Sabbath School Summary
Covenant Primer
Lesson 2
Memory Text: Exodus 19:5
SABBATH: To remedy the defects of humanity after the fall, God used a stepwise approach through early covenants; His covenant with Noah, covenant with Abraham, covenant at Sinai, & the New covenant which the others pointed to. All the early covenants were present-truth at their time & was fully manifested on Calvary, when Jesus died on the cross. These covenants offered hope & demanded faith & works.
SUNDAY: “Covenant” occurs about 287 times in the OT. It simply means “testament” or “last will”. It was used as a civic (man & man) & a religious (man & God) bond. Like a marriage covenant, the biblical covenant came with relationship & arrangement; 1. promises 2. obligations & 3. means to fulfill the obligations in Christ, as in the OT’s sacrificial system (Gal. 3:16; Heb. 6:13, 17; Deut. 4:13; Isa. 42:1, 6).
MONDAY: The ubiquitous nature of sin in Noah’s time led God to make a covenant with the patriarch. This is the first time “covenant” is used in the Bible (Gen. 6:18). Here, God mingled justice with mercy—He’d destroy the earth with flood but won’t forsake the world He made. “I” as used testified that God is the originator of the covenant. God promised protection for Noah’s family but they were also to obey.
TUESDAY: God’s call to Abram was no light test but the call came with a covenant of promise. All families of the earth were to be blessed through Abram (Gen. 12:1-3; Gal. 3:29). God promised to forge a lasting relationship with Abram. He only needed to obey in faith (Gen. 15:4-21; 17:1-14; Heb. 11:8). Abram from the onset believed in God’s promises & responded with faith & works (1 John 4:19). Have faith!
WEDNESDAY: God established a covenant of redemption (grace) with Moses. All the early covenants came with promises & obedience (Exod. 6:1-8; Gen. 12:1-3, Exod. 20:2). Israel was to have a special relationship with God, they’d be a great nation, & had to obey (Gen. 17:7, 8; Exod. 19:5, 6, Gen. 12:2; Exod. 19:6, Gen. 17:9-14; 22:16-18; Exod. 19:5). God first saves Israel & later give them His law (John 1:29; 1 Cor. 15:3; Gal. 1:4; 2:20, Rom. 4).
THURSDAY: Never will God change His covenant. He united with man in a lifelong covenant. The concept of the “new covenant” is first seen in the OT in the context of promises after Israel’s return from exile. This covenant like the old is initiated & fulfilled by God (Jer. 31:31-33; Exod. 6:7). God would engraved the same laws on the tablets of stone in their hearts. God’s grace was to be repaid with obedience (John 17:3).
FRIDAY: The law given to Moses on Mount Sinai is the same law that God has engraved upon our hearts. God in His infinite wisdom did not leave us to wander in sin, He gave us His law to order our steps in our walk with Him. It is this law that calls us to service to God. Christ on earth delighted in this law & bids us to do same (Ps. 40:8; John 6:38).
—Ellen G. White, “Abraham in Canaan,” pp. 132-138, in Patriarchs and Prophets; “The Prophets of God Helping Them,” pp. 569-571, in Prophets and Kings & The Desire of Ages, pp. 329, 330.
Keyword
Covenant – Originally it is “berith” but translated as “covenant”.
OT- Old Testament
Captions
SUNDAY- Covenant Basics
MONDAY- Covenant With Noah
TUESDAY- The Covenant With Abram
WEDNESDAY- The Covenant With Moses
THURSDAY- The New Covenant (Jer. 31:31-33)
Discussion Questions
📌 Was God’s covenant with Noah, Abram, Moses, and us a continuation of His covenant with Adam, or was it something new? (Compare Gen. 3:15; Gen. 22:18; and Gal. 3:8, 16.)
📌 Why is the personal, relational aspect of the covenant so important? In other words, you can have a legally binding deal, a “covenant,” with someone, without any close, personal interaction. That kind of arrangement is not, however, what the Lord is seeking in His covenant relationship with His people. Why is that so? Discuss.
📌 In what ways is marriage a good analogy for the covenant? In what ways does the analogy of marriage fall short in describing the covenant?
Entire Lesson Summary
The entrance of sin ruptured the relationship the Creator had originally established with the human family through our first parents. Now God seeks to reestablish that same loving relationship by means of a covenant. This covenant signifies both a committed relationship between God and us (like a marriage bond) and an arrangement for saving us and bringing us into harmony with its Maker. God Himself, motivated by His great love for us, is the Initiator of the covenant relationship. By gracious promises and gracious acts, He woos us to come into union with Him.
For April 3-9. Happy Sabbath.
Elder Dr MASIMBA Mavaza
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