The Everlasting Covenant - 12.0 Covenants Thru History

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12.0 Covenants Through History
by Hubert F. Sturges, www.everlastingcovenant.com, March 2009

Topics:
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. prophecies of the Messiah and of His covenant (P)  a covenant previously given by God (R).
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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 for the flood
  Noah & Descendants God Genesis 9:8-16 No more flood, Regular seasons
  Abraham God Genesis 15 - 22 Father of nations, land,
blessing to all nations
  Isaac God Genesis 3, 4, 22 (Covenant of Abraham)
  Jacob (Israel) God Genesis 28:13-15,20; 35:11,12 (Covenant of Abraham)
  Israel in Egypt God Exodus 6:5-8 Land, Deliverance
  Israel at Sinai God Exodus 6:5-8 An holy nation
  God, at Sinai People Ex 19:8; 24:4-8 All that the Lord hath said, ...
  At Sinai, restored God Exodus 34:10, 11 I will do marvels ...
  Phinehas God Numbers 25:12, 13 Everlasting priesthood
  Israel at Jordan God Deuteronomy 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.
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Covenants of the Monarchy
  Given to: By: Bible References: Comments
          David God 2 Samuel 7:8-16; 23:3-5;
1 Chronicles 17:11-14; 2 Chronicles 6:16.		   The throne forever
  Solomon God 1 Kings 9:4-7 The throne forever
  God Asa 2 Chronicles 15:12, 13
Repentance & Dedication
  God Jehoida 
& Joash		 2 Kings 11:17; 2 Chronicles 23:16, 17 Repentance & Dedication
  God Hezekiah 2 Chronicles 29:8, 10 Repentance & Dedication
  God Josiah 2 Kings 23:2; 2 Chronicles 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.
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Covenants of the Restoration:

           Given to: By (p): Bible References: Comments:
  Israel 712 bc God Isaiah 42:1-7 A Messianic Prophecy
  Israel 712 bc God Isaiah 55:3-5 Call to repent.  Messiah to come
  Israel 698 bc God Isaiah 59:20, 21; 60:1-3 Gentiles shall come.  Messiah
  Israel 698 bc God Isaiah 61 Gentiles shall come.  Messiah
  Israel 608 bc God Jeremiah 11:1-10 Warning call to Sinai covenant
  Israel 606 bc God Jeremiah 31:1-40 Gather, restore, New Covenant
  Israel 590 bc God Jeremiah 32:36-42 Gathering, restoration, the
everlasting covenant renewed
  Israel 590 bc God Jeremiah 33:17-26 Throne of David re-established
   God 595 bc  Israel Jeremiah 50.5  Repentance at the Restoration
   Israel 594 bc  God  Ezekiel 16:60-62  “My” covenant remembered
   Israel 593 bc  God  Ezekiel 20:33-38  Gathering, plead for repentance
   Israel 587 bc  God  Ezekiel 34:20-26  Salvation, peace, blessing
   Israel 587 bc  God  Ezekiel 37:25-28  Gathering, restore David’s throne
   Israel 585 bc  God  Hosea 2:14-23  Restoration, peace, chosen
   God  People  Ezra 10  Obedience, no foreign wives
   God  People  Neh  9:38 - 10:39  Repentance, restore temple
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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 prophecies 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 (Revelation 21:3)!
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After the Restoration – Sinai Covenant reviewed:
  Given to: By: Bible References: Comments
          Israel 487bc God(P) Zech. 9:9-11 Messiah, “the blood of thy covenant”
  Israel   33ad God(R) Acts 3:25 Children of prophets and Abraham
  Israel  33ad God(R) Acts 7:8 Covenant of circumcision - Abraham
  Israel  60ad God(R) Ro. 11:26, 27 My covenant, all Israel to be saved
  Israel  64ad God(R) Hebrews 12:24 Jesus, mediator of the new covenant
  Israel  64ad God(R) Hebrews 13:20 Jesus raised through the blood of
the everlasting covenant.
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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 Jeremiah 31:31-34.
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