Introduction to the Old Testament


problems with OT: familiarity gap, time gap, culture gap, application gap

misconceptions:

it’s important to study because...

Covenant
A covenant is a formal agreement (treaty) between two parties that establishes the terms of the relationship. This was a common practice in the Ancient Near East (ANE), and this concept of covenant is behind much of the Old Testament. Understanding this concept is important to understanding the OT, and its relation to the NT. A covenant was a concept common in the Ancient Near East (ANE), which God adapted as a means of communicating to ancient people who He is and His requirements.

The covenant form was used in treaties, constitutions, marriage contracts, and business / trade agreements. Often the king of a dominant country (the overlord or suzerain) imposed a treaty upon a weaker state (vassal). Such covenants typically consisted of the following elements:

  1. identity and history of the covenant-giver
    The party (=person or nation) imposing or giving the covenant is identified, and their relationship to the vassal (the lesser person or nation) or second party is defined. The history of the covenant giver is described, emphasizing their goodness and benefits that he has shown to the vassal; because of this, the vassal should show loyalty, gratitude and obedience to the lord.
  2. requirements
    The terms of the treaty are stated; common requirements were: the vassal could not make covenants with other countries; the vassal had to pay taxes (tribute) to the lord.
  3. deposit and public reading
    The written treaty was to be placed in the temple of the vassal state, so it would be regarded as sacred and important, and would become part of the laws of the vassal state. The treaty was to be read aloud on regular occasion to inform and remind people of the vassal state about their obligations (since the king, nation, and people were under the covenant).
  4. list of witnesses to the treaty — often included the heavens and earth, and all gods (of pagan countries).
  5. blessings and curses
    Results of obedience and disobedience are spelled out for the vassal. If the vassal obeyed the agreement, everything would go well for them. If they disobeyed, they would face all kinds of disasters and judgment, and the lord could send his army to destroy the disobedient vassal.
  6. ratification
    Rituals, ceremonies, or oaths were specified to formally ratify the treaty; rituals were signs or symbols of the covenant. Often animal sacrifice served as a ritual symbol. In sacrificing an animal, the vassal identified himself with the animal — so shall he be if he violates the covenant. Sometimes a meal was eaten together, often consisting of the sacrifice animal.

Unfolding of the OT covenant: Various aspects of covent theology are revealed to Adam & Eve (Gen 3), Noah (Gen 6f), Abraham (Gen 12, 15, 17), Moses (Sinai), and David. The New Testament tells of the “new covenant”, or the new form or administration of the covenant, under Jesus. God provides the ultimate sacrifice to fulfill the covenant; the OT covenant signs are replaced by baptism and communion.

covenant element OT equivalent
identification & prolog God identified from Gen. 1 throughout Pentateuch (5 books of Moses)
God’s workings in creation, with the patriarchs, and in bringing the Israelites from Egypt to Canaan are recounted
requirements moral law (e.g., 10 Commandments);
civil and ceremonial law (fulfilled by Christ for us)
deposit and public reading ten commandments deposited in ark of the covenant in temple
Law to be read publicly on certain occasions; also Deut. 27
Law to be taught at home to family members
witnesses heavens and earth; God himself
blessings and curses Deut. 28 (Moses’ sermon)
the prophets enforced God’s covenant centuries later
ratification verbal oath (Ex 19, 24; Josh 24)
animal and grain sacrifices (Gen. 15, Ex. 24, Leviticus)
circumcision
Passover & other feasts




The Prophets


misconception:
prophecy = foretelling, future predictions

definition:
prophecy = forth-telling, i.e., proclaiming and declaring God’s word and God’s will; includes proclaiming judgment, call to repentance, hope, encouragement, etc.

purpose:
applies covenant conditions from law to contemporary times and conditions; enforces God’s covenant

prophetic ministry:
prophet called (sometimes unwilling) to proclaim God’s message revealed to prophet by Holy Spirit; served as “covenant enforcers”; spoke God’s message, not their own

means of revelation:
prophecy occurred under direct supervision of God, at God’s command; given by means of dreams, visions, words, signs, object lessons, spiritual insights, or miracles

communication:
Prophetic utterances (oracles) were preached publicly, and written down in the form of poetry or narrative prose.


Covenant relationship between prophecy and the rest of Scripture:
The prophets enforced God’s covenant. They pointed out people’s violation of God’s law, and applied the blessings and curses of the covenant to their day. So their messages consisted of doom and judgment (curses for violating God’s covenant), and messages of hope and encouragement (promise of God’s blessing if they repented; God’s future restoration and blessing of His people after judgment; and the Messiah who would come to fulfill the covenant).

The New Testament shows that Jesus fulfilled the covenant and took the penalty as the ultimate sacrifice. He did on our behalf what we couldn’t to fulfill the covenant. He fulfilled the law and abolished the civil / ceremonial law for us, so we don’t have to do it. He gave us baptism and communion as signs of the covenant.