Introduction

Long ago, the world recognized the value of covenants. This recognition has been carried over into the modern age. All divisions of Christendom have realized that the New Covenant is the basis for their salvation. They have observed the Communion Table as commanded by our Lord, for He said, “…this do in remembrance of me” (Luke 22:19 KJV).Communion should be an act of worship. To some people, it may have become an act of tradition.

In this book, we shall examine what ancient covenants were and study covenants made between God and humanity. We will then be better prepared to understand what the covenants mean for people living in our generation.

Chapter 1

Covenant Information

What do the majority of people think about when they hear the word Bible? For some, it may be a historical book, and so it is. It details the origin of all things, including; the human race; and zeroes in on the Hebrew nation. Why the Hebrew nation? Because God needed to build a nation into which He could send a Redeemer. It could have been any nation. God was looking for someone who would obey Him, and He found that man in Abram. Abram was the founding father of the Hebrew nation Israel. Since obedience was what God wanted, and Abram obeyed Him, God chose to start a new clan of people fathered by Abram. The Bible, however, is much more than a historical book. It tells the future as well as the past. It is a book containing covenants that are displayed over the years in several separate encounters of God and men.

Views Concerning Covenants

In ancient times all covenants were written in the language understood by the people of that day. Can this become a problem for some in our modern society? It can be challenging to recognize the relationship among various covenants and how they built one upon the other as time progressed. History has shown that many of the promises in biblical covenants have been fulfilled. Some have not as yet, but they will happen at God’s appointed time in the future.

Our societies were founded on legal systems, which agree that all people are created equal. Therefore, everyone deserves justice in all judicial courts. People are rewarded for doing right and punished for doing wrong, which is a purpose of covenants. We understand the biblical covenants by examining the covenants of the ancient eastern people, yet biblical covenants are also old eastern covenants. All covenants go back to the same source, the one established between one man, Adam, the father of the human race, and God, the creator of the human race. The key to establishing peace within any covenant has always been obedience to the covenant rules. This principle is demonstrated daily in our modern societies through promotions and demotions. By examining the contents and structure of the ancient covenants, we can determine how they affect people’s lives in our modern civilization. We live in a world governed by covenant principles that date back to antiquity.

Covenant Basics

Many theologians agree that the word “covenant” comes from the Hebrew word b^erit, which means “to bond, or fetter” This definition gives a judicial meaning to the term showing that there will be consequences if it is broken. Theologians also associate the word covenant with the root word krt, which means “to cut.” This definition lines up closely with the animals that were slain for a sacrifice in restitution for sin, as described in Exodus. It also aligns with the term still in use today— to cut a deal.

The words “contract,” “covenant,” and, occasionally, “treaty” are sometimes used interchangeably by people who believe they mean the same thing. Although similar, in the biblical context, they are not the same. All of them involve a system of rewards that include promises, benefits, and penalties, but there are significant differences between the three.

A biblical contract was a legal agreement. It was usually made between two or more people involving lands, goods, or services for a monetary or other agreed-upon exchange. An example of this can be found in Genesis 23, where Abraham purchased a cave for a burial ground for his deceased wife, Sarah.

A biblical treaty was also a legal agreement. It was frequently made between nations, tribes, or families following a time of disagreement. These treaties usually involved stipulations agreed upon by both parties. Their aim was peaceful relationships in the future, even though both may still be emotionally distant. An example of this, called a treaty, can be found in Genesis 21. Abraham had been involved in a dispute with the servants of Abimelech over a well. Modern nations end a war with a treaty.

A biblical covenant was also a legal relationship. It involved two or more people in an agreement of trust in which both parties made promises in advance to do or refrain from doing certain activities. The covenant may or may not involve friendship. An example of this is the covenant David made with Jonathan (I Samuel 18). Both agreed to care for the family of the other should anything happen to them.

In biblical covenants between God and man, it was always God who initiated the covenant. He made the laws and rules that governed the lives and behavior of His people. His covenants involved the judicial laws and the religious aspect and the nation’s social activities described in the Mosaic Law in both Exodus and Deuteronomy. The covenants God made were given in a spirit of friendship and love, not control.