Covenants

What is a Covenant? A covenant is an agreement between two groups with rules, promises, and stipulations that each group must do. Covenants were legal agreements, often between a stronger group (such as a King) and a weaker group. Covenants were a common form of justice and law within the Ancient Middle East. (Similar to ancient suzerainty treaties.)

What is a Covenant? All covenants had conditions—obligations which must be performed. Keeping the conditions of the covenant had blessings or advantages while breaking the covenant had curses. We find two types of covenants in the Bible: Conditional Unconditional

Conditional Covenants Conditional: Both parties need to keep the terms of the covenant. The one who breaks the terms is subject to curses and the punishments outlined in the covenant.

Unconditional Covenants Unconditional: the more powerful party will always keep the conditions of the covenant even if the weaker party fails at keeping the terms.

Why would God make a covenant with humans?

He wants a relationship with us! Woooo Hoooo!

Let’s look at the covenants in the Bible!

The Cultural Mandate- Adam and Eve This is not a specific covenant, but God’s promise to Adam and Eve does have promises, responsibilities, and consequences, just like a covenant.

The Noahaic Covenant Noah and the Flood God unconditionally promises never to destroy the earth with a flood again. The rainbow is a sign to demonstrate His promise.

The Abrahamic Covenant- Abraham into a Nation God unconditionally promises to make Abraham’s family very large and to give that family the land of Canaan (modern day Israel).

The Mosaic Covenant- The Law This is a conditional covenant. This is where the Old Testament laws and regulations can be found. God promised to take care of Israel if Israel would obey this covenant. They did not so they often suffered for it.

The Davidic Covenant- A King for Israel God promises to King David that his descendants will be Kings. This ultimately becomes true as Jesus is a descendant of King David, and He is the King of the Universe.