In the third part of our Chronological study of the Biblical Covenants, today we focus on two more of them…mind you they are as valid today, as they were on the day they were birthed…
Seed…
Dear readers, bear with me as I stick to the Wycliffe Bible translation for maintaining consistency…here goes…welcome aboard the time machine in going back in time to the evolution of the English language. Quite a challenge it is, isn’t it, coming to grips with a style of language that is almost extinct, but the challenge worth its semantic salt to simply prove…Biblical covenants have all been there all along!
“And anon the word of the Lord was made to him, and said, ‘This shall not be thine heir, but thou shalt have him heir, that shall go out of thy womb. (And at once the word of the Lord came to him, saying, Nay, he shall not be thy heir, but thou shalt have an heir who shall come from thy womb.) And the Lord led out Abram, and said to him, Behold thou (the) heaven(s), and number the stars, if thou mayest. And the Lord said to Abram, So THY SEED shall be. (And the Lord led Abram outside, and said to him, Look thou up at the night sky, and count the stars, if thou mayest. And then the Lord said to Abram, So shall be thy descendants.)” (Genesis 15:4-5 WYC)
Coming to the Apostle Paul’s stand on this subject…
“Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, and to thy seed, which is Christ. And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect.” (Gal 3:16-17 WYC)
To state that that the Covenant the Almighty made with Abraham regarding Christ, guaranteeing the great Patriarch innumerable “spiritual descendents” through the Promised Messiah, is still binding, would be a case of stating the obvious. Now for a lesson within a lesson. In Galatians 3:29, the inspired author goes on to affirm that because of this Abrahamic covenant, Christians are in a position to claim all the promises of both Old and New Testaments. So is this one more reason to praise our Covenant making and Covenant keeping God for this still valid Covenant? Certainly!
Supreme…
“…thy throne shall be steadfast continually (and thy throne shall be established forever). By all these words, and by all this revelation, so Nathan spake to David.” (2 Sam 7:16-17 WYC)
Subsequent to His Second Coming, it is by the virtue of this very much valid Davidic covenant, that Jesus the Son of David would reign supreme from Jerusalem during the Millennial age (Rev 20/ Psalm 2). Unbiased Bible reading would lead all the rational souls to a conclusion that in the commonly called Old Testament section there is a Covenant which is not only in vogue but also “futuristic” in its outlook.
Prayer: Father, how we look forward to Your Son’s reign in this World, when there would be universal peace and “Your will would be done on Earth as it is in Heaven”. Come, Lord Jesus, to reign supreme in our hearts first and then in this World. Amen.
Suresh Manoharan
An unworthy servant
J and SM Ministries
(To access the entire “Of Covenant and the Pentacost” mini-series, please click here.)