Intro to Covenants- Futile Ways Part I

“…knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers…” 1 Peter 1:18.

Ok, so since this was going to be a super long post, I broke it up into two parts. I believe understanding covenants brings about a deeper meaning to the text so I wrote a brief summary of the different covenants in the Bible and the type of covenant it was. Covenants were fairly common in the ancient world and the ones in the Bible follow the same pattern.

A Few Types of Covenants:

• Parity (equals)—This covenant is between two individuals or two nations. It is between “brothers”, or equals, for mutual respect and aid. Both take the oath, and it is a conditional covenant.

The Hittites were known for this type of oath. They would gash their forearm then grasp each other at the elbow allowing the blood to flow into the other’s wound. As the wound healed they would continue to open it to allow scaring. This was as much of a reminder for the individual as it was a warning to potential enemies. It said, “I am in covenant with someone. If you mess with me, you also mess with them.”

• Royal Grant—This is between a king and a loyal subject. The king takes the oath, and it is unconditional. An example of this would be a king giving a subject a gift of land for his service.
• Suzerain-Vassal—This is between a king and a subject, lord and a servant, or a father and a son. This is a conditional oath the vassal takes; occasionally the lord will swear an oath as well. The lord creates the oath and the vassal swears it. The lord claims sovereignty over the vassal and promises protection in exchange for loyalty, service and love.

Biblical Covenants:

• Adamic Cov’t: (Gen 2:15-17) This is a Suzerain-Vassal Covenant between God and Adam. If you eat of the tree you will die.
• Noahic Cov’t: (Genesis 9) This is a Royal Grant covenant between God, Noah and his descendants. God promises to never destroy the earth with a flood. The sign is the rainbow.
• Abrahamic Cov’t: (Genesis 15) This is a Royal Grant covenant between God, Abraham and his descendants. God promises land, offspring and blessings to Abraham and his descendants. The sign is circumcision. Here God took a man who did not know God, called him to a land He would show him, and promised to make him great. God saved Abraham by His grace. Much like Abraham, Christians are showered with God’s grace as well.
• Mosaic Cov’t (aka Sinaitic Cov’t, Old Cov’t):  (Exodus 19-24, renewed in Deuteronomy) This is a Suzerain-Vassal covenant between God and Israel. Israel swears the oath (Ex 24:3). Protection and blessings are promised if they are obedient and loyal. The sign is to observe the Sabbath. This is the most famous covenant of the Old Testament.
• Davidic Cov’t: (2 Samuel 7) This is a Royal Grant covenant between God and David. God promises a name, rest and successors.
• New Cov’t: (Jeremiah 31:31-40, Ezekiel 36:22-36) This is a Royal Grant covenant between God, Israel and Jesus’ followers. God promises forgiveness, an internal law written on your heart and the Holy Spirit.

In a sense it is a return to Eden, the true longing of every person’s heart. We all long to go back to the way it was pre-Fall. God takes a wicked person, a person with a heart of stone, and gives them a heart of flesh. He takes all of it, not part of it, and completely replaces their heart. We are given extreme grace.