03. The Covenantal Principle

CHAPTER THREE The Covenantal Principle a, Definition of a covenant.

1. An agreement or a contract between men or between men and God.

(a) God, in grace, undertakes to do things for men.

(b) A compact or fetter – that which binds together.

2. Kinds of covenants in the Bible.

(a) Conditional – depends upon man.

Exodus 19:5 – "If ye will obey" – Formula.

(b) Unconditional – depends upon God.

Genesis 9:11 – "1 will" – Formula.

3. Not every covenant has its sign-only four.

Noahic – the rainbow Mosaic – the Sabbath Abrahamic – circumcision (unconditional) Davidic – The Son b. Divisions.

1. Edenic Covenant.

(a) Constitution of the covenant – Genesis 1:28-30; Genesis 2:15-17.

Orders life of man in Eden – his relationship to God.

(b) Contents of the covenant.

(1) Man is responsible – to replenish the earth.

(2) To subdue the earth to the needs of the human race.

Possibly this means the forces of the earth as well as the beasts.

(3) To have dominion over the animals of the creation – Psalms 8:3-9.

(4) To restrict himself to a vegetable diet. This command has been changed.

(5) To dress the garden. Before the fall, this would be an easy task.

(6) To keep the garden. "Keep" means to guard or protect, and implies a warning against an enemy who might appear.

(c) Conditions of the covenant (IF).

(1) To abstain from eating of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

(2) Failure to do this resulted in physical death.

(d) Conclusion of the covenant.

Expulsion from the garden.

2. Adamic Covenant.

(a) The Constitution of the covenant.

Made with Adam in Eden, before the expulsion. It is unconditional and consists of a curse and a promise – Genesis 3:14-19. To order life of man outside Eden.

Cherubim – Holiness of God.

Seraphim – Uncleanness of people of God.

(b) The Contents of the covenant.

(1) The curse of Satan – 3:14.

(2) The judgment on the woman – 3:16.

[a] Multiplied conception.

[b] Maternal sorrow.

[c] Subordination to man, the headship being invested in man.

(3) The judgment on the man – 3:17. The ground is cursed for his sake, and he must labor for his living.

(4) The curse on creation – 3:18.

Caused to bring forth thorns, thistles, etc., and all things which tend to make cultivation difficult.

See Genesis 3:17, Sorrow – toil.

(5) The promise – 3:15.

(c) The Conclusion of the covenant.

Runs on to the renovation of the earth by fire.

3. Noahic Covenant.

(a) The constitution of the covenant – Genesis 8:20 to Genesis 9:17.

(1) Made with Noah after coming out of the ark. It is unconditional, and the rainbow is the sign.

(2) Noah is wiser than Adam, because he had seen that God could destroy as well as create. He and his family were not ignorant and superstitious, for they did not worship the ark, but worshipped God.

(3) Noah’s sacrifice was a sweet-smelling odor to God, and formed the basis of the Noahic covenant – Genesis 8:20.

(b) Contents of the Covenant.

(1) God promises that He will not again curse the ground – 8:21, 22. He recognizes the fact that man is in sin and cannot do anything but sinful deeds, and promises that He will not curse the ground because of this.

(2) He will not again destroy all the living by the water of a flood – 8:21, 22.

(3) The natural order of the seasons shall prevail.

(4) Men (Noah and his family) are commanded to be fruitful and replenish the earth – 9:1.

(5) Man again has dominion over the animal creation. The animals will fear man – Genesis 9:2-3.

(6) Their diet is changed to include meat, but as far as possible, it must be bloodless. (For physical good of man; blood is carrier of disease) – 9:4.

God is trying to impress 00 them the sanctity and holiness of blood; points forward to Christ. The Jews are very careful in this respect.

(7) The law of capital punishment is established – 9:6.

Lifting up the hand against man, made in the image of God, shows rebellion in the heart against God. This law has never been abolished.

Before this time the murderer was dealt with by God, but now is dealt with by man. In the days of the cities of refuge, a man found guilty was given over for punishment.

(8) This covenant included animal creation.

Beasts shall learn to prey upon each other.

(c) Conclusion of the covenant. The renovation of the earth by fire.

(d) Sign of the covenant, or the token of the covenant – bow in the cloud – Genesis 9:13-17.

4. Abrahamic Covenant.

(a) Constitution of the covenant. Genesis 12:1-3.

(1) A seven-fold promise, to which added information is given from time to time. Genesis 13:14-17; Genesis 15:1-18; Genesis 17:1-8.

(2) Condition of the world when Abram was called – Idolatry. Isaiah 51:1-2; Joshua 24:3.

(3) Abram’s home at the time when God called.

Ur of the Chaldees was a large, prosperous seaport, in one of the most productive regions of the world.

(4) The act of laying on the altar the five beasts and birds represents the Oriental method of making a covenant, whereas the present day method is to sign a paper – Genesis 15:8-15.

Each party to the agreement walked between the pieces of the animals. Abraham went to sleep, and God was the only One Who walked through.

(5) The slain beasts may typify the death of Christ, and the birds of prey the powers of evil trying to take away the efficacy of Christ’s death.

(b) Contents of the covenant.

(First given in Genesis 12:2-3, but additions and explanations were given from time to time.) (1) "I will make of thee a great nation."

[a] "Thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and as the stars of heaven ... I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee."

[b] This covenant made with a man, childless and aged.

[c] This nation was the Jewish race, and came through Isaac, the promised seed. In the days of David and Solomon, this was the great nation of the world and it is the miracle nation of all time.

[1] Today they number over 20 million, and have been preserved as a race for 4,000 years.

[2] They are the only nation which can trace its ancestry to one man, Abraham.

(Additions)

[1] Descendants of Ishmael – a wild man; "his hand will be against every man, and every man’s hand will be against him; and he shall dwell in the presence of his brethren."

[a] Ishmael was not the promised seed, but he was part of the promised multiplication of Abraham – Genesis 17:15-22.

[b] The descendants of Ishmael through his twelve so ns are the Arabian race or nation – 1 Chronicles 1:29; Genesis 25:16. The history of this nation is remarkable, and is another testimony of the truth of God’s Word.

[c] They have dwelt in the presence of the other nations, and have retained their freedom until this day.

[d] Their hand is against every man and every man’s hand is against them. In 622 after the rise of Mohammed, they left their desert home, and under the name of the Saracens, they conquered a large part of the civilized world, and 85 conquerors, every man’s hand was against them, and their hand was against every man.

[e] Their customs of living and dress have remained unchanged, and they are just like Ishmael. They are a wild people, living in tents in the desert.

[f] They can be accounted for only in God’s Word.

[2] Descendants of the sons of Keturah. There were six sons born to Abraham and Keturah, his third wife. Each of these was the head of a small nation. One of these was the nation of Midianites, from Midian.

[3] Spiritual descendants.

Abraham is called the father of the faithful.

(2) "I will bless thee."

[a] Spiritual blessing – Genesis 15:6.

[b] Temporal blessing – Genesis 13:14-17.

Lift up your eyes – northward – eastward – etc.

Genesis 15:18 – Property (Protection).

Genesis 24:34-35 – Possessions. The land of Palestine is one of the richest, and the Dead Sea contains chemicals worth billions of dollars.

(3) "I will make thy name great."

[a] Abraham’s name is next to the name of Christ, and occurs some 300 times in the Scriptures.

(4) "Thou shalt be a blessing."

He was a blessing to the people in his day; and through Christ, he is a blessing to the people of this day.

(5) "I will bless them that bless thee and curse him that curseth thee."

Other nations are mentioned only when they come in contact with the Jews – Matthew 25:40-41; Matthew 25:46.

(c) The sign of the covenant.

Circumcision of all males on the eighth day. This set them apart as a marked people. It was a mark of distinction of separation, of purity, and of possession – Deuteronomy 30:6; Jeremiah 9:25-26.

(d) Conclusion of the covenant-when the New Covenant was made.

5. The Mosaic Covenant.

Moses was the founder of a nation, not the father of a nation.

(a) Constitution of the Covenant. A covenant made to the people of Israel, through Moses, who chose to serve the people of his nation, rather than to retain his position of honor as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter.

(b) Contents of the Covenant.

(1) Commandments – the ten.

Moral law showing the righteous will of God, commanding condemnation and death. Matters of right and wrong in conduct. Ten commandments accompanied by 600 other laws that emanate from them.

(2) Civil Jaw.

Judgments given to govern the social life of Israel.

Camp life – sanitary laws, etc.

(3) Ceremonial law.

[a] Ordinances covering the religious life of Israel.

[1] Given to the high priest who was to rep resent the people with God, and to make sacrifices for the sins of the people.

[2] Not given at the same time as the Commandments were given. The Commandments were given first, and the people broke them before seeing them; so the ordinances were given because they needed atonement for their sins. In their act of breaking the first law, they broke them all. Moses’ act of breaking the tables of stone was a testimony to this fact.

[3] Priests and sacrifices established by command. These were substitutionary sacrifices for sin; for through sinning, the people deserved death, but God allowed the blood of the animals to be substitutionary.

(4) Spiritual laws. The whole law is deeply spiritual. It is based, as Christ taught, on love to God and man. Love to God inspires the first three commandments; love to man, the last seven. The fourth commandment, Christ tells us, belongs to the human side of the law – Mark 2:27.

Romans 7:14 – Law is spiritual. Christ and apostles based the gospel on the law.

Don’t condemn the law!

(c) Conditions of the Covenant (IF).

(1) Promise of blessing if they would obey the law-Exodus 19:5-6; Leviticus 26:3; Deuteronomy 28:1-4; Deuteronomy 29:9.

(2) Promise of punishment if they disobeyed His commandments – Leviticus 26:14-26; Deuteronomy 28:15-68; Deuteronomy 11:10-17.

Other Remarkable Fulfillments Showing How The Jewish Nation Has Been Persecuted As God Foretold.

1. Deuteronomy 28:49-50; Deuteronomy 28:53 – Most solemn chapter of Bible. Rabbis read each of five books of Pentateuch each year in synagogue, and when they come to Deuteronomy 28 they read very slowly and solemnly. Their cities were to become waste and desolate, and they were to be scattered among nations. They would become so desolate in the time of famine that they would kill and eat their own children. They would be crushed, and besieged, – and brought to the most awful extremities through famine. They would be sold into other lands, among their enemies, and they would find no rest for their heads.

1800 years later the enemy came. This was the Roman army, and they were swift as eagles, and as fierce. An eagle was their emblem. They spared neither age nor sex.

2. Deuteronomy 28:37.

’Thou shalt become an astonishment, a proverb, and a byword among all nations, whither the Lord shall lead thee." This name is "sheenie" and it is an interesting word, and no two dictionaries give the same derivation for the word. One says it came from the word "Sheen-Shaddaiah," but Robert Dick Wilson, a man who has studied languages, believes in the inspiration of the Bible and is an authority on the subject, says there is no doubt but what it comes from the word Sheninah or Sheenah (Heb. – "Sheenaw ’), which means a byword.

3. Deuteronomy 28:63 b.

"And ye shall be plucked from off the land whither thou goest to possess it." The first plucking came when Northern Israel was carried into captivity by the Assyrians under Sargon. The enemy did not take all at this time, however, but carried away only the best. Part of Judah also was taken into Babylonian captivity, but the larger portion was left. Forty years after the rejection of Jesus Christ, they were plucked completely off the land by the Roman nation. On August 5, 70 A.D. Jerusalem was destroyed. 1,000,000 people were killed, and 97,000 taken captive. In 135 A.D. the Jews arose in rebellion against the Roman ruler Hadrian, in a war that lasted 3½ years. 580,000 Jews were killed, and all Jews were expelled from the land and forbidden to return on pain of death. Hadrian tried to blot out the remembrance of even the name of Jerusalem by building another city on the site, and giving it another name.

Many Jews were sold into captivity as slaves, .and the country was completely cleared of its inhabitants, so that people from all the nations went in to live there. Jews did not dare to be found in the land of Palestine. Even as late as the 12th century, a Spanish Jew visited the country and found only about 200 Jews; and this was 1000 years after Rome overthrew Jerusalem. 3600 years ago God said Israel would be plucked off the land if she disobeyed, and it has been literally fulfilled.

4. Deuteronomy 28:64.

"And the Lord shall scatter thee among all people, from the one end of the earth even unto the other; and there thou shalt serve other gods ..... " In the old days when a conqueror subdued a land, he would transplant people from that land to another which he had conquered, and would bring people from the other land back to the first, thus mixing the two peoples. This was what happened in the case of the Samaritans; they are a mixture of Jew and Gentile. However, no foreign peoples were taken into Judah when the country was conquered by Babylon; for from that section was to come Jesus Christ, the Lion of the tribe of Judah. The Jews were not carried just into the conquering country, however, but they are everywhere. It is not so with any other people. No country on the face of the earth is without its Jews. They are citizens of the world, without a country; nothing has terminated their wanderings. There is nothing in the history of the world that can be likened to the dispersion of the Jews.

5. Deuteronomy 28:65-68.

They were to have no rest, no peace, but were to live in constant fear. This did not refer to the captivities; for they were not severely persecuted then. Since their dispersion, history bears witness to the completeness of the fulfillment of this prophecy. No other nation was ever treated like the Jews. It would take days to tell the history of the suffering of the Jews, to tell of the tortures, spoliations, and degradations, and this was all done by people under the name of Christianity. Several Jewish histories have been written: one of these is called "Valley of Tears." All the people of the earth are one in their hatred of the Jews. The Jews are surrounded by hatred and scorn.

(d) Conclusion of the Covenant. This covenant merges with the Palestinian Covenant, and ends with the restoration of Israel and the new heavens and new earth.

(e) The sign of the covenant – Sabbath Day.

(1) This was given to Israel and never to the Gentiles.

Romans 2:12-14 Exodus 31:12-18; Exodus 20:12; Exodus 20:20 Deuteronomy 5:12-15.

(2) Was given as a remembrance of the marvelous deliverance of Israel, but it would be wise for all nations to make an application and to rest one day in 7.

(3) The Sabbath day of the Pharisees was not pleasing to God – Christ did not change the Sabbath; it has passed away.

(4) Constantine did not change the Sabbath, but in 316 A.D. made a decree that all Christians observe the first day of the week. The early church observed the first day of the week. They spent the day in service to the Lord as Christ did. The Lord’s Day is not one to be spent in idleness, in riding, in religious entertainments, and discussion of worldly things. It should be a day of worship, of service of Bible reading, teaching, and Bible living. The Sabbath came to an end 1900 years ago when the Dispensation of Grace began. Laws of state have called Sunday a civil Sabbath. The Sabbath was a part of the law which is done away with in Christ. The Sabbath was not changed, but was displaced by the Lord’s Day.

Colossians 2:16 – To speak of the Christian Sabbath is confusion.

Revelation 1:10 – Lord’s Day.

"Sunday" or the "Lord’s Day" is a weekly celebration of the resurrection of our Lord from the dead.

(5) Christians rest not in a day, but in a Person.

6. The Davidic Covenant.

(a) The Constitution of the Covenant – 2 Samuel 7:8-19.

It was made with David, thru the prophet Nathan, 500 years after the days of Moses. Psalms 89 is a repetition of the covenant.

(b) The Contents of the Covenant.

Provided for a Davidic house. This did not mean that David was to build a house, all God had told him thru Nathan not to do this. This referred to a political house – to David’s posterity in the sense of an earthly kingdom thru his lion.

Provided for a Davidic throne – Davidic house V. 13 Chapter 7 – Royal authority, for the Messiah.

Provided for a Davidic kingdom – Vs. 16.

God has in mind, not Solomon, but Christ, of Whom Solomon is a limited type – 2 Samuel 7:14; Hebrews 1:8. This was an amazing revelation to David.

(c) The Sign of the Covenant.

(1) The Son of David – Luke 2:11-12.

"For unto you is born this day, in the city of David, a Saviour, which ..... "

[a] Promises concerning the Son.

[1] David would have a perpetual throne and a perpetual Son on that throne.

[2] Added revelation-This Son was to be a Man of two natures. He would be God and Man in one Person; would be David’s Son, but God would be His Father – Psalms 2:6-7; Psalms 45:6-7; Psalms 110:1.

[3] David’s Son would have two remarkable experiences. He would have a perpetual throne but –

He must go thru the experience of rejection, suffering, death, and resurrection before He would rule.

[4] David’s Son would have two thrones – Heavenly and earthly.

He will occupy His Father’s throne until the time comes for the overthrowing of His enemies. At that time He will take His own throne on earth – Psalms 68:18; Psalms 110.

[5] David’s Son was to have a two-fold sway – a priestly, as well as a kingly sway – Psalms 110:4. Not a priest of the Levites, but after the order of Melchizedek. David was not a priest, and could not be one, being of the tribe of Judah. Christ’s priesthood is a heavenly one, and His sway is over happy hearts as well as happy nations. The Priesthood in Hebrews is Christ on the throne.

[6] Kingdom of the Son to be set up by a two-fold act:

Descent of the Lord from heaven.

Judgment upon His enemies.

He will govern Israel and have dominion over the land of promise. This present spiritual kingdom is not the kingdom spoken of here.

[7] Kingdom has two-fold aspect. The coming of the King to earth will mark the introduction of this kingdom – Psalms 96:9-10; Psalms 98:9.

He will rule the Jewish nation, and also will have universal rule. – Psalms 78:8-11. (d) Condition of the Covenant – 2 Samuel 7:14.

It was unconditional! God said, "I will."

(e) Conclusion – forever.

7. The Palestinian Covenant. A continuation of the Mosaic covenant.

(a) The Constitution of the Covenant – Deuteronomy 30:1-10.

Established in view of the worldwide dispersion of the Jews. (Because of disobedience) – Vs. 1.

(b) Contents of the Covenant.

(1) Promises return of the Lord, following the repentance of the people.

(2) Promises regathering of the people from among the nations, and their restoration to their own land, after the return of the Messiah – vs. 3.

(3) Promises conversion of Israel.

(4) Promises judgment upon the nations which persecuted Israel (See Abrahamic Covenant).

(5) Promises great blessing and prosperity for Israel.

(e) Conditions of the Covenant. The repentance of scattered Israel, "IF" – v. 10.

(d) The conclusion of the Covenant.

Ends with the new heavens and the new earth.

8. The New Covenant.

Resurrection – eternal completeness – Jeremiah 31:31 and Hebrews 8:8. Made with the House of Israel, a continuation or a repetition of the Mosaic Covenant. It is in contrast with the Old Covenant.

(a) Constitution of the Covenant – Jeremiah 31:31-34.

(1) Written or predicted by Jeremiah, the weeping Prophet. God not only promises judgment, but also restoration and inward renewal; and this is in connection with the new covenant – Matthew 26:27-28; Hebrews 8:6-13; Genesis 15.

(2) The blood of Christ is the blood of the new and everlasting covenant. "This cup is the New Testament (covenant) in my blood." The covenant is made strong through the blood of Christ.

(3) It is made with Israel, as was the Old Covenant.

(4) The first one came at Sinai; the second at the death of Christ on the cross – Hebrews 7:27; Hebrews 9, 10.

(5) Israel has no priest, no temple, no sacrifice, and has been perplexed for 18 centuries, because she does not understand that the Old Covenant has been set aside.

(b) Contents of the New Covenant.

It was made with Israel and Judah, and is further explained in Hebrews 8:8-12.

(1) Promise of Sanctification.

[a] There is a great difference between the law written on tables of stone, as in the Mosaic Covenant, and that written on the heart. The Old Covenant commanded obedience, but gave men no power to do or not to do. The law never gives the power to obey.

[b] In the New Covenant the law is written in the heart of man, and there will naturally follow a heart of obedience. A man will do under grace what he never will do under law.

(2) Promise of the knowledge of God.

[a] Not necessary to teach men, because all shall know God, from the least to the greatest. This knowledge is the greatest need in the world.

[b] In the first chapter of Romans men knew God at the beginning, but did not want to know God. In order to do God’s will, one must know Him. To know God one must study His Word. The living Word is the manifestation of God; the written Word is the revelation.

Christians enjoy all the fullness of the new covenant, but it was made with the Jews – Ephesians 2:11-20.

We come into the blessing through union with Christ, Who is the High Priest and Mediator of the covenant.

(c) Conditions – none.

(d) Conclusion – Runs beyond millennium to new Heaven and new earth.