A THOUGHT FOR THE DAY by Given O. Blakely _____________________________________________ PERSPECTIVES WHEN READING GOD'S WORD #6 Studying the Word with the Covenants in mind There are two basic covenants in Scripture. Both have to do with God's association with humanity. The first covenant centered around the Law, or ten commandments, and was given to the nation of Israel. That covenant stood for all Divine relationship based upon a code of conduct. As such, the ten commandments were called "the words of the covenant, the Ten Commandments" (Ex 34:28). The tablets on which they were written were called "the tablets of the covenant" (Deut 9:9). The summary of that covenant was simply this, "Ye shall therefore keep my statutes, and my judgments: which if a man do, he shall live in them: I am the LORD" (Lev 18:5). Paul spoke of this covenant in this way; "For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them" (Rom 10:5). This was a covenant of works, totally dependent upon human accomplishment. If you did everything that was commanded, without a single deviation or flaw, you would have life--earned life. There is no need to comment upon the effectiveness of this covenant. Although it contained good, holy, and spiritual commands, it became weak because of the constituents of the covenant. They were simply not able to do fully what God said to do. In this sense, the Law was "weak through (or because of) the flesh" (Rom 8:3). The Law, as a covenant, brought no life, gave no strength, contained no mercy, and supplied no grace. It did not have provision for mistakes, falling short, or failing to measure up. Thus it "stopped" every mouth, making the "whole world" guilty before God (Rom 3:19). A dramatic comparison is made between the old and new covenants in the Gospel of John. "For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ" (John 1:17). What a remarkable difference! The Law was "given," but was more of an imposition upon recalcitrant people. Grace and truth were not merely "given," they were "realized," or brought into human experience. Viewed from this perspective, Scripture is a record of the futility of law-keeping as a basis of acceptance with God. It also reveals the potency of faith, the exclusive means of receiving the grace of God. We have a better covenant This is the bold proclamation of the Spirit. "But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, by as much as He is also the Mediator of a better covenant, which has been enacted on better promises" (Heb 8:6). This covenant is "better" in every way. The basis, or foundation, of the covenant is better. The first covenant was based upon works, the second covenant is based upon promises. The first brought no remission, the second does. The first kept the people at a distance from God, the second summons people to God. From every vantage point, the new covenant is "a better covenant!" The covenant expressed Through Jeremiah, God declared the coming covenant. It would not be a covenant after the manner of the old man made with Israel. It would be a new one, or a different type of covenant. It is refreshing to renew our acquaintance with that covenant. "Behold, days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah, not like the covenant which I made with their fathers in the day I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke, although I was a husband to them, declares the LORD. But this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the LORD, I will put My law within them, and on their heart I will write it; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. And they shall not teach again, each man his neighbor and each man his brother, saying, 'Know the LORD,' for they shall all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them, declares the LORD, for I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more" (Jer 31:31-34). This covenant is the one currently being mediated by the Lord Jesus, as confirmed by Hebrews 8:8-13, where the passage is quoted, and an extended commentary is provided. How superior to the old covenant! Instead of inscribing the law upon stones, or upon parchment, it would be placed within their minds and written upon their hearts. That is another way of saying they would agree with and delight in the law of the Lord. This condition is produced by regeneration, something the Israelites never experienced. Indeed, it was not available to them, because the "blood of bulls and goats" could never take away sin (Heb 10:4)--a requisite for the blessing. The bloody sacrifices of the Law reminded people they had sinned. The sacrifice of Christ, when received, reminds us that our sins are forgiven. Read the Bible with the covenants in mind! (More on this subject tomorrow) In joyful expectation of glory, Given O. Blakely