Covenant Theology Part 1a

Listen here for Covenant Theology Part 1a
Of Covenants in General:- Major Theme of Scripture: The Kingdom of God offered to man by way of covenant.Definition:Covenant is from the Hebrew [ber-eeth] meaning to cut, and by extension means a promise or pledge to do something. "It is an agreement upon the promises concerning the relationship between two or more parties. In Biblical terms the covenant is the prime agency of God's self-revelation in history. God reveals Himself to be the covenant God. The essence of the covenant between God and man is "I will be your God, and you will be My people."Covenant makeup:Historical prologueNew orderStipulationsSanctionsAdministrationsTreaty Between Equals - PARITY COVENANT (bi-lateral)A. Partners in the covenant are called brothers.B. Stipulations:1. Acknowledgment of mutual boundaries.2. Return of each others run away slaves.C. Biblical Examples:1. Midianite Treaty - Exodus 182. Between King David and King Hiram - 1 Kings 5:1ff3. Genesis 21:27; 26:31; 31: 44-54; 1 Kings 15:19; 20:32-34.Treaty Between a Great King and a Minor King - SUZERAIN or VASSAL COVENANT1. Preamble - This included the titles and attributes of the Great King and serves to introduce the document.2. Historical Prologue - Summary of the relationship between the two kings and their ancestors. Actual historical events are cited, especially those that were benevolent on the part of the Great King.3. Stipulations:A. Exclusive relationship between the two kingsB. Hostility prohibited against other vassals of the Great KingC. Help in time of war - both waysD. Slander against the Great King reportedE. Return runaway slavesF. Vassal to appear yearly to renew the covenant and pay his taxesG. The covenant is to be written down and placed in the temple of the vassalH. Covenant to be read periodically4. Blessings and CursesA. List of gods called to witness the documentB. Sometimes natural phenomena are also called as witnesses to the documentC. Curses go into effect if the covenant is broken and the Blessings if it is keptD. One of the blessings was usually a guarantee of the perpetual reign of the descendants of the vassal kingB. Biblical Examples:1. Gibeonite Treaty - Joshua 9-102. Covenant at Mt. Sinai - Exodus 20, Deuteronomy3. Davidic Covenant - 2 Samuel 74. Genesis 17:1ff; Ezekiel 17:13-18; Hosea 12:1.2 Kings 24:1, 1 Kings 17:3Treaty Between a King and a loyal servant - ROYAL GRANT COVENANTA. Royal Land Grants were given to a servant or subordinate for faithful or exceptional service to the king1. This type of covenant was usually perpetual with no specific conditions. It was, however, understood that the behavior of the heirs would continue to follow the original recipient's loyal example.2. Most covenants of this type contained the same kind of blessings and curses found in the Vassal Covenant with gods being called on as witnesses.B. Biblical Examples:1. Noahic Covenant - Genesis 9:8-172. Abrahamic Covenant - Genesis 15: 9-123. New Covenant - Jeremiah 31:31-444. Numbers 25:10-31; 1 Samuel 8:14; 22:7; 27:6; 2 Samuel 7:5-16; Esther 8:1.