(Jer 24:7 NIV)

(2 Cor 6:16 NIV)

We live in an age of few covenants. In ancient times, covenants were more common, although they have never been "common". Covenants could be forged between (i) a Ruler and his people, (ii) one person with another person, and (iii) one nation with another nation. All Christians should understand the nature of ancient covenants because we are saved on the basis of a covenant that God has made with us.

1. What is the difference between a covenant and a contract?

2. In Genesis 31:44-54 Jacob and Laban form a covenant. In that passage you will notice the ingredients of an ancient covenant. Note the references to each of the aspects of the covenant they forged:

_____________________________________________________

• They agreed upon the terms of the covenant: ___________________________
• They agreed upon the penalty for breaking the covenant: __________________
• Their covenant was witnessed formally by others: _______________________
• They sealed the covenant by shedding blood: ____________________________
• They celebrated their newly formed covenant: ____________________________

Jacob and Laban would have both benefited from their covenant. Part of their agreement would have included pledges to honour, protect, provide for, and defend each other. This is an example between two equal parties. In Genesis 15 we see a different type of covenant, although the elements of the covenant were essentially the same.

3. We stated at the start of this study that there were three types of covenants. Jacob and Laban’s was the second type. What type of covenant was forged in Genesis 15, and what elements of the covenant are evident?

_____________________________________________________

4. On the night Jesus was betrayed, He revealed what He was doing. Note what He said He was doing in Luke 22:19-20.

_____________________________________________________

For those who want to dig a little deeper into the nature of covenants you might like to investigate the difference between a testament and a covenant. Our Bibles are generally referred to as the Old Testament and the New Testament. But if we are to be technically correct, we should actually refer to the Bible as the Old Covenant and the New Covenant. In Hebrews 9:16 a distinction is made between covenants and testaments.

(Heb 9:16 NKJV)

This is an interesting study in itself. Within a Testament there can be covenants. For example, a father might form a covenant with his son in regard to the family business that the son can be a joint partner. But he might also form a Last Will and Testament that makes the son the sole heir of the business. The Testament only takes affect when the Testator (the one who formed the Testament) dies.

5. Therefore, based on Hebrews 9:16, if God has formed a testament with us, what does that imply about the death of Christ? In other words, who must Christ have been if He is described as the Testator?

_____________________________________________________

We are in a New Covenant with God. Because of God’s covenant with us, He has committed Himself to protect, provide for, and defend us. When the ancients formed a covenant, they exchanged weapons as a symbolic act of saying that they would defend each other. Christ has also pledged to protect us (Psalm 91:10). They would also exchange parts of their names. In this way, Abram became Abraham and Yahweh (the Lord) became the God of Abraham. When enemies considered attacking someone they would have to think twice if they discovered that their potential enemy had a covenant-name with someone. When two parties formed a covenant with each other they would also surrender their rights to property and possessions to each other. In this way, they each belonged to each other.

6. How is this expressed in Song of Solomon 2:16?

_____________________________________________________

7. What are some of the benefits that you can see from being in covenant with God?

_____________________________________________________

8. We see from Jeremiah 31:31-34, that God was longing for the New Covenant to commence. How is the New Covenant different to the Old Covenant based on the Jeremiah passage?

_____________________________________________________