The Everlasting Covenant - 10.5 Old Covenant Forms

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10.5 Old Covenant Forms
by Hubert F. Sturges, www.everlastingcovenant.com, June 2009

Topics:
    Adam and Eve
    The First Sacrifices
    Noah Found Grace
    Abraham - Tested by Faith
    Hagar and Ishmael
    Isaac Offered
    Jacob Deceives Isaac
    Moses – Impulsive
    The People Promise
    Old Covenant Thinking
    The New Covenant
    Messiah Has Come
    Jewish Christians
    Christians Today
Exactly what is the Old Covenant? The answer to this question is critical to understanding much of what is said regarding the covenant in both the Old Testament and the New Testament. Especially is it important where the old and the new are compared in the New Testament.

The Old Covenant concept is very important in understanding the covenant language of the Bible.  In the Old Testament, there is little discussion of more than one covenant.  Deuteronomy 5:3,4; Jeremiah 31:31-34 are the two principle references in the Old Testament and passing references in Hebrews 8:6-9,13; 9:1,15.  And the fact there is a “New Covenant” (Jeremiah 31:31-34) suggests there was also an “Old.”

From the extensive discussion in Hebrews 8-10, 2 Corinthians 3, Galatians 3 and other references, it becomes clear that the Old Covenant was legalistic, focused on forms and ceremonies, and made little reference to grace and the forgiveness of sins.

As one carefully examines covenant events in the Bible, it becomes apparent that this “Old Covenant” changed in form from time to time. You have to understanding the underlying principles of this covenant in order to recognize it when it is brought into view. This article is to examine these events and to note Old Covenant principles when they arise.
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Adam and Eve

After Eve ate of the fruit of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, she “gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat” (Genesis 3:6). Satan could not claim this world until Adam also ate of the fruit, so his is the greater sin.  Why did Adam eat of the fruit?  He was not deceived. He knew exactly what he was doing.  But why?  Did he choose to die with Eve, rather than to live without her?  Or did he think that by eating of the fruit he might somehow save Eve from death?

Whichever it was, Adam was taking matters into his own hands, rather than to turn to God and fall on His mercy. This separation from God was the first step in Old Covenant thinking. The second step was when they made aprons of fig leaves as a very inadequate covering for themselves (Genesis 3:7), and attempted to hide (separate themselves) from God.  But the God of mercy was not looking to condemn, He came to help and to provide forgiveness (Genesis 3:15).
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The First Sacrifices

The covenant promise of Genesis 3:15 included the promised Redeemer who would destroy evil and restore all things.  But this would be only through His suffering, and through the blood of His sacrifice.  Probably sacrifices began to be offered at this time, though we have no record of this.

When Cain and Abel reached the age of accountability, they too began to offer sacrifices. The sacrifices were intended to point forward in faith to the Redeemer and to His shed blood as the cost of their redemption. The sacrifice of an animal, a lamb, was chosen to make this illustration, and its shed blood was to be a type of the shed blood of the coming Redeemer.

Cain, in offering choice fruit, the fruit of his labors offered a valuable offering. But the symbolism was lost. Cain failed or refused to recognize that he was sinful and that forgiveness was provided only through the blood of the lamb.  Cain was “obeying God” but doing so in his own way. It was the Old Covenant again.
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Noah Found Grace

Even in the general wickedness of his time, Noah “found grace in the eyes of the Lord” (Genesis 6:8).  He obeyed God and built the ark for the saving of himself and his family.  After the flood, “Noah builded an altar unto the Lord; and took of every clean beast, and of every clean fowl, and offered burnt offerings on the altar” (Genesis 8:20).

Did God require this of Noah?  It was a real sacrifice, as these clean animals represented their food source until such time as they could grow food and established flocks and herds of clean animals.  Noah trusted God for providing the food he needed.  It was a grateful thank offering for their surviving the Flood.

It was an illustration of Noah’s faith and grateful thanks; and an evidence that Noah believed God “and it was accounted to him for righteousness.”
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Abraham, Tested by Faith

God chose Abram to be the father of the “chosen people.”  Abram was not perfect.  He had problems showing faith in God. For this Abram was tested from time to time.  The first test came in Egypt. Rather than trusting God he spoke a half truth that Sarah was his sister.  This caused an embarrassing situation between Abram and Pharaoh and Abram had to leave Egypt.

The war with the Babylonians went badly for Sodom and her allies.  Abram showed uncommon bravery in fighting with and defeating them and rescuing Lot and all the people and goods that were stolen.  But was God pleased?  Probably not.  God may have intended to punish Sodom and to move Lot to better surroundings.  For “the Lord came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward” (Genesis 15:1).  Abram was to be a man of peace and an ambassador of mercy to the nations.

Abram next suggested that his steward Eliezer become his heir and inherit the covenant. In his old covenant thinking, Abram was trying to help God.  But God made it clear that it would be Abram’s own son who would fulfill the covenant. The covenant then was repeated and Abram “believed in the Lord; and he counted it to him for righteousness” (Genesis 15:6).

After this display of faith, Abram literally “turned around” and said, “Lord God, whereby shall I know that I shall inherit it” (Genesis 15:8)?  God then gave instructions to ratify the covenant. The meaning of this ceremony is unclear. The everlasting covenant of God could be ratified only by the willing sacrifice of Jesus on Calvary. But God provided a ratification ceremony to strengthen the faith of Abram.

In this ceremony, Abram fell into a deep sleep, “and, lo, an horror of great darkness fell upon him” (Genesis 15:12).  In this, Abram looked into an eternity without God and without life – the punishment of the wicked.  God spoke and indicated that Abram’s descendants would serve and be afflicted by the Egyptians for 400 years.  “And behold a smoking furnace and a burning lamp that passed between those pieces” (Genesis 15:17).

In these ceremonies, Abram saw that it was only by faith in God that he would be spared the punishment of the wicked.  In the covenant custom of the time, God indicated that if He should not keep His covenant, He would be as that animal which was divided into pieces.  God pledged Himself as surety for the covenant.
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Hagar and Ishmael

In the next scene, Abram takes Hagar to be his second wife, and Ishmael is soon born.  This was in accordance with the custom of the day, but represented old covenant thinking.  Abram was again trying to “help God” and succeeding only in making the problems worse!

In Genesis 17 the covenant is given in more detail.  Abram’s name is changed to Abraham. Circumcision is instituted as a token of the covenant.  Sixteen or more years passed as Ishmael grew up.  Isaac was born, and weaned possibly in his third year.  Ismael mocked Isaac and he with his mother Hagar were sent away from the camp.
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Isaac Offered

When Isaac grew to young manhood, God spoke again to Abraham: “Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of” (Genesis 22:2).

Abraham had been tested repeatedly on his faith.  Several times he failed and tried to solve the problem in his own strength.  But in his later years, he had learned the lesson of trusting God, and had time for faith to be tested again and to become part of his character.  God needed to give him one more test – the greatest test.  God knew His servant was ready.

You know the story.  Would Abraham show new covenant faith?  Or would he take matters into his own hand and react with old covenant thinking?  A very practical matter immediately arose: If he told Sarah, she would refuse to let it happen.  Knowing this, Abraham raised two servants, loaded the donkeys, and by daybreak they were gone.  Abraham was trusting God.
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Jacob Deceives Isaac

As Jacob was the second born, the birthright belonged to Esau. Yet Esau despised his birthright, especially the spiritual responsibilities associated with it (Genesis 25:29-34). On one occasion when Esau was hungry, he traded his birthright to Jacob for a mess of pottage. He probably forgot about it. The time came when Isaac intended to confer the birthright on Esau, his eldest son.  Rebecca remembered the prophecy at their birth, “the elder shall serve the younger,” and knew that it was God’s will that Jacob receive the birthright.

But it looked as if God needed some help, or Esau would receive the desired blessing from Isaac.  Should they leave it up to God, or should they “help Him out?”  Through the conniving of Rebecca and Jacob, Isaac was deceived and Jacob was given the birthright.  Rather than trusting God to solve the problem, they fell back on old covenant thinking and caused problems that lasted for years, even centuries.
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Moses - Impulsive

Moses was born a Hebrew, yet adopted by the daughter of Pharaoh.  He was educated in the court of Pharaoh to be a general and to be the next Pharaoh.  Moses had been taught to get things done!  Yet he knew he was a Hebrew.  His heart yearned to help his people. As the time neared for the expected deliverance, Moses decided to act – to publically side with his people.

This began by his killing an Egyptian taskmaster who was abusing a Hebrew slave.  When next day he chided a Hebrew slave, the slave retorted, “Who made thee a prince and a judge over us?  Intendest thou to kill me, as thou killedst the Egyptian” (Exodus 2:14)?  Moses suddenly realized that he was in serious trouble and fled across the desert to Midian.  He failed to trust God. He took matters into his own hands, and had to spend 40 years herding sheep in the desert to unlearn some lessons that had become habitual with him.
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The People Promise

In Exodus 19:4-6 Israel was offered “My Covenant,” the everlasting covenant of God.  By the power used to deliver them from Egypt He would make of them a peculiar people above all others, a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These were the promises of grace.

The people determined to do their part to keep the law. They failed to understand God’s intent to make these promises real in their lives by faith. Instead of humbly submitting to God’s will, they confidently promised, “All that the Lord hath spoken we will do” (Exodus 19:8). In their enthusiasm they did not understand the holiness of God and their own weakness. They forgot that they were the same weak, faulty, slaves that used to make bricks for Pharaoh.

Instead of accepting the grace of God, they offered their own promises.  Their lack of faith was soon shown as they “stood afar off” when God came down on the mountain in fire, smoke, and an earthquake.  At the ratification ceremony (Exodus 24:3-8) they repeated their promises twice more. Yet within 40 days they had a heathen festival at the base of the mountain, had worshiped the golden calf, and had broken their covenant.
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Old covenant Thinking

This was the “classic” or historical old covenant. The essence of the old covenant is to attempt to obey God in human strength. The old covenant occurs in many forms. The covenant of grace was reinstituted (Ex 34:10) and it was a high point in the experience of the people.  But as time passed, the people began to look on the sacrifices, ceremonies, traditions, and their descent from Abraham for their assurance of salvation. It was the old covenant again, in another form.

Collectively, this was termed “the law of Moses.” So pervasive was their belief in the law of Moses that in Jesus’ time, even the disciples could not see the purpose of Jesus’ life and death until after the resurrection. Even then, as the early Christian church began to grow, there were Jewish Christians who could not leave behind the “law of Moses.” Some of these “judaizers” followed Paul trying to make “Jews” of the new gentile converts.

Doesn’t Old Testament mean the same as “old covenant?” Yes and no! The words, yes. Testament and covenant come from the same Hebrew word. But dividing the Bible into an Old and a New Testament was not inspired by God. In fact, it did not happen until about 200 years after Christ lived on earth. Remember, the old covenant was broken about six weeks after it was made and it was not officially renewed.
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The New Covenant

About ten years into the captivity of Judah, the New Covenant was prophesied (Jeremiah 31:31-34).  It was the covenant of grace, whereby God Himself would write on the hearts of the people His law.  It was the covenant given to Adam and Eve when God said, “I will put enmity between thee and the woman.”  It was the covenant given to Abraham when through Isaac he would become father of many nations, and through his seed the Messiah would come.  It was the covenant given to Israel when by the power of the deliverance from Egypt, He would bring the promises of the ten commandments into the lives of each believer.

The new covenant was “My covenant,” the everlasting covenant, the covenant confirmed by Christ on Calvary.  The new covenant came to replace the legalistic old covenant thinking of the people.
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The Messiah Has Come!

This old covenant thinking was dominant when Jesus came. He came to change lives, they wanted Him to lead them in warfare and drive out the Romans.  He came to teach, heal, and to serve, they wanted Him to restore the power, status, and authority of Israel.  He came to bring the kingdom of Grace, they wanted only power and glory.

Even the disciples had but a dim understanding of His mission, until after the resurrection. Then they began to understand that a leader must be one who serves. The warfare against evil would be fought in the hearts and minds of the people. Captives of sin and evil would be taken and made willing disciples of Christ.  In this mission there was love, joy, peace – a glory exceeding that of any worldly effort.
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Jewish Christians

In the New Testament church there was always a tension between the “law of Moses” and the Grace of Christ.  Jewish Christians had a hard time letting go of their dependance on Abraham as their father, their meticulous keeping of the law, the sacrifices and ceremonies.  It was how they identified themselves as Jews. They could not understand how a person could be saved unless he came under the “covenant.”

As Paul evangelized the Roman world the gentiles readily accepted the grace of Christ.  This upset the Jewish Christians (Judaizers) who felt that they must accept certain ceremonies in order to be saved.  This issue was dealt with in Acts 15, but the problem soon returned as these Judaizers followed Paul to his new churches and tried to bring them back to the ceremonial law.

It is with this background that we have to read a number of passages in the New Testament.  The legalistic perceptions of these Jewish Christians are constantly compared with the grace of God that is given through the cross of Calvary. To continue to hold onto the ceremonial law was to deny the grace of God and the effectiveness of Jesus’ sacrifice on Calvary.
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Christians Today

The battle did not end with the early church.  Some churches even today have a legalistic approach to salvation.  Many individuals think they understand grace, yet live an “old covenant” life.  If a person can “do something” to be saved, then he feels free to live as he pleases.  It requires a higher commitment to submit to Christ and consent to the work of grace in the life.  Not everyone wants the changed life. But Christ has promised with His Holy Spirit, love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith ... And in Him we have life eternal.
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Comment:

From this you can see that the Old Covenant presents in many forms. The underlying principle is the attempt to do the work of God in human strength.  Certainly we must consent to the work of grace.  Certainly we must obey and put our will on the side of God.  But if this is not done through grace, and through our submission to Christ as Lord, it will not succeed.
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