17.5 Covenants Through History
August 2008
References and Notes:
Covenants of the Monarchy
Covenants of the Restoration
The “New” Covenant
After the Restoration
Summary
This chart is to show at a glance the relationship of the covenants to each other as well as their place in history. This is important in showing the "old" covenant at Sinai, and the "new" covenant spoken of in Jeremiah. The timing of the "new" covenant is also discussed.
Early History of the Covenants:| Given to: | Given by: | Bible Reference: | Comment: |
| Angels and unfallen men. | God | Genesis 1:26-28; 2:17; Matt. 19:17 | Universe governed by law. |
| Adam and Eve | God | Genesis 3:15 | Messiah promised |
| Noah and family | God | Genesis 6:18 | Build an ark |
| Noah & descendants | God | Genesis 9:8-16 | No more flood |
| Abram (Abraham) | God | Genesis 15 and 17 | Father of nations, land, blessing to all |
| Isaac | God | Genesis 3, 4, 24 | Descendants, land, a blessing to all. |
| Jacob (Israel) | God | Genesis 28:13-15,20; 35:11,12 | Descendants, land, protestion. |
| Israel in Egypt | God | Exodus 6:5-8 | Land, Deliverance |
| Israel at Sinai | God | Exodus 19:4-6 | An holy nation, ... |
| God; at Sinai | People | Exodus 19:8; 24:3-8 | Promised to obey |
| At Sinai - Restored | God | Exodus 34:10, 11 | I will do marvels |
| Phinehas | God | Numbers 25:12, 13 | Everlasting priesthood |
| Israel at the Jordan | God | Deut. 5:28, 29 | Take the land of Canaan |
| Joshua (for God) | People | Joshua 24:24, 25 | Dedication |
During patriarchal age and the early history of Israel the Bible records fourteen covenants. Twelve of these are repetitions of the everlasting covenant, "my" covenant or the "new" covenant. The "old" covenant at Sinai was made during this time. There was also a covenant made by Joshua with God. It is important to differentiate these covenants of human origin from "my" covenant or the everlasting covenant which are entirely given by God.
Covenants of the Monarchy:| Given to: | Given by: | Bible References: | Comments: |
| David | God | 2 Samuel 7:8-16; 23:3-5; 1 Chron 17:11-14; 2 Chron. 6:16. | The throne forever |
| Solomon | God | 1 Kings 9:4-7 | The throne forever |
| God | People; Asa | 2 Chron. 15:12, 13 | Repentance & Dedication |
| God | People; Jehoida | 2 Kings 11:17; 2 Chron. 23:16, 17 | Repentance & Dedication |
| God | Hezekiah | 2 Chron. 29:8, 10 | Repentance & Dedication |
| God | Josiah | 2 Kings 23:2; 2 Chron. 34:30-32 | Repentance & Dedication |
The age of the monarchies of Judah and Israel is a sad story of deepening apostasy culminating in the seventy years captivity. There were six covenants spoken of during this time. Covenants to David and Solomon were given by God and reminiscent of the everlasting covenant. There were four more good kings after Solomon, and four more covenants of human origin.
Were these four covenants of human origin derivatives of the everlasting covenant? Or were they more in line with the "old" covenant? In each case the people were serious in their desire to repent and to turn to God. The covenant at Sinai lasted only 40 days, while these four covenants lasted during the reign of the respected kings.
It would seem that these four covenants were times of repentance from idolatry and a recommitment to worshiping God. Each was effective for a time, and in calling for obedience each referred in part to "my" covenant given by God at Sinai, and to the ten commandments. Yet they were also faulty in the fact of their human origin.
From our standpoint today, it is hard to see how they could have done better. It is noted that several of the "good" kings were not able or willing to completely eradicate idolatry from their kingdom.
Covenants of the Restoration:| Given to: | Given by: | Bible References: | Comments: |
| Israel 712bc | God | Isaiah 42:1-7 | a Messianic Prophecy |
| Israel 712bc | God | Isaiah 55:3-5 | Call to repent. Messiah to come |
| Israel 698bc | God | Isaiah 59:20, 21; 60:1-3 | Gentiles shall come. Messiah |
| Israel 698bc | God | Isaiah 61 | Messiah. Salvation to Gentiles. |
| Israel 608bc | God | Jeremiah 11:1-10 | Warning, a call to the Sinai covenant |
| Israel 606bc | God | Jeremiah 31:1-40 | Gather, restore, New Covenant |
| Israel 590bc | God | Jeremiah 32:36-42 | Gathering, restoration, the everlasting covenant renewed |
| Israel 590bc | God | Jeremiah 33:17-26 | Throne of David re-established |
| God | Israel 595 | Jeremiah 50.5 | Repentance at the restoration |
| Israel 594bc | God | Ezekiel 16:60-62 | "My" covenant remembered |
| Israel 593bc | God | Ezekiel 20:33-38 | Gathering, plead for repentance |
| Israel 587bc | God | Ezekiel 34:20-26 | Salvation, peace, protection, blessing |
| Israel 587bc | God | Ezekiel 37:25-28 | Gathering, restoration, David’s throne |
| Israel 785bc | God | Hosea 2:14-23 | Restoration, peace, safety, chosen |
| God | People | Ezra 10 | Obedience, put away foreign wives |
| God | People | Nehemiah 9:38 - 10:39 | Repentance, restore temple services |
The "New" Covenant
The New Covenant is the best known of the covenants of the restoration. This term is very specific for the covenant described in Jeremiah 31:31-34. It is also a general term to describe the everlasting covenant of grace throughout history. There is some controversy over the timing of this covenant, and this is the subject of this study.
There were sixteen covenants related to the restoration. Fourteen were made during the captivity; one a prophecy of repentance and thirteen the promises of what God would do for them at the restoration. These were prophetic of the Messiah and of His covenant (P). The "new" covenant is one of the thirteen. The covenants of Ezra and Nehemiah were made by the people with God, and had immediate application.
Jeremiah wrote the promise of the new covenant after about ten years into the captivity. The people were in need of encouragement, and God promised a restoration and a renewal of the covenant at the end of the seventy years captivity. During the captivity there were fourteen promises of renewal as mentioned above. The context suggests that the "new" covenant is one of these promises of renewal.
Yet the wording of the "new" covenant is unique. This is discussed in the article #17, "The New Covenant."
By the time of the captivity, the religion and worship of Yahweh had degenerated. There were times when the people relapsed into frank idolatry. There were problems even when they repented. They increasingly focused on the sacrifices and ceremonies. The law became hedged about with numerous regulations, and parts of the law that "interfered with business" were bypassed. The Messiah, to whom the sacrifices pointed, was too often misunderstood or even forgotten.
In this setting, a renewal of the everlasting covenant of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob would in truth be a "new" covenant to the people. This chart gives the setting for this covenant, and offers a context to understand the meaning of "new." It also gives a background for a covenant that was frequently broken and offers some insight into the timing of the covenant. Please see the article #17, "The New Covenant."
The "new" covenant of Jeremiah 31:31-34 is also prophetic. Its immediate application is to the time of the restoration. It is also a Messianic covenant to be made by God at a future time. This is not unique, as the center of every covenant made by God is Jesus Christ. Its final application is in the New Earth of the redeemed!
After the Restoration: the Sinai Covenant reviewed.
| Given to: | Given by: | Bible References: | Comments: |
| Israel 487 bc | God | Zechariah 9:9-11 | Messiah, "the blood of thy covenant" |
| Israel 33 ad | God (R) | Acts 3:20-25 | Children of prophets and of the covenant made with our fathers |
| Abraham | God | Acts 7:8 | Covenant of circumcision - given to Abraham |
| Israel 60 ad | God (R) | Romans 11:26, 27 | My covenant, all Israel to be saved |
| Israel 64 ad | God (R) | Hebrews 12:24 | Jesus, mediator of the new covenant |
| Israel 64 ad | God (R) | Hebrews 13:20 | Jesus raised through the blood of the everlasting covenant. |
Summary
In the covenants presented in the Bible there were 14 covenants given by God up to the time of David, only two of these were made by man. During the Monarchy the covenants were given by God to David and Solomon, and four were made by man, usually covenants of repentance and dedication. There were seventeen covenants of the restoration. Two of these were made by men and all the rest were given by God. The terms "my" covenant and everlasting covenant are often used including several direct references to "my" covenant given at Sinai.
Included in the covenants of the restoration is the "new" covenant of Jeremiah 31:31-34. The setting and the context of this covenant is important in understanding its meaning and timing.
There are six references to the Messiah in conjunction with covenant. One is in Zechariah and the rest in the New Testament. All refer to a covenant previously given by God (R).
This list is by no means complete. There are a number of other passages which refer directly or indirectly to the covenant. What is presented here is enough to provide a context and direction, especially for the new covenant of Jer. 31:31-34.