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A New Covenant Jeremiah 31
A New Covenant Jeremiah 31
Several times in the course of history leading up to the coming of the Christ, God promises that he is going to make a New Covenant with the people (cp. Isa. 55:3; 59:21; 61:8; Jer. 31:31-34; 32:40; Ezek. 34:25; 37:26).
There were actually many covenants that God made with various people (Noah, Abraham, etc.). Covenants that were made with God have a particular element to them. They are made BY God. HE covenants to do certain things for the people and THEY covenant to do certain things in relationship to Him. There is no negotiating the terms or conditions. They can agree and follow the covenant OR they can rebel.
However, when we speak of THE covenant we often mean the one God made through Moses with the children of Israel. This included the 10 commandments, the priesthood and sacrifices, the blessings upon the nation of Israel, the threats of punishment for disobedience, and all the other regulations that gave order to their nation.
The Hebrew writer said of this passage (Jer. 31): "In speaking of a new covenant, he makes the first one obsolete. And what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away" (Heb. 8:13). WHEN Jeremiah called it 'old' it THEN was recognized as obsolete and ready to vanish away. It continued in force until the establishment of the NEW covenant. Hence those that believed the prophets lived under the first while they were looking forward to a new covenant. This meant they were to be looking for the 'vanishing' away of the FIRST.
Several points are made by the writer of Hebrews concerning THIS covenant.
- It is called the 'first' - (Heb. 8:7, 13; 9:1, 15, 18; 10:9). The use of the word FIRST causes us to then understand there would be a SECOND, NEW, and different covenant (Heb. 8:7,8; 10:9).
- It was made when they came out of Egypt and arrived at Sinai (Heb. 8:9).
- It did NOT make the people complete for it only provided for animal sacrifices as a response to sin which could not take away sins. (Heb. 7:19; 9:9; 10:1).
- It was going to give way to a NEW and 2nd covenant in that there would be a "CHANGING of the law" (Heb. 7:14) where "a former commandment is set aside" (Heb. 7:18).
- Jesus is said to have 'done away with the first in order to establish the second" (Heb. 10:9).
Jesus IS the mediator of the BETTER covenant, 2nd, new covenant that gives BETTER hope. It is by THIS covenant that we have been saved and sanctified. It is by THIS covenant that we walk in relationship with God.
Reading 8/25/13
