Daily Meditations from John N N Ng'ang'a: Week of 14-20thth march, 2011..is old testament relevant to new covenant believers ?
Day 1
17 When the sun had set and darkness had fallen, a smoking firepot with a blazing torch appeared and passed between the pieces. 18 On that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram and said, “To your descendants I give this land, from the Wadi[e] of Egypt to the great river, the Euphrates— 19 the land of the Kenites, Kenizzites, Kadmonites, 20 Hittites, Perizzites, Rephaites, 21 Amorites, Canaanites, Girgashites and Jebusites.”
Now that we are Christian of the new covenant what dp we have to do with the old testament
someone has said that the new testament is in the old testament concealed…. snd the old testament is in the new testament revealed.
It means if you a new Covenant believer you still need the old testament in order to understand your covenant concealed
Does the Mosaic covenant has relevance today ?what relevance did it have to the old testament believers .
My thesis is that the covenant had significance to both the old testament believers and also to us of the new testament but not in exactly the same way .Actually the new testament without the new testament would be difficult to follow . I agree that the old testament is in the new testament ‘revealed’, while the new testament is in the old testament but ‘concealed’ . The bible is actually one unit and must be read as one .
Day 2
18 Those who have violated my covenant and have not fulfilled the terms of the covenant they made before me, I will treat like the calf they cut in two and then walked between its pieces
But WHAT IS A COVENANT?
The dictionary says that a covenant is an agreement, usually formal, between two or more persons to do or not do something specified. A Law then is an incidental clause in such an agreement. In the bible a covenant is the conditional promises made to humanity by God, as revealed in Scripture for example the agreement between God and the ancient Israelites, in which God promised to protect them if they kept His law and were faithful to Him.
Thus a covenant is a contract or agreement between two parties. In the Old Testament it is the Hebrew word _berith_ . _Berith_ is derived from a root which means "to cut," and hence a covenant is a "cutting," with reference to the cutting or dividing of animals into two parts, and the contracting parties passing between them, in making a covenant (Gen. 15; Jer. 34:18, 19).
Day 3
Genesis 26:29
29 that you will do us no harm, just as we did not harm you but always treated you well and sent you away peacefully. And now you are blessed by the LORD.”
Covenant in the old testament days involved :
(1) A statement of the terms agreed upon (Gen 26:29; 31:50,52).
(2) An oath by each party to observe the terms, God being witness of the oath (Gen 26:31; 31:48-53).
(3) A curse invoked by each one upon himself in case disregard of the agreement.
(4) The formal ratification of the covenant by some solemn external act.
A covenant, in the biblical sense, implies much more than a contract or simple agreement. A contract always has an end date, while a covenant is a permanent arrangement. Another difference is that a contract generally involves only one part of a person, such as a skill, while a covenant covers a person's total being.
Day 4
Numbers 18:19
19 Whatever is set aside from the holy offerings the Israelites present to the LORD I give to you and your sons and daughters as your perpetual share. It is an everlasting covenant of salt before the LORD for both you and your offspring.”
In the bible the covenant is at times called God's "counsel," "oath," "promise" (Ps. 89:3, 4; 105:8-11; Heb. 6:13-20; Luke 1:68-75). God's covenant consists wholly in the bestowal of blessing (Isa. 59:21; Jer. 31:33, 34). The term covenant is also used to designate the regular succession of day and night (Jer. 33:20), the Sabbath (Ex. 31:16), circumcision (Gen. 17:9, 10), but it also includes any ordinance of God (Jer. 34:13, 14).
When we talk of a "covenant of salt" we mean an everlasting covenant, in the sealing or ratifying of which salt, as an emblem of perpetuity, is used (Num. 18:19; Lev. 2:13; 2 Chr. 13:5)
The corresponding word in the New Testament Greek is _diatheke_, which is, however, rendered "testament" generally in the Authorized Version. This word is also used of a covenant or compact between man and man (Gen. 21:32), or between tribes or nations (1 Sam. 11:1; Josh. 9:6, 15).
Day 5
Galatians 3:15
15 Brothers and sisters, let me take an example from everyday life. Just as no one can set aside or add to a human covenant that has been duly established, so it is in this case.
Covenant include those agreements which tended to partake of the nature of a command; but the process could not readily be reversed.
A "Covenant" requires two independent contracting parties, which we assume to be similar humans beings and hence cannot apply to a covenant between God and man. A covenant between man and GOD must be essentially one of gratuitous promise, an act of pure grace on His part (Gal 3:15, etc.). So in Ps 89:28 "covenant" is explained by the parallel word "mercy." We see God's covenant not to destroy the earth again by water (Gen 9; Jer 33:20).
But the covenant, requires man's acceptance of and obedience to it. This follows mans f experienced of His grace.
Day 6
Genesis 17:7
7 I will establish my covenant as an everlasting covenant between me and you and your descendants after you for the generations to come, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you.
The mosaic covenant is recorded in Exodus 19-40, all of Leviticus, and also in Numbers 1-9 and it all takes place at Mt Sinai .
God's chosen people, Israel ,confirmed their covenant with God with oaths or promises to keep the agreement. At Mount Sinai, the nation of Israel promised to perform "all the words which the Lord has said" (Ex 24:3). When the people later broke this promise, they were called by their leaders to renew their oath (2 Kings 23:3). By contrast, God does not break promises. His oath to raise up believing children to Abraham (Gen 22:16-17) is an "everlasting" covenant (Gen 17:7).
This is a covenant between man and God. But the striking thing about God's covenant with His people is that God is holy, all-knowing, and all powerful; but He consents to enter into covenant with man, who is weak, sinful, and imperfect.
Day 7
Hebrews 8:5
5 They serve at a sanctuary that is a copy and shadow of what is in heaven. This is why Moses was warned when he was about to build the tabernacle: “See to it that you make everything according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.”[a]
The Old Covenant, or the Law, centered around the tabernacle and the related ceremonies and sacrifices. The earthly tabernacle was built under Moses' direction after the pattern of God's heavenly tabernacle. Therefore, the tabernacle served as an integral part of the Old Covenant. What the earthly tabernacle was to the Old Covenant, the true tabernacle in heaven is to the New Covenant (Hebrews 8:5-see note).
This Mosaic covenant is made with the nation Israel at Sinai (Horeb) (Ex 19:5; 24:7-8; 34:10,27-28, etc.), was ratified by a covenant sacrifice and sprinkling of blood (Ex 24:4-8). This covenant with the peculiar people of God, was accompanied by promises for obedience and penalties for disobedience. This covenant was renewed on the plains of Moab (Deut 29:1).
In these national covenants the individual had a place, but only as a member of the nation.Moses acted as the "mediator" ("go between") between Jehovah and the sons of Israel, but the covenant was actually with the house of Jacob, nation of Israel