BIBL 473 Background reflection assignment Week 3
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Dec 6, 2023
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BIBL 473
K
ENDRA
S
CHMIDT
B
IBLE
473
P
ROFESSOR
B
IBLE
A
PRIL
6, 2023
B
ACKGROUND
R
EFLECTION
T
EMPLATE
1.
Using the concordance in the back of your Bible (or any digital word search), list the passages where the word “covenant” appears
. It is recommended that you use a more formal
translation of Scripture (e.g. NASB, ESV, CSB, NKJV, KJV). Your list should include
at least 10 passages (Old and New Testament).
1.
Genesis 6:18 2.
Genesis 9:9 3.
Genesis 9:12-13 4.
Genesis 15:18 5.
Genesis 17:2-21
6. Genesis 21:27-32 7. Genesis 26:28 8. Exodus 2:24 9. Exodus 6:4-5
10. Exodus 19:5
11. Exodus 23:32
12. Jeremiah 33:20-25
13. Haggai 2:5
14. Matthew 26:28
15.Acts 3:25
16. 2 Corinthians 3:6-14
17. Galatians 3:15
18. Hebrews 7:22
19. Hebrews 8:6-13
20. Hebrews 9:15-20
2.
After reading all the passages you listed above
, list at least 5 observations
about biblical covenants and/or the way the word “covenant” is used in Scripture.
1. With the exceptions of Genesis 21:27-32 and Genesis 26:28, God is the initiator of the covenant mentioned. None of the covenants between God and man seem to be man’s idea or inspirations. 2. None of these covenants between God and man have equal responsibility between the two parties. In each case the responsibility and weight are disproportionately distributed. None of them include humans doing the majority of the work or upkeeping of the covenant terms. 3. The two covenants that are listed that are between human parties (Genesis 21:27-32; 26:28) are initiated because the neighboring tribes see the Lord’s providence and actions on behalf of His people. None of the covenants I’ve come across are because of how great or Page 1
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terrible the people of God are, rather that they are the people of God and His hand is on their workings. 4. The covenants between God and his people have infinite terms. Unlike traditional contracts which have a clause along the lines of “Upon the death of the holder this covenant shall become null and void”, or “after 15 years the terms of this agreement will expire” etc. But none of the covenants with God have clear end dates based on the mortality of the human
parties involved. God not only puts no expiration date onto His agreements but continues them from generation to generation.
5. God is the one who remembers the covenant. There are countless references to the people involved forgetting or abandoning the covenant. But as we see in Exodus 2:24 and 6:5, God remembers the covenants with the people. There is no shortage of the people not being able to even hold up their minuscule part of the bargain. But there is no record of God not being faithful to His end of the bargain. For the following questions, use Chapter 2 of God’s Kingdom through God’s Covenants
for reference.
3.
List and describe
the six types of oath-bound commitments (covenants) described in the Old
Testament.
1. International treaties
2. Clan alliances
3. Personal Agreements
4. National agreements
5. Loyalty agreements
6. Marriages
4.
What are the 3 definitions of “covenant” (
berit
) discussed by the authors?
1. “Covenant…. Means a solemn commitment of oneself to undertake an obligation”
2. “A covenant in its normal sense, is an elected, as opposed to natural, relationship of obligation under oath”
3. “A covenant is an enduring agreement which defines a relationship between two parties involving a solemn, binding obligation(s) specified on the part of at least one of the parties toward the other, made by oath under threat of divine curse, and ratified by a visual ritual”
5.
Discuss at least one way that the “covenant” definitions above help you better understand the
passages you reviewed at the beginning of this assignment (75 word minimum).
The covenant definition that made the most sense to me was the third one, specifically “made
by oath under threat of divine curse, and ratified by a visual ritual”. This definition immediately brought to mind the passage in Genesis 15. Unlike neighboring countries' covenants, which called upon the wrath of their god towards the breaker of their covenants, God is swearing by himself. I’m always taken aback by the reality that God chose to swear by himself by walking through the covenant sacrifice halves himself. God can swear by Page 2
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BIBL 473
nothing higher than himself. In this covenant, God requires no priests to represent him or swear by him. Rather, he shows up and mediates his own covenant. 6.
List at least 5 observations/facts from the section “Covenants in the Ancient Near East.”
1. There were two primary types of covenants: A. The suzerain-Vassal, and B. The royal charter (land grant)
2. The focus of both of these types of treaties is based on honor and interpersonal relationship. 3. “The book of Deuteronomy is identical in form (but not content) to the… treaties of the Hittites from the late fourteenth century B.C.” We also see similarities between some of the Ten Commandments and law codes of the Bible to the code of Hammurabi. 4. The focus of the suzerain-vassal treaties was to “Reinforce the interests of the suzerain by arguments from history and oath bound affirmations of loyalty on the part of the vassal states, backed up by divine sanctions.” 5. Even though the two primary types of ancient near eastern covenants are “different emphases on a continuum rather than polar opposites”. Therefore, the Biblical covenants defy categorization because most of them include both types and therefore would be minimized by categorization. 7.
Which observation/fact from the previous list is the most significant or interesting to you? Explain your answer (75 word minimum). I’m struck by the implications in observation 4. Unlike traditional suzerain-vassal treaties of the ancient world, God’s covenants with his people are greatly lopsided both of responsibility
and benefit. God’s interests thereby, must be in relationship. There can be no other obvious benefit from the commitment between the two parties. The Israelites would benefit in a multitude of practical ways: blessing, protection, progeny, land, etc. But God’s only interests and benefits in this arrangement is relationship. This can be the only explanation for such an uneven business deal. Traditionally, human suzerainty would be based on the servitude and protection of their material interests. God however, has no need for human protection of his investments because the people themselves are His investment. 8.
What are the six major covenants in the Bible (with Scripture references)?
1. Covenant with Creation (Genesis 1-3)
2. Covenant with Noah (Genesis 6-9)
3. Covenant with Abraham (Genesis 12, 15, 17, 22)
4. Covenant at Sinai (Exodus 19-24)
5. Covenant with David (2 Samuel 7, Psalm 89)
6. The new covenant (Jeremiah 31-34, Isaiah 54, Ezekiel 33-39)
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BIBL 473
9.
List at least 10 observations from the section “A Comparison of Contract and Covenant.”
1. As previously mentioned, unlike a contract, the covenant's purpose was a desire for a relationship. A contract usually entails expected mutual benefits. 2. Unlike a contract which requires human witnesses, a covenant makes blessings and curses the witnesses for the fulfillment. Actions become the silent witnesses for the parties involved.
3. Contracts usually include the assumption that each party has its own sovereignty or independent constitution. A covenant however recognizes the superiority of the stronger party. In the ancient world this usually meant the conqueror. 4. A contract’s
fulfillment or perfection required performance, a set of actions that needed to be satisfied. A covenant on the other hand was fulfilled and perfected by loyalty. 5. Also as previously mentioned, a covenant has specific time boundaries or terms. While a covenant is indeterminately infinite. 6. Contracts
can be begun between two parties who may have no previous dealings or contracts, a blank slate as it were. Covenants however, are based on the history of the relationship. 7. “The contract is characteristically thing-oriented. The covenant is person-oriented and, theologically speaking, arises, not with benefits as the chief barter item, but out of a desire for a measure of intimacy.” This is the definite factor between a legal agreement and a marriage covenant. 8. Both contracts and covenants can be broken. The breaking of a contract is immediate, action based, and brokenness is easily identifiable. Covenants can also be broken but can be less clear. One of the signs of broken covenants is the “quality of intimacy”. This is why the question “when did the marriage end?” Is so difficult to answer for divorced couples. For some, the marriage was over long before the paperwork was signed. For others, divorce comes as a surprise and therefore has a clearer point of division. 9. Contracts start dates are usually mutually agreed upon and expected. Covenants however are the initiator’s introduction. In ancient expectations, when a conquering people would make covenants, the conquered parties wouldn’t be looking forward to the events initiation. 10. Contracts required a scribe. A written receipt of the agreement and possibly payments associated with it. A covenant on the other hand, was an oral tradition. Passed on by the witnesses and participants of the event. 11.
Which observation/fact from the previous list is the most significant or interesting to you? Explain your answer (75 word minimum). I had not previously considered that the whole goal of covenant is intimacy. I’m from a westernized understanding of contractual fulfillment. But the concept that intimacy might be the highest goal of something (or someone) is absolutely astounding. The idea that God has no need for contractual obligation, only the desire for covenantal intimacy. I’d always wavered in the analogy of the “Bride of Christ” as seen repeatedly in scripture. But when I think about the marriage covenant and its goals, it truly is an excellent picture of the covenants that God has initiated between himself and his people. Page 4
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12.
How does all of this information about covenants broaden your perspective of your own relationship with God as a participant in the New Covenant (75 word minimum)?
Three things stick out most prominently to me: First, that God is the initiator of covenants. Both biblically speaking and in my own life, I can reflect upon the instances of Covenant beginnings and it certainly isn’t the humans involved that are thinking the arrangement up. I’m deeply thankful that our God is not a passive one, but an initiating one. Second, that humans' role in covenants exists but is minimal. God is always looking for partners. But that the division of responsibility is disproportionately in my favor. The institution of the covenant with God was a direct move away from the performance and perfection expectations of the gods of the land they were used to living with. Rather, God’s desires were
not (and are not) performance but intimacy. And finally, that God in his brilliance did not institute a contract with clearly and easily breakable terms. He knew that anytime it is possible for humans to break something, we do. Instead, he made it a measure of intimacy. Page 5
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