Our God is a Covenant Keeping God!
Respecting Covenant is one of God’s main character traits!
Throughout the Bible, God tells us, He relates to mankind on the basis of Covenant!
“Lord God of Israel, there is no God in heaven or in earth like You, who keep your covenant and mercy with Your servants who walk before you with all their hearts. You have kept what you promised to Your servant David my father; You have both spoken with Your mouth and fulfilled it with your hand, as it is this day”.[ii Chronicles6:14]
In the Bible, God never initiates a new dispensation without first establishing it upon a blood covenant.
The Bible is generally divided into two parts: The Old Testament and the New Testament.
As we discovered earlier, these two sections of the Bible are also called The Old Covenant and the new Covenant
The new covenant is the covenant God made in the blood Of Jesus Christ!
When God made the covenant with Jesus Christ – the representative on behalf of the heavens and earth – God opened the door for all humans to enter into it by faith, under the Lordship of Jesus Christ. As seen below, in the covenant, the lesser/ weak party/ person is benefitted. By entering into the covenant with God – the creator of the universe – we get son-ship (legal heir) to His kingdom!
“We become the children of God, the heirs in His power, position, authority ……all are ours now – in Christ Jesus! (Rom 8:16, 17)
May we remind ourselves, 2000 years ago – on the mount Calvary – Jesus made it all – for us – and cried out loud…IT IS FINISHED!
A covenant is a kind of promise, contract, and binding agreement between two parties. Genesis chapter 15 reiterates the covenant God made with Abraham (his calling). Covenants were as common in ancient times as in modern times- between individuals/ tribes/ nations for business contracts/ international treaties/ legislative decisions.
All ancient covenants were very serious agreements with animal sacrifices (by blood). They were accompanied by the promise of blessings/ curses for obedience/ disobedience.
By going through this article we will know the procedure and significance for the partakers of the covenant!
Historically there were eight steps commonly used in ancient covenant ceremonies!
1. Pre-Ceremony Actions.
2. Selection of the Covenant representatives and cutting the covenant sacrifice.
3.Exchange of Positions – Robes, Belts & weapons.
4.The walk unto death.
5.Pronouncement of Blessings & Curses.
6.Seal of the covenant mark.
7.Covenant Meal.
8.Exchange of names.
God also chose to enter into a covenant to illustrate His commitment to His people. A brief summary in type & shadow contrast is given along for you to consider the biblical application of the same. Please refer my related articles on covenant for detailed study.
1.Pre-Ceremony Actions
Before the covenant is enacted the 2 parties discuss terms and condition as for the contracts and agreements made in business deals and companies……… The promises of blessings and the warnings/ penalties of curses are specified in the agreement.
The parties will weigh the advantages and disadvantages of the treaty and evaluate whether it is worth. They will assess whether the personal sacrifice demanded by the pact returns equal/ greater blessings!
Biblical-Application
Abraham had to leave his home and the natives! | Jesus had to leave the heaven and all its glory |
Go to the land which God shows to Him | God wants to save the Human race through Christ |
Abraham received the offer by faith in God | Jesus invited all men to be saved through Him by faith |
2.Selection of the-Covenant representatives-cutting the Sacrifice
Prior to entering into a covenant, a representative is chosen on behalf of each group (everyone), engaged in the pact. The two make the covenant that binds the entire group to the expectations of the covenant agreement.
As the ceremony starts, the representatives take the animal sacrifice and cut it down the middle – head to tail. The 2 pieces of the sacrifice were laid open with the bloody side facing upward. The representatives stand near the sacrifice.
Biblical-Application
Two covenant representatives were the Lord and Abraham. | Jesus – chosen by the Father, the representative of the father on behalf of heaven [Phi 2:5,8] and the Son of Man representing the mankind as well! |
God and Abraham entered into a covenant for the entire human race | Jesus is also the covenant representative on behalf of all mankind [Heb 2:17,18] |
God put Abraham into deep sleep! | Jesus cut the covenant on our behalf and we were the sleeping partners in Him! Enjoying all the blessing part! |
The Lord, passed through the pieces of the covenant sacrifice [Gen 15:17] | Jesus is the mediator of the New Covenant (Heb. 8:6). He is the go between God and man – Jesus Himself died on the Cross and established the covenant! |
3.Positions Exchange [Robes, Belts & Weapons]
Robe=Position, Belts=Strength, Weapons=Enemy |
Mostly the parties in the covenant exchange robes, belts, weapons or some other token as a symbol to show unity – no longer live independently – as one.
The exchange of robes – the putting on of each other, becoming one – is a kind of exchanging the position. Implying, I will give you all my assets and take all your liabilities. It signifies a new position, new character, and new authority.
The belt of the girdle is part of the armor – held the weapons in place, symbolizing means of strength – giving the covenant partner strength and taking his weaknesses.
Weapons are used to defeat the enemies – the responsibility and power to defeat the other’s enemies!
Biblical-Application
| Jesus left the heavenly glory and came to earth clothing Himself in the likeness of humanity (Phil. 2:5-7) |
| Jesus made the wonderful, royal robe of righteousness available to us [THE LORD MY RIGHTEOUSNESS] |
| Jesus exchanged the cross on our behalf! He redeemed, justified and made us Holy[Isaiah 53:4;9,1 Cor 1:30] |
| He defeated the Satan and gave us His victory [Rom 8:37 ,Luke 10:18] |
“It is because of Him that you are in Christ Jesus,1 who has become for us wisdom from God–that is, our righteousness,2 holiness3 and redemption…[1 Cor 1:30]
“Surely He[Jesus] took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God , smitten by him and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities, the punishment that brought us piece was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all![Isaiah 53:4-6]
4. The walk unto death!
To express seriousness, each party in the covenant “walk unto death” – walking around the pieces of the sacrificed animal. While they walk, they look unto heaven, saying something like “DO so to me as has been done to this animal if I break this covenant, If I fail to keep this covenant may I die even as this animal has died”. Each representative pledges to fulfill his obligation to the covenant or die trying to fulfill. Both parties vow unto death fulfilling the pact.
Biblical-Application
God Himself was the smoking oven and the flaming torch that passed between the pieces [Gen 15:17] | Jesus humbly made his way up to Golgotha to be crucified |
In essence, God was saying to Abraham “Let what has been done to this animal be done to me If I don’t fulfill my promise! | Jesus took the vow in the garden of Gethsemane “…My father yet not as I will , but as you will” [Matt 26:39] |
God is still faithful in keeping His covenant to the people in the land He has promised to them – Israel | In essence, Jesus was saying, “I will cut the covenant, I will walk unto death! |
The covenant ceremony was an answer to Abraham that how he would know that God will fulfill His promise? | Jesus paid the ultimate price of death for all who would enter into covenant with God – through Him! |
5. The pronouncement of Blessings & Curses
When the 2 parties stand in the middle of the sacrifice, each pronounces the terms of the covenant loud. They declare the blessings for obedience and curses for disobedience. The blessings – abundant harvest, prosperity, health, numerous children………..etc., and the curses – death, destruction, famine, defeat in the hands of the enemy etc.,
Jesus- the mediator and representative of the new covenant – on deciding (at Gethsemane) to die for mankind – took the walk unto death, to be crucified. On the cross, He announced all of our blessings and took all our sins curses and sicknesses….
Biblical-Application
Jesus’ Sacrifice! | Our Covenant Blessing! |
1. Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing! | Our sins are forgiven |
2. Today you shall be with me in paradise | Eternal life – through Jesus |
3. Woman, behold your son | A new family in the body of Christ |
4. My God My God why have you forsaken me! | So that we can call God “Abba! Father” |
5. I thirst! | Ancestral curse reversed! |
6. It is finished! | Grace! We are Justified! |
7. Father I commit My Spirit to you! | All Blessings are secured! |
6 The mark/ seal of the covenant mark
The covenant partners seal the covenant by drinking wine mixed with few drops of blood of each representative (by cutting their wrist/ forearm/ leg). They drink this to finalize the covenant. Remember the Jewish law prohibited drinking of blood, so the biblical covenants often were sealed with the drinking of wine (symbolizing blood).
(The sharing of wine with cheers and cutting cakes in marriages/ parties are all derived from this covenant system.)
Apart from taking the blood by incision, the covenant partners make the incision to have a permanent scar (rubbing in the incision with some herbs) – a public reminder that the two are covenant partners.
Biblical-Application
God instituted circumcision as a sign of the covenant | Jesus shed His blood at the cross. | |
The shedding of Abrahams blood in circumcision sealed the covenant | Jesus still bears the marks of the new covenant in His nail pierced wrists, feet and side | |
Abraham’s descendants enter the covenant, by circumcision | His shed blood, obtained eternal redemption for mankind (Heb.9: 11-12) | |
7. The exchange of names
The exchange of names was more than an external symbol – the exchange of personality, character, reputation, essence and authority – 2 become 1.
God changed Abram’s name to Abraham and Sarai to Sarah[Gen 17:5-15] | Jesus said “I have manifested your name” (John 17:6) |
God’s Name – YUD HEI WAH HEI -YAHWEI | We are promised that we can ask anything in Jesus name, and will have it! |
He gave His grace- the word “HEI” to both Abram & Sarai – and made them Abraham & Sarah! | Jesus, The Grace, dwell in our heart! The body of Christ |
8. The Covenant meal
Finally, the sealed covenant was celebrated with covenant meal. The meal included bread and wine, representing the body and blood of the covenant partners. As they celebrate the meal, they conclude declaration to live as one – final vows to live for each other. The 2 parties and all they represented were viewed as one.
God had the covenant meal with Abraham & Sarah [Gen 18:5-10] | Lord’s supper is the New covenant meal![Luke 22:14-20],The marriage supper of the lamb is awaited for the new covenant believers![Rev 3:20] |
“Because of the blood of my covenant with you, I will free your prisoners from the waterless pit, return to your fortress, oh PRISONERS OF HOPE – even now I will restore twice as much to you! Declares the Lord![Zechariah 9 :11-12]
This very verse inspired me to study the Gods covenant – with me!!
I received this word (in Bible) when I was in deep distress about my brother. God opened the very power of His covenant and the benefits and blessings which we have in Christ Jesus, when we trust in Him!
The very Good News about Gods new covenant in Jesus Christ is that, WE ARE THE BENEFICIARY PARTY RECEIVING ALL THE BLESSINGS OF THE COVENANT! Because, on behalf of mankind, Jesus has taken all the bad (evil) He didn’t deserve, on the cross, and He gave all the Good we don’t deserve! We were in Christ when God made the covenant, in Him! God’s love made it happen! Not only are we blessed, but our children and their children are blessed (when we are in Christ!)
An amazing deal! The grace of God! Lord, He deserves the Glory, Praise and the Honor! You are my Lord and My Savior!
I invite all to enter into covenant -with the very God – and enjoy the inheritance – of His Righteousness!! Shalom!
