What is it? What's a 'covenant'? And how does it relate to God? Or to me? Today?
Some of us
default to the 'marriage covenant'. But
what aspect? The commitment? he intimacy and closeness? The sharing of life together? These are things that picture marriage. But was God proposing marriage to Abraham in
Genesis 17? Was He outlining wedding
vows to Moses and the Israelites at Sinai?
The Hebrew word
'beriyth" is primarily translated into the English word
"covenant" in the Old Testament - mainly referring to the connection
between God and man. Scholars also use other words to translate how we interact together, but it still holds the weight of "beriyth" - League. Alliance. Treaty.
These words are not common to us - mainly
because we don't live in small nation-tribes and city-states anymore. We live in a large and complicated democratic
republic with voting precincts and government officials. Seriously - when I hear "league", I think American League and National League. Or more broadly, an agreement between nations and kings.
And this is exactly what it is. . The structure of the entire Book of
Deuteronomy is based off the ancient Near East "treaty" between a
King/Lord/Protector and his Subjects.
I am the Head
Honcho. You are my People.
I will bless
you. You will send offerings.
If you try to
rebel, I will put you back in place.
But if someone
tries to take you from me, I will demolish them.
You are mine now.
Sure, it doesn't
sound much like a "treaty". The big technical word was
"suzerainty". (Look it up on
wikipedia or something, interesting stuff). In the 21st century, we normally don't think
of "conquered people" and "terms of surrender". But back then, it
was perfect to describe our relationship with God. An alliance not as equals, but as a loving,
caring, protecting, powerful God who is definitely "higher" than us.
Marriage doesn't
describe it. Parent-Child
doesn't describe it. Master-Slave? Nope.
Perhaps it kinda
does go back to baseball? To the
"American League" and "National League"? (Then again, perhaps it's just October and
I'm just thinking baseball).
An All-Powerful Commissioner
sets up the system and the rules.
Players are drafted into this system.
These players either live under the system and get rich while playing a
fun boys' game, or these rational players decide to rebel and break rules and
experience the punishment of the commissioner. The
Commissioner's ultimate purpose is not to police people. No! He
wants people to enjoy playing the game!
How about
you?
I can see two
extremes. (1) Is God is imposing rules on you from 'on
high'? Why do you view Him that way? Or
does He want you to enjoy playing the game called life and his relationship
with Him? (2) Is God an equal to
you? Are you interacting with God like a
best friend - forgetting that He is "higher" than you...
"better" than you... "suzerain" Lord Protector over you?
Which extreme did
the Israelites tend towards? Which
extreme do you tend towards? Why?
Dennis Leskowski
Dennis is regional director of CRU. You can find more information about CRU at www.cru.org.
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