The Covenant

The Covenant

The term “covenant” simply means “an agreement.” Sometimes this agreement is between individuals, sometimes companies, sometimes governments. The Holy Bible speaks of a “Covenant” in many places. In this respect, the term “covenant” is defined as “an agreement between God and his people in which God makes certain promises and requires certain behavior from them in return.”

One of the earlier mentions of a covenant associated with God is in the book of Deuteronomy, sometimes called the fifth book of Moses. As this scene unfolds, Moses has called the tribes of Israel together in a great convocation to receive very important instruction. “And Moses called all Israel, and sayd vnto them, Heare, O Israel, the Statutes and Iudgements which I speak in your eares this day, that  ye many learne them, and keepe them and doe them. The Lord our God made a couenant with vs in Horeb.” Deuteronomy V. 1, 2.

Moses is reminding the people that God has made a Covenant, or an agreement, with them. This covenant took place at “Horeb,” nearly forty years prior. This is found in the book of Exodus, chapter XIX, vss. 5 & 6, when God says, “Now therefore if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keepe my couenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure vnto me aboue all people: for all the earth is mine. And ye shall be vnto me a kingdome of Priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speake vnto the children of Israel.” Something really important is getting ready to happen. When Moses gathered the Elders together and explained God’s offer to them, the children of Israel responded in agreement. “And all the people answered together, and said, All that the Lord hath spoken, we will doe. And Moses returned the words of the people vnto the Lord.” Exod. XIX. 8. After Moses explains the seriousness of the upcoming event, that the mountain is to be condoned off, that they are not to venture onto the mountain, that they are to clean up as if they are going to church and get their hearts in order. Something big is getting ready to happen.

In the next chapter, Exodus XX, God gives Moses His side of the agreement. We recognize God’s side of the Covenant as the Ten Commandments, Exodus XX. 2-17. These ten covenantal agendae establish ten points of behaviour through which God can recognize his people. God says, I would like to be your only God. Could you do that for me? I would like for you not to worship worldly things. Can you do that? There is a certain reputation associated with a man’s name. It’s important that your name stay free from taint. My name is pure. Could you speak it with respect? At creation, I set aside one day as a special day to be with my people and them with me. Would you share that one day with Me? Could you respect your parents? Could you remember that life is sacred? Could you be faithful to those you love? Could you love enough not to take what does not belong to you? Could you be honest in your dealings with me and your neighbors? Could you be satisfied with what I have given you in love?  People do tend to try to think the best of themselves and their potential behaviour and God’s side of the deal seems reasonable, and “all the people answered together, All that the Lord hath spoken, we will doe.”

Let us go back to Deuteronomy V, forty years later, when Moses is reminding them of their Covenant with God, their agreement, and just to clarify God’s side of the deal he repeats the ten points of the Covenant. In verses 6-21, Moses reminds them of what God expects of them. Ten simple points, and ends the chapter with the following admonition. “Ye shall obserue to doe therefore, as the Lord your God hath commanded you: you shall not turne aside to the right hand, or to the left. You shall walke in all the wayes which the Lord your God hath commanded you, that ye may liue, and that it may be well with you, and that ye may prolong your dayes in the land which ye shall possesse.” Deut. V. 32, 33.

For over two hundred years, the children of Israel had been slaves in Egypt. I do not know if they had the business acumen to wonder what we all wonder when engaging in a covenant; “What’s in it for me?” But if they did wonder that, God was quick to explain how could benefit from this covenant.

“And it shall be that when the Lord thy God shall haue brought thee into the land which hee sware vnto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Iacob to giue thee, great and goodly cities, which thou buildest not.” Deut. VI. 10. God says, I know it takes a long time to build up a home when you go to a new place. There are so many things needing done, but don’t worry. I have cities already built that will be yours for the taking. “And houses full of all good things which thou filledst not, and welles digged which thou diggedst not, vineyards and oliue trees which thou plantedst not, when thou shalt haue eaten and be full.” Deut. VI. 11, 12.

In chapter VII, Moses reminds the people how God loves them, How he wants them to prosper, how special they are to Him. “Wherefore it shal come to passe, if ye hearken to these iudgements, and keepe and do them: That the Lord thy God shall keepe vnto thee the Couenant and the Mercy which he sware vnto thy fathers.

          “And hee will loue thee, and blesse thee, and multiply thee: Hee will also blesse the fruit of thy wombe, and the fruit of thy land, thy corne, and thy wine, and thine oile, the encrease of thy kine, and the flockes of thy sheepe, in the land which hee sware vnto thy fathers to giue thee.” Deut. VII. 12, 13

          “And the Lord will take away from thee all sicknesse.” v. 15. Now, as an increasingly aging hexagenarian, I think that’s big.

          Moses, in a recapitulation of God’s side of the Covenant, puts it this way. “And now Israel, what doeth the Lord thy God require of thee, but to feare the Lord thy God, to walke in all his waies, and to loue him, and to serue the Lord thy God, with all thy heart, and with all thy soule,

          “To keepe the Commandments of the Lord, and his Statutes, which I command thee this day for thy good?” (ital.supplied)

          Why would they not want to be Covenant Keepers?