THE EIGHT COVENANTS OF THE BIBLE

The purpose of this series is to study one of several ways in
which the bible can be divided. The most common way is by
dispensations. The dispensations, however, are based upon
scientific covenants, and knowledge of these covenants will help
Bible readers to "rightly divide the word of truth."
Although the dispensations may come to an end, the covenants
themselves often continue. Since much of God's relationship to man
is based upon conventional relationships, a study of the eight
covenants is a very important aspect of correctly understanding
scripture.

DEFINITIONS

The covenants are of two types: CONDITIONAL and UNCONDITIONAL.
It is important that we distinguish between these two types of
covenants so that we have a clear picture of what the Bible
teaches.

A CONDITIONAL covenant is a proposal of God to man conditioned
by the formula "IF YOU WILL" whereby He promises to grant special
blessings to man providing he fulfills certain conditions
contained in the covenant. Man's failure to do so often results in
punishment.

An UNCONDITIONAL covenant is a sovereign act of God whereby He
unconditionally obligates Himself to bring to pass definite
blessings and conditions for the covenanted people. This covenant
is characterized by the formula " I WILL " which declares God's
determination to do as He promises.

TWO CONDITIONAL-SIX UNCONDITIONAL COVENANTS

Two of the eight covenants of the bible are conditional:
the Edenic and the Mosaic. The other six are unconditional:
The ADAMIC, NOAHIC, ABRAHAMIC, PALESTINIAN, DAVIDIC and the NEW
COVENANTS.

THE COVENANTS WITH ISRAEL

Five of these eight covenants were made exclusively with Israel
while the others were made with mankind in general. Only one of
the five covenants made with Israel is conditional: The Mosaic.
The four other covenants are all unconditional: The Abrahamic,
Palestinian, Davidic and the New covenants.

Four things should be noted concerning the nature of the
unconditional covenants made with Israel. FIRST, they are LITERAL
covenants and their contents must be interpreted literally as
well.SECOND, the covenants that God has made with Israel are
ETERNAL and are not conditioned by time. THIRD, it is necessary

to reemphasize that these are unconditional covenants which WERE
NOT ABROGATED because of Israel's disobedience. Because the
covenants are unconditional and totally dependent upon God for
fulfillment, they can be expected to have an ultimate fulfillment.
The FOURTH thing to note is that the covenants were made with A
SPECIFIC PEOPLE: Israel. This is bought out by Paul in Romans 9:4

"WHO ARE ISRAElITES; TO WHOM PERTAINETH THE ADOPTION, AND THE
GLORY, AND THE COVENANTS, AND THE GIVING OF THE LAW, AND THE
SERVICE OF GOD, AND THE PROMISES.

This passage clearly points out that these covenants were made
with the covenanted people and are Israel's possession. This is
brought out again in Ephesians 2:11-12.

WHEREFORE, REMEMBER THAT YE, BEING IN TIME PAST GENTILES IN THE
FLESH, WHO ARE CALLED UNCIRCUMCISION BY THAT WHICH IS CALLED THE
CIRCUMCISION IN THE FLESH MADE BY HANDS. THAT AT THAT TIME YE
WERE WITHOUT CHRIST, BEING ALIENS FROM THE COMMONWEALTH OF
ISRAEL, AND STRANGERS FROM THE COVENANTS OF PROMISE, HAVING
NO HOPE, AND WITHOUT GOD IN THE WORLD.

Five of the eight covenants belong to the people of Israel and
as this passage notes, gentiles were considered "STRANGERS FROM
THE COVENANT".

1. THE EDENIC COVENANT.

The scriptures concerning the Edenic covenant are found in two
places; first is Genesis 1:28-30.

AND GOD BLESSED THEM, AND GOD SAID UNTO THEM, BE FRUITFUL, AND
MULTIPLY, AND FILL THE EARTH, AND SUBDUE IT; AND HAVE DOMINION
OVER THE FISH OF THE SEA, AND OVER THE FOWL OF THE AIR, AND OVER
EVERY LIVING THING THAT MOVETH UPON THE EARTH, AND GOD SAID,
BEHOLD, I HAVE GIVEN YOU EVERY HERB BEARING SEED, WHICH IS UPON
THE FACE OF ALL THE EARTH, AND EVERY TREE, IN WHICH IS THE FRUIT
OF A TREE YIELDING SEED; TO YOU IT SHALL BE FOR FOOD. AND TO EVERY
BEAST OF THE EARTH, AND TO EVERY FOWL OF THE AIR, AND TO
EVERY THING THAT CREEPETH UPON THE EARTH, WHEREIN THERE IS LIFE
I HAVE GIVEN EVERY GREEN HERB FOR FOOD: AND IT WAS SO.

More details are given in Genesis 2:15-17:

AND THE LORD GOD TOOK THE MAN, AND PUT HIM INTO THE GARDEN OF

EDEN TO TILL IT AND TO KEEP IT. AND THE LORD GOD COMMANDED THE
MAN, SAYING, OF EVERY TREE OF THE GARDEN THOU MAYEST FREELY
EAT; BUT OF THE TREE OF KNOWLEDGE OF GOOD AND EVIL, THOU SHALT
NOT EAT OF IT; FOR IN THE DAY THAT THOU EATEST THEREOF THOU SHALT
SURELY DIE.

The Edenic covenant was made between God and Adam, and Adam
stood for the human race.

Altogether there were a total of seven promises in the Edenic
covenant. FIRST, man was to be fruitful, to multiply and to
replenish the earth (1:28a). The earth was created for the
purpose of being the habitation of man, and then man was created
on the sixth day. Man was told to populate the earth; so the
increase in population is part of his commission.

SECOND, man was to subdue the earth (1:28b) Previously auth-
ority over the earth had been given to Satan. But Satan had
fallen and had lost his authority over this earth. That is the
reason Genesis 1:2 describes the earth as being covered by water
and darkness being over the face of the deep. Hence God began to
form and fashion the earth anew to make it habitable for man,
and this time He would give man the authority over the earth.
Man was to subdue the Earth, and he was to use the natural
resources and energies of the earth which God had provided for
him. However, this did not mean he was allowed to pollute it!

THIRD, man was given dominion over all living things (1:28c).
The earlier provision gave man authority over the earth as far
as nonliving things were concerned. This provision extended man's
authority over all living creatures. The entire animal kingdom on
the earth, in the air and in the sea was put under the authority
of man.

The FOURTH provision concerned man's diet (1:29-30; 2:16). At
this point man was to be a vegetarian. There is nothing in this
covenant that allowed him to eat of the animal kingdom although
he was to exercise authority over it. No blood of any kind was to
be shed.

A FIFTH provision directed man to dress and to keep the Garden
of Eden (2:15). Even in his unfallen state, man was not to lead
a life of leisure--work was part of the human ethic even before
the Fall.

SIXTH, man was forbidden to eat of the Tree of Knowledge(2:17)
This was the only negative commandment in the Edenic covenant.
It was the one point that would measure mans obedience. He was
free to eat of all other trees of the garden but was to refrain
from eating of that one.

The SEVENTH provision contained a penalty for -disobedience-
death (2:17). The question that arises is: WHAT KIND OF DEATH IS
MENT HERE? It cannot refer to physical death because man did not
die on the very day that he disobeyed the commandment. So the
death spoken of here must be SPIRITUAL DEATH. In the day that he
eats of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, he will be
separated from God and will DIE SPIRITUALLY.

The Edenic covenant was conditional; and if it was broken, it
would no longer be in effect. It was the basis for the Dispensa-
tion of Innocence. The record of the Edenic covenant being broken
is found in Genesis 3:1-8.

Satan appeared in the Garden of Eden as a fallen creature this
shows that man was not created in a perfect universe, for sin was
already in existence. Although it was not yet existent in man, it
was already present in Satan. The devil did his work of tempting
man in the same three areas as set forth in 1 John 2:16: The lust
of the flesh (AND WHEN THE WOMAN SAW THAT THE TREE WAS GOOD FOR
FOOD); the lust of the eyes ("THAT IT WAS PLEASANT TO THE EYES")
and the pride of life ("THAT THE TREE WAS TO BE DESIRED TO MAKE
ONE WISE")

Eve gave into the temptation and disobeyed the ONE NEGATIVE
COMMANDMENT. Adam recognized what had happened, but he still
chose to join his wife in disobience. Their first reaction was to
attempt to hide from the presents of God, which only illustrated
the truth of Genesis 2:17. Man at that very moment DIED
SPIRITUALLY and could no longer share the same communion with God
that he had experienced before the disobedience.

With that act the Edenic covenant, being conditional, came to
an end.

2. The Adamic Covenant

The Adamic covenant is recorded in Genesis 3:14-19:

AND THE LORD SAID UNTO THE SERPENT, BECAUSE THOU HAST DONE

THIS, THOU ART CURSED ABOVE ALL THE CATTLE, AND ABOVE EVERY BEAST
OF THE FIELD; UPON THY BELLY SHALT THOU GO, AND DUST SHALT THOU
EAT ALL THE DAYS OF THY LIFE. AND I WILL PUT ENMITY BETWEEN THEE
AND THE WOMAN, AND BETWEEN THY SEED AND HER SEED; HE SHALL BRUISE
THY HEAD, AND THOU SHALT BRUISE HIS HEEL. UNTO THE WOMAN HE SAID,
I WILL GREATLY MULTIPLY THY SORROW AND THY CONCEPTION; IN SORROW
THOU SHALT BRING FORTH CHILDREN; AND THY DESIRE SHALL BE TO THY
HUSBAND, AND HE SHALL RULE OVER THEE. AND UNTO ADAM HE SAID,
BECAUSE THOU HEARKENED UNTO THE VOICE OF THY WIFE, AND HAST EATEN
OF THE THEE, OF WHICH I COMMANDED THEE SAYING, THOU SHALT NOT EAT
OF IT: CURSED IS THE GROUND FOR THY SAKE; IN SORROW SHALT THOU
EAT OF IT ALL THE DAYS OF THY LIFE; THORNS ALSO AND THISTLES SHALL
IT BRING FORTH TO THEE; AND THOU SHALT EAT OF THE HERB OF THE
FIELD; IN THE SWEAT OF THY FACE SHALT THOU EAT BREAD, TILL THOU
RETURN UNTO THE GROUND; FOR OUT OF IT WAST THOU TAKEN; FOR DUST
THOU ART, AND UNTO DUST SHALT THOU RETURN.

God and Adam are involved in this covenant, and Adam again
represented the human race. God addressed the serpent, Satan
himself, Eve and Adam.

God told the serpent (verse 14) that he would be cursed above
all creatures and would have to crawl on his belly.This indicates
that perhaps the serpent originally had legs, but now crawling on
his belly became his lot. The reason for this judgment was that
the serpent was used as Satan's tool to bring about the fall of
man.

Four provisions are given in relationship to Satan (verse 14).
There would be perpetual hatred between Satan and the woman, and
this hatred was to continue and culminate between Satan's seed
(Antichrist) and the woman's seed (Christ). Ultimately the serpent
would ("BRUISE THE HEEL') of the woman's seed (Christ). This
happened at the crucifixion. But this first prophecy of the
Lord's victory over Satan goes on to say that the woman's seed
will crush Satan's head. This occurred with the resurrection
(Hebrews 2:14-15).

Eve and all woman were made subject to three provisions
(verse 16). First, there was to be multiplication of menstrual
pains and conceptions. Apparently, the nature of conception before
the Fall was quite different from what it was after the Fall.
Since the Fall a woman generally is able to conceive at least
once a month. Furthermore, a woman's "periods" are accompanied
with discomfort and pain. Second, the woman was to give birth in
pain. If perhaps Eve would have been able to conceive and give
birth without pain before the Fall was no longer true. Third, the
wife was now to be in total subjection to the husband, and this

principal has remained in effect even up to the present time.

The Adamic covenant became the basis for the Dispensation of
Conscience. It was the unconditional covenant and therefore is
very much in effect today.

3. The Noahic Covenant

The full Noahic covenant is found in Genesis 9:1-17:

AND GOD BLESSED NOAH AND HIS SONS, AND SAID TO THEM, BE
FRUITFUL, AND MULTIPLY, AND REPLENISH THE EARTH. AND THE
FEAR OF YOU AND THE DREAD OF YOU SHALL BE UPON EVERY BEAST OF
THE EARTH, AND UPON EVERY BIRD OF THE HEAVENS; WITH ALL
WHEREWITH THE GROUND TEEMETH, AND ALL THE FISHES OF THE SEA,
INTO YOUR HAND ARE THEY DELIVERED. EVERY MOVING THING THAT
LIVETH SHALL BE FOOD FOR YOU; AS THE GREEN HERB HAVE I GIVEN
YOU ALL. BUT FLESH WITH THE LIFE THEREOF, WHICH IS THE BLOOD
THEREOF,SHALL YE NOT EAT, AND SURELY YOUR BLOOD, THE BLOOD
OF YOUR LIVES, WILL I REQUIRE; AT THE HAND OF EVERY BEAST
WILL I REQUIRE IT: AND AT THE HAND OF EVERY MAN'S BROTHER,
WILL I REQUIRE THE LIFE OF MAN. WHOSO SHEDDETH MAN'S BLOOD,
BY MAN SHALL HIS BLOOD BE SHED; FOR IN THE IMAGE OF GOD MADE
HE MAN. AND YOU, BE YE FRUITFUL, AND MULTIPLY; BRING FOURTH
ABUNDANTLY IN THE EARTH, AND MULTIPLY THEREIN. AND GOD SPAKE
UNTO NOAH, AND TO HIS SONS WITH HIM, SAYING, AND I BEHOLD,
I ESTABLISH MY COVENANT WITH YOU, AND YOUR SEED AFTER YOU;
AND WITH EVERY LIVING CREATURE THAT IS WITH YOU, THE BIRDS,THE
CATTLE, AND EVERY BEAST OF THE EARTH WITH YOU; OF ALL THAT GO
OUT OF THE ARK, EVEN EVERY BEAST OF THE EARTH. AND I WILL
ESTABLISH MY COVENANT WITH YOU; NEITHER SHALL ALL FLESH BE CUT
OFF ANY MORE BY THE WATERS OF THE FLOOD; NEITHER SHALL ANY
MORE BE A FLOOD TO DESTROY THE EARTH. AND GOD SAID, THIS IS
THE TOKEN OF THE COVENANT WHICH I MAKE BETWEEN ME AND EVERY
LIVING CREATURE THAT IS WITH YOU, FOR PERPETUAL GENERATIONS:
I DO SET MY BOW IN THE CLOUD, AND IT SHALL BE FOR A TOKEN OF A
COVENANT BETWEEN ME AND THE EARTH. AND IT SHALL COME TO PASS,
WHEN I BRING A CLOUD OVER THE EARTH, THAT THE BOW SHALL BE
SEEN IN THE CLOUD, I WILL REMEMBER MY COVENANT, WHICH IS
BETWEEN ME AND YOU AND EVERY LIVING CREATURE OF ALL FLESH;AND
THE WATERS SHALL NO MORE BECOME A FLOOD TO DESTROY ALL FLESH.
AND THE BOW SHALL BE IN THE CLOUD; AND I WILL LOOK UPON IT,
THAT I MAY REMEMBER THE EVERLASTING COVENANT BETWEEN GOD AND
EVERY LIVING CREATURE OF ALL FLESH THAT IS UPON THE EARTH.
AND GOD SAID UNTO NOAH, THIS IS THE TOKEN OF THE COVENANT
WHICH I HAVE ESTABLISHED BETWEEN ME AND ALL FLESH THAT IS UPON
THE EARTH.

This covenant was made between God and Noah. Like Adam, Noah
stood as the representative for the entire human race.

Man was to repopulate the earth (verses 1,7). The entire
human race, with the exception of eight people, was destroyed by
the Flood. Man had vastly increased in numbers, but"THE WICKEDNESS
OF MAN WAS GREAT IN THE EARTH" (GENESIS 6;5). Thus God brought
universal judgment upon the earth. After the Flood the earth was
essentially empty again.Only eight people populated the entire
earth. So as with the Edinic covenant, man was again commissioned
to repopulate the earth.

The fear of man was put into the animals and man was to
dominate them (verse 2).This time man was told to subdue the earth
and to exercise dominion over it. He had lost that right at the
Fall. Satan had usurped that authority. However man was still to
have authority over the animal kingdom and for this reason the
fear of man was placed in animals.

Man's diet was to consist of vegetables and animals (verse 3).
Previously he had only eaten vegetables. But now all animals were
included in his diet. No limitations whatsoever are given in the
passage; thus all animals were fit for food. However, man was
forbidden to eat blood (verse 4). All creature life, both man and
animal, is blood sustained. Blood is the symbol of life, and the
shedding of blood is the symbol of death. Because blood is the
symbol of life God commanded that it not be eaten or drunk.

Capital punishment became part of the human economy for the
first time (verse 5,6). When Cain killed Able, Cain was not
executed because capital punishment had not yet been instituted.
With the Noahic covenant came the provision for capital punishment
and all murderers were to be executed.

Then came a promise (verse 8-11): humanity would never again
be destroyed by worldwide flood. While there would be local floods
that would destroy portions of humanity, never again will there
be worldwide flood that will destroy all humanity. There is going
to be a passing away destruction of the present earth system in
the future, but it will not be by means of a universal flood.

The token of this promise in the covenant was the rainbow
(verse 12-17). This was the first time the rainbow ever appeared
in human history. There is a strong indication that rain did not
exist before worldwide flood, and of course rainbows come in
conjunction with rain. So for the first time the rainbow appeared

in human experience. And God's promise that humanity will not be
destroyed by a flood again should come to our remembrance every
time we see a rainbow.

The Noahic covenant became the basis for the Dispensation of
Human Government. Although the dispensation has been superseded,
the unconditional Noahic covenant is still very much in effect.

4. THE ABRAHAMIC COVENANT

There are six different passages of Scripture that pertain to
the Abrahamic covenant. First in Genesis 12:1-3:

12:1 Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy
country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house,
unto a land that I will show thee:

12:2 And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless
thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:

12:3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him
that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth
be blessed.

Second, Genesis 12:7:

12:7 And the Lord appeared unto Abram, and said, Unto thy
seed will I give this land; and there builded he an altar unto
the Lord, who appeared unto him.

Third, Genesis 13:14-17

And the Lord said unto Abram, after Lot was separated from
him, Lift up now thine eyes and look from this place where thou
art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward, For all
the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed
forever. And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth, so
that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy
seed also be numbered. Arise, walk through the land in the length
of it and in the breadth of it; for I will give it unto thee.

The forth and fifth passages dealing with the Abrahamic
covenant are Genesis 15:1-21 and Genesis 17:1-21, and these more
lengthy segments of Scripture, while not quoted in this study
contain many of the Abrahamic covenant provisions. The emphasis of
Genesis 15 is (1) Abraham would father a nation in particular, (2)
he would father many nations in general, and(3) God signs the
Abrahamic covenant and spells out the exact borders of the
Abrahamic covenant as extending from the river of Egypt in the
. south to the great river Euphrates, in the north.

The emphasis of Genesis 17 is on the token of the covenant:
physical circumcision on the eighth day of the boy's life. Just as
the rainbow was the token of the Noahic covenant.

A sixth passage is Genesis 22:15-18:

And the Angel of the Lord called out of heaven the second
time, And Said, By myself have I sworn, saith the Lord; for
because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son,
thine only son; That in blessing I will bless thee, and in
multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven,
and as the sands which is upon the seashore; and thy seed shall
posses the gate of his enemies; And in thy seed shall all the
nations of the earth be blessed, because thou hast obeyed my
voice.

The persons involved are God and Abraham. In this covenant
Abraham stood, not for all humanity, but for the whole Jewish
nation. A list gleaned from these passages shows a total of 13
provisions in this covenant:

(1) A great nation was to come out of Abraham, namely, the
nation of Israel. (12:1,7; 13:14-15,17; 15:17-21, 17:8)

(2) He was promised a land, specifically, the land of Canaan
(13:14-15,17, 15:17-21, 17:8.)

(3) Abraham himself was to be greatly blessed (12:2)

(4) Abraham's name would be great (12:2)

(5) Those who bless Israel will be blessed (12:3)

(6) Those who curse Israel will be cursed (12:3)

(7) In Abraham all will ultimately be blessed (12:3, 22:18)

(8) Abraham would receive a son through his wife Sarah
(15:1-4, 17:16-21)

(9) His descendants would undergo the Egyptian bondage.
(15:13-14)

(10) Other nations as well as Israel would come forth from
Abraham (17:3-4,6); the Arab states are some of these
nations.

(11) His name was to be changed from Abram to Abraham (17:5)

(12) Sarai's name was changed to Sarah (17:5)

(13) There was to be a token of the covenant---circumcision
(17:9-14);thus according to the Abrahamic covenant,
circumcision was to be a sign of one's Jewishness.

These provisions of the Abrahamic covenant can be categorized
in three areas: to Abraham, to the seed (Israel) and to the
Gentiles.

CONCERNING Abraham. Abraham was to be the father of a great
nation (Israel).He was to possess all of the promised land. Other
nations (including the Arab states were ultimately to descent from
Abraham. Many of his descendants would become kings (both Jewish
and non-Jewish kings). Abraham was to receive personal blessings.
Abraham was to be a blessing to others. His name was to become
great--and so it is among Jews, Moslems and Christians.

CONCERNING the SEED Israel. The nation was to become great.
It was ultimately to become innumerable. It was to possess all of
the promised land. It was to receive victory over its enemies. The
fact that the promises were to both Abraham and his seed shows
that these blessings have not yet received a complete fulfillment
but await the messianic kingdom.

CONCERNING the GENTILES. The Gentiles also were to receive
blessings, but ultimately these were to come through one specific
Seed of Abraham--Christ.

Reducing the Abrahamic covenant to its very basics, it can
seen that it contained three aspects: the land, the seed, and
the blessing. The land aspect is developed in the Palestinian
covenant. The seed is covered in the Davidic covenant. And the
blessing is presented in the New covenant.

Abraham had several sons by three different woman, and the
question rose: Through which son would the Abrahamic covenant be
confirmed? God revealed that it was to be through Sarah's son
Isaac. His appearance to Isaac is recorded in Genesis 26:2-5.

AND THE LORD APPEARED UNTO HIM,, GO NOT DOWN INTO EGYPT;
DWELL IN THE LAND WHICH I SHALL TELL THEE OF. SOJOURN
IN THIS LAND, AND I WILL BE WITH THEE, AND I WILL BLESS
THEE; FOR UNTO THEE, AND UNTO THY SEED, I WILL GIVE ALL
THESE COUNTRIES, AND I WILL PREFORM THE OATH WHICH I
SWORE UNTO ABRAHAM THY FATHER; AND I WILL MAKE THY SEED
TO MULTIPLY AS THE STARS OF THE HEAVEN, AND I WILL GIVE
UNTO THY SEED ALL THESE COUNTRIES; AND IN THY SEED SHALL
ALL THE NATIONS OF THE EARTH BE BLESSED; BECAUSE THAT
ABRAHAM OBEYED MY VOICE, AND KEPT MY CHARGE, MY
COMMANDMENTS, MY STATUTES, AND MY LAWS.

The covenant was later reconfirmed to Isaac in Genesis 26:24.

Isaac had two sons, and God chose to confirm the covenant
with Jacob in Genesis 18:13-15

AND, BEHOLD, THE LORD STOOD ABOVE IT, AND SAID, I AM THE
LORD GOD OF ABRAHAM, THY FATHER AND THE GOD OF ISAAC:
THE LAND WHEREON THOU LIEST, TO THEE WILL I GIVE IT,AND
TO THY SEED; AND THY SEED SHALL BE AS THE DUST OF THE
EARTH, AND THOU SHALT SPREAD ABROAD TO THE WEST, AND TO
EAST, AND TO THE NORTH, AND TO THE SOUTH: AND IN THY SEED
SHALL ALL THE FAMILIES OF THE EARTH BE BLESSED. AND,
BEHOLD, I AM WITH THEE, AND WILL KEEP THEE IN ALL PLACES
TO WHICH THOU GOEST, AND WILL BRING THEE AGAIN INTO THIS
LAND; FOR I WILL NOT LEAVE THEE, UNTIL I HAVE DONE THAT
WHICH I HAVE SPOKEN TO THEE OF.

After that it was confirmed through all of Jacob's twelve sons

The Abrahamic covenant became the basis for the Dispensation
of Promise. because the Abrahamic covenant is unconditional, it
is still very much in effect though it has remained unfulfilled.
But the ultimate fulfillment will come during the kingdom age.

5. The Mosaic Covenant

The Mosaic covenant contains very extensive detailed
information, and the Scriptural account of the covenant extends
from Exodus 20:1 through Deuteronomy 18:68. The parties involved
in this pact were God and Israel. The covenant was made with
Israel and not merely with Moses acting as a representative of
Israel. This is clearly brought out in Exodus 19:3-8:

AND MOSES WENT UP UNTO GOD, AND THE LORD CALLED UNTO HIM
OUT OF THE MOUNTAIN, SAYING, THUS SHALT THOU SAY TO THE
HOUSE OF JACOB, AND TELL THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL: YE HAVE
SEEN WHAT I DID UNTO THE EGYPTIANS, AND HOW I BORE YOU
ON EAGLES' WINGS AND BROUGHT YOU UNTO MYSELF. NOW
THEREFORE, IF YE WILL OBEY MY VOICE INDEED, AND KEEP MY
COVENANT, THEN YE SHALL BE A PECULIAR TREASURE UNTO ME
ABOVE ALL PEOPLE; FOR ALL THE EARTH IS MINE: AND YE SHALL
BE UNTO ME A KINGDOM OF PRIESTS, AND AN HOLY NATION.
THESE ARE THE WORDS THAT THOU SHALL SPEAK UNTO THE
CHILDREN OF ISRAEL. AND MOSES CAME AND CALLED FOR THE
ELDERS OF THE PEOPLE, AND LAID BEFORE THEIR FACES ALL
THESE WORDS WHICH THE LORD COMMANDED HIM. AND ALL THE
PEOPLE ANSWERED TOGETHER, AND SAID, ALL THAT THE LORD
HAS SPOKEN WE WILL DO. AND MOSES RETURNED THE WORDS OF
THE PEOPLE UNTO THE LORD.

The key provision was the Law of Moses which contained a
total of 613 commandments. Involved in these provisions of the Law
were the blessings for obedience and curses for disobedience.
The key element of the entire Mosaic Law was the blood sacrifice,
brought out in Leviticus 17:11:.

FOR THE LIFE OF THE FLESH IS IN THE BLOOD; AND I HAVE
GIVEN IT TO YOU UPON THE ALTAR TO MAKE AN ATONEMENT
FOR YOUR SOULS; FOR IT IS THE BLOOD THAT MAKETH AN
ATONEMENT FOR THE SOUL.

The Hebrew word for "atonement" does not mean the removal of
sin but merely the covering of it. The blood of animals covered
the sins of the Old Testament saints but it never took those sins
away. Only the blood of Christ can remove sin.

The Mosaic covenant imposed a restriction upon one of the
provisions of the Noahic covenant: no longer would Israel be
allowed to eat all animals without limitation. The Mosaic
covenant prescribed that the Jews could eat: seafood had to
have both fins and scales, and animals had to both chew the cud
and be cloven hoofed. Circumcision now became more than merely
a sign of Jewishness as was true of the Abrahamic covenant.
It signified submission to the Law and obligated the Jews to keep
the whole Law.

The Mosaic covenant was the basis for the Dispensation of the
Law. It was the one Jewish covenant that was conditional and
ultimately came to an end with the death of Christ(Romans 10:4;
II Corinthians 3:3-11; Galatians 3:19; Ephesians 2:11-18;
Hebrews 7:11-12,18). Hence the Mosaic Law is no longer in effect.
Prophetically, it was already considered broken even before
Christ died to free the Jews from the penalty of the Law
(Jeremiah 31:32).

6. The Palestinian Covenant

The content of the Palestinian covenant is found in
Deuteronomy 29:1 through 30:10. Although this covenant is within
the fifth book of Moses, Deuteronomy 29:1 clearly shows that the
Palestinian covenant is distinct from the Mosaic covenant:

THESE ARE THE WORDS OF THE COVENANT, WHICH THE LORD
COMMANDED MOSES TO MAKE WITH THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL
IN THE LAND OF MOAB, BESIDE THE COVENANT WHICH HE MADE
WITH THEM IN HOREB.

Deuteronomy 30:1-10 states the key provision of the
Palestinian covenant. Verses 5 through 10 of this passage relate
some of the Lord's precious promises to his people, Israel:

AND THE LORD THY GOD WILL BRING THEE INTO THE LAND WHICH
THY FATHERS POSSESSED, AND THOU SHALT POSSESS IT; AND HE
WILL DO THEE GOOD, AND MULTIPLY THEE ABOVE THY FATHERS.
AND THE LORD THY GOD WILL CIRCUMCISE THINE HEART, AND THE
HEART OF THY SEED, TO LOVE THE LORD THY GOD WITH ALL
THINE HEART, AND WITH ALL THINE SOUL, THAT THOU MAYEST
LIVE. AND THE LORD THY GOD WILL PUT ALL THESE CURSES UPON
THY ENEMIES, AND ON THEM WHO HATE THEE, WHO PERSECUTED
THEE. AND THOU SHALT RETURN AND OBEY THE VOICE OF THE
LORD, AND DO ALL HIS COMMANDMENTS WHICH I COMMAND THEE
THIS DAY. AND THE LORD THY GOD WILL MAKE THEE PLENTEOUS
IN EVERY WORK OF THINE HAND, IN THE FRUIT OF THY BODY, AND
THE FRUIT OF THY CATTLE,AND IN THE FRUIT OF THY LAND, FOR
GOOD; FOR THE LORD WILL AGAIN REJOICE OVER THEE FOR GOOD,
AS HE REJOICED OVER THY FATHERS. IF THOU SHALT HEARKEN
UNTO THE VOICE OF THE LORD THY GOD, TO KEEP HIS
COMMANDMENTS AND HIS STATUTES WHICH ARE WRITTEN IN THE
BOOK OF THE LAW, AND IF THOU TURN UNTO THE LORD THY GOD
WITH ALL THINE HEART, AND WITH ALL THY SOUL.

The covenant was made between God and Israel. Seven
provisions can be gleaned from it.

First, Moses prophetically spoke of Israel's disobedience
to the Mosaic law and subsequent scattering over all the world
(29:2,30:1) All remaining provisions speak of various facets of
Israel's final restoration. Second, Israel will repent (30:2).
Third, the Messiah will return (verse 3). Forth, Israel will
possess the promised land (verse 5). Sixth, Israel will be
regenerated (verse 7). And finally, Israel will receive full
blessing, specifically the blessing of the messianic age
(verse 8-10 ).

The special importance of the Palestinian covenant is that
it reaffirms the title deed to the land as Israel's. Although
she would prove unfaithful and disobedient, the right to the land
would never be taken from her. Furthermore it shows that the
conditional Mosaic covenant did not lay aside the unconditional
Abrahamic covenant. It might be taken by some that the Mosaic
covenant displaced the Abrahamic covenant, but the Palestinian
covenant shows that this is not true. The Palestinian covenant
is an enlargement of the original Abrahamic covenant.
It amplifies the land aspect and emphasizes the promise of the
land to God's earthly people in spite of Jewish unbelief.

The Palestinian covenant received its confirmation centuries
later in Ezekiel 16:1-63. In this very important passage
concerning God's relationship to Israel, God recounts His love
of Israel in her infancy (verses 1-7). Later, Israel was chosen
by God and became related to Jehovah by marriage and hence became
known as the wife of Jehovah( verses 8-14).
However, Israel played the harlot(verses 15-34); therefore, it
was necessary to punish Israel by means of dispersion
(verses 35-52). However, this dispersion was not final, for there
will be a future restoration on the basis of the Palestinian
covenant (verses 53-63).

The Palestinian covenant being an unconditional covenant,
is still very much in effect.

7. The Davidic Covenant

Two passages of Scripture set forth the teaching on the
Davidic covenant; and though they sound almost the same, there
are variations in the point they make. The first passage is
11 Samuel 11-17, where the emphasis is on Solomon:

ALSO THE LORD TELLETH THEE THAT HE WILL MAKE THEE AN
HOUSE. AND WHEN THY DAYS BE FULFILLED, AND THOU SHALT
SLEEP WITH THY FATHERS, I WILL SET UP THY SEED AFTER THEE,

WHICH SHALL PROCEED OUT OF THINE OWN BODY, AND I WILL
ESTABLISHED HIS KINGDOM. HE SHALL BUILD AN HOUSE FOR MY
NAME, AND I WILL ESTABLISH THE THRONE OF HIS KINGDOM
FOREVER. I WILL BE HIS FATHER, AND HE SHALL BE MY SON.
IF HE COMMIT INIQUITY, I WILL CHASTEN HIM WITH THE ROD
OF MEN, AND WITH THE STRIPES OF THE CHILDREN OF MEN;
BUT MY MERCY SHALL NOT DEPART AWAY FROM HIM, AS I TOOK
IT FROM SAUL, WHOM I PUT AWAY BEFORE THEE. AND THINE
HOUSE AND THY KINGDOM SHALL BE ESTABLISHED FOREVER BEFORE
THEE; THY THRONE SHALL BE ESTABLISHED FOREVER. ACCORDING
TO ALL THESE WORDS, AND ACCORDING TO ALL THIS VISION,
SO DID NATHAN SPEAK UNTO DAVID.

The second account is found in 1 Chronicles 17:10-15, where
the emphasis is on the Messiah:

MOREOVER I WILL SUBDUE ALL THINE ENEMIES. FURTHERMORE, I
TELL THEE THAT THE LORD WILL BUILD THEE AN HOUSE. AND IT
SHALL COME TO PASS, WHEN THY DAYS ARE ENDED, THAT THOU
MUST GO TO BE WITH THY FATHERS, THAT I WILL RAISE UP THY
SEED AFTER THEE, WHO SHALL BE OF THY SONS; AND I WILL
ESTABLISH HIS KINGDOM. HE SHALL BUILD ME AN HOUSE, AND I
WILL ESTABLISH HIS THRONE FOREVER.
I WILL BE HIS FATHER, AND HE SHALL BE MY SON; AND I WILL
NOT TAKE MY MERCY AWAY FROM, AS I TOOK IT FROM HIM THAT
WAS BEFORE THEE, BUT I WILL SETTLE HIM IN MINE HOUSE AND
IN MY KINGDOM FOREVER, AND HIS THRONE SHALL BE ESTABLISHED
FOR EVERMORE. ACCORDING TO ALL THESE WORDS, AND ACCORDING
TO ALL THIS VISION, SO DID NATHAN SPEEK UNTO DAVID.

This covenant was made between God and David, who stands as
the head of the Davidic house and dynasty, the only rightful
claimant to the Davidic throne in Jerusalem.

Careful study of both biblical accounts brings out the main
provisions of the Davidic covenant.

David is promised an eternal dynasty (II Samuel 7:11,16;
1 Chronicles 17:10). Nothing could ever destroy the house of
David,,,it will always be in existence. Although it is unknown who
they are, to this day somewhere in the Jewish world members of the
house of David still exist.

One of David's own sons, specifically Solomon was to be
established on the throne after David (II Samuel 7:12). Absalom
and Adonijah, David's other sons tried to usurp the throne; but

Solomon alone was to be established on David's throne.

Solomon would build the temple (II Samuel 7:13). Although
David had greatly desired to build God's temple, his hands had
shed much blood and he was guilty of murder at on point. Hence
he was forbidden to build the temple, and the job would rest with
his son Solomon.

The throne of David's kingdom was to be established forever
(II Samuel 7:13,16). It was not Solomon himself who was promised
to be established forever but rather the throne upon which
he would sit.

Solomon would be disciplined for disobedience, but God would
not remove His lovingkindness (II Samuel 7:14-15). Earlier God
did remove His lovingkindness from King Saul because of
disobedience. But the promise is made that although Solomon may
disobey and require God's discipline, God's lovingkindness will
never depart from him.

The Messiah and His Throne, house and kingdom will be estab-
lished forever (I Chronicles 17:11-15). The emphasis in the II
Samuel passage is on Solomon, but in the 1 Chronicles passage it
is on the Messiah. In the 1 Chronicles passage God is not speaking
of one of David's own sons to be established upon the throne
forever but the Seed of one of his sons coming many years later.
Furthermore, in this passage it is the Person Himself that is
established upon David's throne for ever and not merely the
throne. Clearly the emphasis in the 1 Chronicles passage is not on
Solomon but on the Messiah. That is why this passage does not
mention the possibility of sin as the II Samuel passage did, for
in the case of the Messiah no sin would be possible.So the Messiah
as well as His throne, house and kingdom are to be established
forever.

The unique importance of the Davidic covenant is that it
amplifies the seed aspect of the Abrahamic covenant. According
to the Abrahamic covenant, the Messiah was to be the seed of
Abraham. This merely stated that He was to be a Jew and could be
of the twelve tribes. Later in the time of Jacob the seed aspect
was limited to a member of the tribe of Judah only (Genesis 49:10)
Now the seed aspect is further narrowed to one family within the
tribe of Judah, the family of David.

In a number of other passages the Davidic covenant recieved
further confirmation. These are II Samuel 23:1-5; Psalm 89:1-52;

Jeremiah 23:5-6; 30:8-9; 33:14-17; 19:27; Ezekiel 37/;24-25; Hosea
3:4-5 and Amos 9:11.

The Davidic covenant is also an unconditional covenant and is
still very much in effect as an eternal covenant.

8. The New Covenant

The content of the New Covenant is recorded in Jeremiah
31:31-34:

BEHOLD THE DAYS COME, SAITH THE LORD, THAT 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
BRING THEM OUT OF THE LAND OF EGYPT, WHICH, MY COVENANT,
THEY BROKE, ALTHOUGH I WAS AN HUSBAND UNTO THEM, SAITH THE
LORD. BUT THIS SHALL BE THE COVENANT THAT I WILL MAKE WITH
THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL. AFTER THOSE DAYS, SAITH THE LORD, I
WILL PUT MY LAW IN THEIR INWARD PARTS, AND WRITE IT IN
THEIR HEARTS, AND WILL BE THEIR GOD, AND THEY WILL BE MY
PEOPLE. AND THEY SHALL TEACH NO MORE EVERY MAN HIS
NEIGHBOR, AND EVERY MAN HIS BROTHER, SAYING, KNOW THE LORD
FOR THEY SHALL ALL KNOW ME, FROM THE LEAST OF THEM UNTO
THE GREATEST OF THEM, SAITH THE LORD; FOR I WILL FORGIVE
THEIR INIQUITY, AND I WILL REMEMBER THEIR SIN NO MORE.

This covenant is made between God and Israel, and it receives
further conformation in other passages including Isaiah 55:3
59:21,61:8-9; Jeremiah 32:40; Ezekiel 16:60; 34:35-41; 37:26-28
and Romans 11:26-27.

From the original covenant and its various conformations, a
total of eight provisions can be found, First, it is an
unconditional covenant involving God and both houses of Israel
(Jeremiah 31:31). It is not merely made between Judah and God or
between Israel and God but included both houses of Israel,and
hence it includes the entire Jewish nation-- the descendants of
Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

Second, it is clearly distinct from the Mosaic covenant
(Jeremiah 31:32). It is not merely a further elaboration of the
Mosaic covenant but it is distinct from it;

Third, it promises the regeneration of Israel (Jeremiah 32:33;

Isaiah 59:21). The key aspect of this entire covenant is the
blessing of salvation; so included in this covenant is Israel's
national regeneration.

Forth, the regeneration of Israel is to be universal among
all Jews (Jeremiah 31:34; Isaiah 61:9). The national salvation is
to extend to every individual Jewish person, and it is to be true
through succeeding generations from the time that the initial
regeneration of Israel occurs. Thus during the kingdom, the
unregenerated people will all be Gentiles. In the entire period of
the kingdom, there will be no unsaved Jews. That is the reason
there will be no need for one Jew to say to another, "KNOW THE
LORD," for they shall all know him.

Fifth, there is provision for the forgiveness of sin (Jeremiah
31:34). The New Covenant will do that very thing which the Mosaic
covenant was unable to do. The latter was only able to cover the
sins of Israel, but the New Covenant will take them away.

The sixth provision is the indwelling of the Holy Spirit
(Jeremiah 31:33; Ezekiel 36:27). The reason Israel failed to keep
the law under the Mosaic covenant was that the people lacked the
power to comply with the righteous standards of God. The Mosaic
law did not provide the indwelling of the Holy Spirit; that was
not its purpose. But the New covenant will do just that, and every
Jew will be able to do the righteous work of God.

Seventh, Israel will be showered with material blessings
(Jeremiah 32:41; Ezekiel 34:25-27). The Mosaic law did not provide
material blessings for obedience.But for the most part Israel was
in disobedience because of her failure to keep the law. However,
such failure will not exist under the New covenant. Along with
Israel's regeneration and empowerment to keep the law, material
blessings will be given by the Lord

Eighth, the sanctuary will be rebuilt (Ezekiel 37:26-28).
The Davidic covenant did provide for the building of the first
temple by Solomon; the New covenant will provide for the building
of the messianic or millennial temple. This temple will be a
continual reminder to Israel of all that God has done.

The importance of the New covenant is that it amplifies the
blessing aspect of the Abrahamic covenant, especially in
relationship to salvation.

It is at this point that some confusion has arisen as to the
church's relationship to the New covenant because according
to Jeremiah the covenant is made, not to the church, but with
Israel. Nevertheless, a number of Scriptures connect the New
covenant with the church (Matthew 26:28; Mark 14:24; Luke 22:14-20
I Corinthians 3:6; Hebrews 7:22; 8:6; 9:15; 10:16,29; 12:24;13:20

Some writters teach that there are two New Covenants--- one
made with the church and one made Israel. This view is not
supported by the teachings of Scripture. Others have said that
there is only one covenant but that it has two aspects--one
related to Israel and one related to the church. Yet nothing in
the covenant seems to teach that there are two completely
different aspects. Furthermore, even those who hold this view
are unable to say which aspect relates to the church and which
relates to Israel.

Actually the solution is not so difficult, for it is clearly
explained in Ephesians 2:11-16:

WHEREFORE,REMEMBER THAT YE BEING IN THE PAST GENTILES
IN THE FLESH, WHO ARE CALLED UNCIRCUMCISION BY THAT
WHICH IS CALLED THE CIRCUMCISION IN THE FLESH MADE BY
HANDS--THAT AT THE TIME YE WERE WITHOUT CHRIST, BEING
ALIENS FROM THE COMMONWEALTH OF ISRAEL, AND STRANGERS
FROM THE COVENANTS OF PROMISE, HAVING NO HOPE, AND WITHOUT
GOD IN THE WORLD. BUT NOW IN CHRIST JESUS YE WHO WERE
FAR OFF ARE MADE NEAR BY THE BLOOD OF CHRIST. FOR HE IS
OUR PEACE, WHO HATH MADE BOTH ONE, AND HATH BROKEN DOWN
THE WALL OF PARTITION BETWEEN US, HAVING ABOLISHED IN HIS
FLESH THE ENMITY, EVEN THE LAW OF COMMANDMENTS CONTAINED
IN ORDINANCES, TO MAKE HIMSELF OF TWO ONE NEW MAN, SO
MAKING PEACE; AND THAT HE MIGHT RECONCILE BOTH UNTO GOD
IN ONE BODY BY THE CROSS, HAVING SLAIN THE ENMITY THEREBY;

Along with the above, Ephesians 3:5-6 should be taken into
account:

WHICH IN OTHER AGES WAS NOT MADE KNOWN UNTO THE SONS OF
MEN, AS IT IS NOW REVEALED UNTO HIS HOLY APOSTLES AND
PROPHETS BY THE HOLY SPIRIT: THAT THE GENTILES SHOULD BE
FELLOW HEIRS, AND OF THE SAME BODY, AND PARTAKERS OF HID
PROMISE IN CHRIST BY THE GOSPEL.

The point of this passage is that God made with Israel four
unconditional covenants: The Abrahamic, the Palestinian, the

Davidic, and the New Covenants. All of God's spiritual blessings
are mediated by means of these four covenants.

However, there is also a fifth covenant, the conditional
Mosaic covenant. This was the middle wall of partition.
Essentially it kept the gentiles from enjoying the spiritual
blessings of the four unconditional covenants. For a Gentile to
begin recieving the blessings of the unconditional covenants, he
had to totally submit to the Mosaic law, take upon himself the
obligations of the law and for all practical purposes live as a
son of Abraham. The Gentiles as Gentiles were not able to enjoy
the spiritual blessings of the Jewish covenants and hence were
strangers from the commonwealth of Israel. They did not recieve
any of the spiritual benefits contained in the covenants.

However, when Christ died, the Mosaic law, the wall of
partition, was broken down. Now Gentiles as Gentiles can by faith
enjoy the spiritual blessings of the four unconditional covenants. That is why Gentiles today are partakers of the Jewish spiritual
blessings.

The relationship of the church to the New Covenant is not the
same as the church's relationship to the Abrahamic, the
Palestinian, the Davidic covenants. The land aspect of the
Abrahamic covenant as amplified by the Palestinian and the
Davidic covenants were promised exclusively to Israel. But the
blessing aspect amplified by the New Covenant was to include the
Gentiles. The church is enjoying the spiritual blessings of these
covenants, not the material and physical benefits. The physical
promises still belong to Israel and will be fulfilled exclusively
with Israel, especially those involving the land. However, all
spiritual benefits are now being shared by the church. This is
the relationship to these four unconditional covenants between God
and Israel.

In relationship to the church, then, the New Covenant is the
basis of the Dispensation of Grace. In relationship to Israel
the New Covenant is the basis for the Dispensation of the
Kingdom. The New Covenant itself is an unconditional covenant and
therefore eternally in effect.

All spiritual blessings are ours in Christ whether we are
Jews or Gentiles. And through His death on the cross for our sins
we reap spiritual benefits that would never be ours otherwise.
The eight covenants of the Bible are very explicit in their
provisions and are valuable for proper understanding of
Scripture.
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