Daily Devotions
Luke
Luke 22 : 19-23 "THE DOCTRINE OF "THE COVENANTS OF GOD"
Day 282 – Luke 22
Text: Luke 22 : 19-23
THE DOCTRINE OF “THE COVENANTS OF GOD”
The Biblical doctrine of God giving to man a “Covenant” is truly one of the most awesome and humbling of teachings. Jesus spoke of a “New Covenant” established in His blood (Luke 22:20). It is important and worthwhile for us to search the Scriptures for a deeper understanding and appreciation of what He meant when He spoke of a “New Covenant”.
A covenant is essentially a treaty. The concept of a covenant or treaty is not too difficult to fathom. Treaties may be established between two equal partners. Two kings, or two men may establish a treaty with each other. We may call this a “parity treaty”. It is a treaty between two equal partners.
Imagine God establishing a covenant or treaty with man! That would not be a parity treaty, because we have a situation where there are two unequal partners. Since the Scriptures often designate God as King, we may call God’s treaty with man as a Suzerain treaty, or covenant.
In a typical suzerain kind of a treaty the following things may be observed:
1. God establishes who He is.
2. He declares what He has done for His subjects.
3. He promises to stand by His subjects, blessing them and protecting them.
4. He also warns of the penalty He would exact upon them should they violate or break that Covenant.
5. The Covenant is usually established by the “shedding of blood”. An animal sacrifice was the norm in the Old Testament days. With reference to the New Testament, Christ shed His blood to establish the validity of the New Covenant!
EXAMPLES OF THE COVENANTS THAT GOD GAVE TO MAN
We have a number of very clear examples of God-given covenants in the Scriptures.
1. The Noahic Covenant
The Scriptures record this glorious Covenant in the following words.
“And God said:
This is the sign of the Covenant which I make
Between Me and you, and every living creature
That is with you, for perpetual generations.
I set My rainbow in the cloud, and it shall be
For the sign of the Covenant between Me and the earth.
I will remember My Covenant which is
Between Me and you and every living creature
Of all flesh;
The waters shall never again become a flood
To destroy all flesh.
The rainbow shall be in the cloud,
And I will look on it to remember
The everlasting covenant between
God and every living creature
Of all flesh that is on the earth.
And God said to Noah,
This is the sign of the Covenant
Which I have established between Me
And all flesh that is on the earth.”
Genesis 9:12-17
2. The Abrahamic Covenant
God gave a truly stupendous Covenant to Abraham because of his faith in Him. The wondrous statement of this Covenant was stated thus.
“I am Almighty God;
Walk before Me and be blameless.
And I will make My Covenant between Me and you,
And will multiply you exceedingly.
As for Me, behold, My Covenant is with you,
And you shall be a father of many nations…
And I will establish My Covenant between Me and you
And your descendants after you in their generations,
For an everlasting Covenant, to be God to you
And your descendants after you.
Also I give to you and your descendants after you,
The land in which you are a stranger,
All the land of Canaan, as an everlasting possession;
And I will be their God.”
Genesis 17:1, 4, 7-8
This Covenant was re-established with Isaac (Genesis 26:2-5, 24-25). It was also re-established with Jacob (Genesis 28:13-22).
3. THE MOSAIC COVENANT
As the children of Israel grew into a nation, God established with His people what is commonly called the Sinatic Covenant or the Mosaic Covenant. The former name highlights the place where the Covenant was given, the latter the person Moses who was God’s special servant.
“And Moses went up to God,
and the Lord called to him from the mountain, saying,
‘Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob,
And tell the children of Israel:
You have seen what I did to the Egyptians,
And how I bore you on eagles’ wings
And brought you to Myself.
Now therefore, if you will indeed
Obey My voice and keep My covenant,
Then you shall be a special treasure to Me
Above all people; for all the earth is Mine.
And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests
And a holy nation.’ “
Exodus 19:3-6
To reinforce the significance of God’s Covenant with Israel, He came down on Mt. Sinai and spoke to the nation (Cf. Exodus 20) and gave to His people, what is called The Ten Commandments”.
THE PROMISE OF THE NEW COVENANT
The Sinaitic Covenant was unfortunately violated so many times that God began to send His prophets to proclaim that He would create a New Covenant. The prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah were two prophets who proclaimed and taught Israel about the New Covenant.
“Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord,
when I will make a New Covenant
with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah –
NOT according to the covenant that I made
With their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand
To lead them out of the land of Egypt,
My Covenant which they broke,
Though I was husband to them, says the Lord.”
Jeremiah 31:31(Cf. Jeremiah 33)
“Incline your ear, and come to Me.
Hear, and your soul shall live;
And I will make an everlasting Covenant with you –
The sure mercies of David.
Indeed I have given Him as a witness to the people…”
Isaiah 55:3
“As for Me,” says the Lord,
“This is My Covenant with them:
My Spirit who is upon you,
And My words which I have put in your mouth,
Shall not depart… from this time and forevermore.”
Isaiah 59:21
The New Covenant was gloriously established by the Lord Jesus Christ!