THE POPULAR ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIBLE PROPHECY

COVENANTS

Davidic Covenant

With ultimate unconditionality, God promised David that a descendant would be enthroned to rule over Israel and the world( 2 Samuel 7:12-16; 1 Chronicles 17:11-14 ). This Davidic covenant is autonomous, unilateral (2 Samuel 23:5; 2 Chronicles 13:5; Psalm 89:3,28,34 ) irrevocable ( 2 Samuel 7:15; 1 Chronicles 17:13), and everlasting ( 2 Chronicles 13:5 ; 21:07; Psalm 89:28,36 ). However, the Covenant was immediately conditional (2 Samuel 7:14; 1 King 2:3-4; Psalm 89:30-32-39 ) since sinful descendants were disqualified. While the Covenant is not explicitly named in the New testament ( see Acts 2:30 ), It appears clear that Jesus Christ is the specific Davidic seed ( Matthew 1:1 ; John 7:42 ) Whom God intends to enthrone      ( Matthew 19:28; 25:31; Luke 1:32; John 18:37) For a future, earthly rule over Israel and the nations ( Psalm 110:2; Zechariah 14:9; Luke 1:33; Revelation 11:15; 12:5; 19:15-16) during the millennial Kingdom (Revelation 20:1-10).

New Covenant

The unconditional, unilateral ( Ezekiel 20:37; 37:26), everlasting ( Isaiah 55:3; 59:21; Jeremiah 32:40; Ezekiel 16:60; Hebrews 9:15; 13:20 ), and irrevocable ( Isaiah 54:10; Hebrews 7:22 ) New Covenant assume nullification,due to Israel Sin, of the conditional Mosaic or Old testament Covenant ( Jeremiah 31:32; Ezekiel 44:7; Zechariah 11:10 -11 ). Originally made with Israel ( Jeremiah 31:31 ) and containing redemptive blessing of both Salvation ( Isaiah 49;8; Jeremiah 31:34 ) and subsequent life ( Isaiah 49:8; Jeremiah 32:40-41 ), this autonomous covenant later allowed the new testament church to be saved ( Romans 11:11-32 ) Through Christ the Messenger ( Malachi 3:11 ) and mediator  ( Hebrews 8:6; 9:15; 12:24 ) of a better covenant ( Hebrew 7:22; 8:6 ), Purchased with the blood and death of this unique high priest ( Zechariah 9:11; Matthew 26:28; 1 Corinthians 11:25; Hebrews 9:15; 10:29 ). Old testament believers anticipated                  ( Hebrews 9:15 ) Christ’s life giving sacrifice ( 2 Corinthians 3:6 )  involving: (1) Grace ( Hebrew 10:29; (2) Peace (Isaiah 54:10; Ezekiel 34:25; 37:26) (3) The spirit ( Isaiah 59:21 ) (4) redemption(Isaiah 49:8; Jeremiah 31:34;  Hebrews 10:29 ) (5) removing sin ( Jeremiah 31:34; Romans 11:27; Hebrews 10:17 ) (6 ) a new heart ( Jeremiah 31:33; Hebrews 8:10; 10:16 ) and (7) a new relationship with God ( Jeremiah 31:33; Ezekiel 16:62; 37:26-27; Hebrew 8:10 ). This covenant pictures Israel’s new betrothal to God      ( Hosea 2:19 -20 ) initiated by the same divine mercy as the Davidic Covenant ( Isaiah 55:3 ).

NATURE AND TYPES OF COVENANTS

Covenants in the Old-testament  have certain components that are uniform among the various types. There was a solemn promise made binding by an oath. This oath could a verbal formula or a symbolic action. The parties making the oath were obligated to the contract. The Covenant had legal force and became the basic for relationship between parties and defined the nature of ethical standards between them. There are others important aspects of biblical covenants. First Covenants are contracts between individuals for the purpose of governing that relation. God want to bind himself to this people to keep his promises so that He can demonstrate in history what kind of God he is. Second relationship in the Bible, especially between God and man, are legal judicial. This is why they are mediated through covenants. Covenants usually involve intent, promises, sanctions. There were three types of covenants int ha Ancient Near East : the royal grant treaty, the Suzerain – vassal treaty, and the parity treaty.The royal grant treaty was a promissory type of covenant  that arose out of a king desire to reward his loyal servant. The reward usually involved grants of land, a dynasty, or a priesthood. Biblical example of this type of treaty include the Abrahamic  and Davidic Covenants.Royal grant treaties or Covenants are unconditional. This point is important for Bible Prophecy because at stake is whether or not God is obligated to fulfilled his promises specifically to the original parties of the covenant. For example, we believe that God must fulfill to Israel as a national entity those promises made to them through unconditional covenant  like the, Abrahamic and Davidic and the Land Covenants. If this is true, than they must be fulfilled literally.  A Very popular form of covenant during the Second millennium B.C. was the Suzerian Vassel Treaty. This treaty bound an inferior  vassal to a superior suzerain and was binding only on the one who swore. Biblical examples of this treaty form include Jabesh – Gilead serving Nahash in 1 Samuel 11:1 and the Kings in the valley who serve Chedorlaomer in Genesis 14. The most notable and perspicuous example,through,is the covenant between the Lord and Israel at sinai. The parity treaty bound two equal parties in a relationship and  provided conditions as stipulated by the participants. Biblical examples include treaties between Jacob and Laban ( Genesis 31:44 -50 ), Abraham and Abimelech( Genesis 21:25-32 ) and Joshua and the Gibeonites ( Joshua 9:3-27 ).

EXTENT OF THE COVENANTS

Suzerain – vassal treaties or covenants are conditional. This is important because it is with in this frame work that the tribulation is first mentioned in the Bible as events in Israel history that will occur in “the latter days” and will lead to their repentance and conversion to the messiah ( Deuteronomy 40:30 ). An interesting aspect of Deuteronomy is that its covenant structure provide the frame work for Israel history, past and future. In the historical prologue section ( 1:6 – 4:49 ) The Lord dose not merely provide the customary history of the two contractual parties’ dealing up to the time of the treaty. He goes one step further and provides a prophetic overview of Israel entire future history. Deuteronomy provide a prophetic road map of Israel’s History. The unconditional covenants        ( such as the Abrahamic ) provide humanity with God sovereign decrees of where He is taking history. The conditional covenants ( such as the mosaic) provide us with the means he will use to get us there. God have said in the Abrahamic Covenant that he will do certain things for the seeds of Abraham, and the mosaic covenants provides conditional stipulations that must be before a decree from the Abrahamic covenant can take place. God decree that Israel would receive certain blessings within the land of Israel, but that they would enjoy them only if they were obedient. Thus, Deuteronomy  provides a prophetic road map covering the whole of history before Israel started down the road.

RESPONSE TO THE COVENANTS : Prophetic Patterns

As we move progressively through the Bible from the Pentateuch to the prophets, we find that the role of the prophets is similar to that of modern day ambassadors who  represent their government’s positions and policy. The Prophets provide divine Commentary and rebuke to the nation on behalf of God, and always do so in terms of how the nation measures up to her mosaic covenantal responsibilities. By the time the exilic and post exilic prophets, all hope that the nation will accomplish her destiny through corporate obedience has been abandoned. The hope for the nation, as well as for the entire Gentiles world,is focused on the performance of a single individual – the Messiah. This prophetically prepares the nation for the first appearance of Messiah in the person of Jesus of Nazareth. Thus, Jesus and the new testament writers follow the Mosaic and prophetic pattern of documenting specific violations of Israel covenant ( see Matthew 21 – 23 ) and this provides the basis for expulsion from the land and scattering among the nations. Thus, the ultimate rejection of God’s son Himself led to a more severe application of the ultimate curse upon the nation than it previously experienced during its first expulsion in the sixth century B.C. under the Babylonians. Just as Israel was regathered after the Babylonian captivity and returned to the land, so it will be returned from its A.D. 70 diaspora from the nations. However, this time Israel will be gathered in preparation for a seven year period we know as the Tribulation, which will serve to prepare her for conversion and ultimate covenantal blessing. Such a scenario is supported by an examination of passages from the Old Testament prophets that expand upon – but do not contradict – the Mosaic Prophecy of the future Tribulation.

OUR CONFIDENCE

God has bound Himself to keep the promises He made to the nations of Israel through the unconditional covenantal scructure of the Royal grant treaty. He also provided a prophetic road map for Israel history through the device known as a suzerain – vassal treaty as constututed in the book of Deutoronomy. He deal with Israel through these covenental mechanisms, and He has chosen to bind Himself through covenants. And because of His trustworthiness, we are confident that He will bring these things to pass in the future for both Israel and for all His redeemed people – the Church. —- RICHARD MAYHUE AND THOMAS ICE

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Fruchtenbaum, Arnold. Israelology. Tustin, CA: Ariel Ministries, 1982.

Kline, Meredith. The structure of Biblical Authority. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1972

Mendenhall, George. “Covenant.” In International Dictionary of Bible. Nashville: Abingdom Press, 1962, Vol. 1, PP. 714 – 15.

Merrill, Eugene. Deuteronomy. New America Commentary. Nashville: Broadman & Holman, 1994.