laws within the covenant of God, regardless of the messages which were delivered by the prophets.“To understand the Mosaic Covenant, one must keep in mind a number of general concepts concerning biblical covenants.
Firstly, all biblical covenants were promulgated by the divine Suzerain on behalf of His vassal-people. The authority of the covenants resides in Him and Him alone—He is Lord. Secondly, the covenants appear to have been promulgated at times of crisis or change when God’s people were upon the threshold of the unknown” (Barrick., 1999). The Pentateuch contains revelations, and foundations which God set forth through chosen prophets to communicate with the people. In these books we can see how God set up the structure of a theocratic society which the Latter Prophets and Minor Prophets follow up with correction and the promise of redemption from
God.
In conclusion, the recording of the history of Ancient Israel was one of theocratic decline, when one examines the people’s hearts in Israel’s kings and nation. There seem to be fewer acknowledgment of God being the ruler of Israel. His prophets, during the time of decline, pointed the way to what was lying ahead in the future. This down fall of Israel did not change the plans and purpose in which God had for his Nation and the world. The history of Ancient Israel and the words of His prophets, directs everyone to the Day of the Lord in which the Messiah returns to earth.