Meaning of Covenant to the Ancient Israelites
Covenants are sacred agreements between the Supreme God and His believers or people. Many tribes observed polytheism during the ancient era. However, the Israelite practiced monotheism, worshiping of single Supreme God. The Israelites initiated a covenant with the Supreme God at Mount Sinai after their release from slavery in Egypt for 40 years. The agreement implies the divine relationship between the ancient Israelites and the Supreme God, Yahweh ( Rollock, 2016 ). The covenant relationship between the Yahweh and ancient Israelites distinguish the Israelites from other tribes during the classical period.
Additionally, the divine relationship or covenant between Yahweh and the ancient Israelites promoted the unity of the Israelites’ nation during the antique era. Unlike the categorical covenant between the Supreme God and Abraham, the divine relationship or covenant between Yahweh and the ancient Israelites exhibit bilateral aspects. The mutual agreement between God and the Israelites entailed the blessing promises to the nation of the ancient Israelites when they maintained their faithfulness to their God, Yahweh ( Rollock, 2016 ). Consequently, the divine relationship between Yahweh and the ancient Israelites guided the conduct of the Israelites in accordance to the will of the Supreme God.
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The Sinai covenant presents comprehensive religious and civil laws intended to ensure a just and holy society in the ancient Israelites’ land. Sabbath observance entails an eternal covenant or agreement between the ancient Israelites and the Yahweh. Faithfulness and observance of the Sinai covenant encompass extended blessings, prosperity, protection, and provision to the nation of the ancient Israelites. However, non-observance to the will of Yahweh results in curses, exile, and punishment of the ancient Israelites. The ancient Israelites acknowledge that non-observance to the will of God would result in incurable diseases, abrupt terror, and fever that affect people’s sight and ultimately cause death to the offenders or the ancient Israelites’ nation ( Rollock, 2016 ). The Sinai covenant promoted national unity and religious loyalty to the Supreme God, Yahweh. The ancient Israelites observed seven years covenant renewal occasion for acquiring oath-bound devotion to Yahweh, the Supreme God, and His command or domination over the nation of Israelites.
Significance of God’s Covenant Today
Christians initiate covenant with God when they receive ordinance like temple ordinance, priesthood ordinance, and baptism. God provide specific condition or circumstances, and He assures to bless His children when they obey the provided requirements. Observing the covenant qualifies Christians to receive God’s blessings. However, when Christian disobeys the agreement, they cannot receive God’s blessings. Covenant with God guides the choice and behaviors of Christians. Additionally, the covenant between God and Christians helps in resisting temptations ( Hesselgrave, 2016 ). Contemporarily, the Sinai covenant regulates the lifestyle and behavior of Christians. The agreement condemns Christians from accepting the subjection to various human and social concerns symbolized in the form of art and offering parity to the Supreme God, Yahweh.
The covenant prohibits Christians from engaging in unconditional oath sanctity with God’s name. Sabbath observance permits Christians to conduct their duties for six days and sanctifies the seventh day for worshiping the Supreme God. Divine relationship affirms God’s salvation to human beings entirely ( Hesselgrave, 2016 ). The covenant between God and human beings ascertains that God can select an individual to accomplish His intended mission. Human beings learn the rewards or significance of having faith and obey God’s covenant to His people. The Sinai covenant reveals that God accomplishes His promises when human beings conduct themselves in the will of Yahweh. For instance, God delivered the Israelites to the promised land of Canaan after obeying His will. The book of Deuteronomy 30: 20 holds that loving, obeying, and having faith in God acts as a life extension promise to human beings. Accordingly, love, loyalty, devotion, and faithfulness represent the relationship between God and human beings in the contemporary world.
References
Hesselgrave, R. P. (2016). I Know That My Redeemer Lives: Suffering And Redemption In The Book Of Job . Wipf And Stock Publishers.
Rollock, R. (2016). Some Questions And Answers About God’s Covenant And The Sacrament That Is A Seal Of God’s Covenant: With Related Texts . Wipf And Stock Publishers.
