Do you remember those pictures with multiple colors and images and lines drawn all over them, such that it looks like a mess to the naked eye, but when you look at it with a certain colored lens, a clear picture appears? The metaphor or filter of “covenant” works in that way to help clarify the biblical material so that the redemptive story of God more easily emerges.
“Covenant” is not a word we use very often, it’s not overly familiar. However, it does appear at special moments, perhaps when you don’t even recognize it. We speak of marriage as a covenant; the Lord’s Supper as “the new covenant in His blood”; and, baptism as a sign and seal of God’s “covenant community.” Of course, these are just phrases, and easily glossed over, if you don’t take the time to dwell upon it.
A “covenant” is an agreement between two parties, which defines their relationship, where one or both parties make promises to perform or avoid certain actions stipulated in advance. These promises are given under oath, calling upon God Himself to enforce and sanction the fulfillment of the promises. The use of “covenant” (or, more familiarly, “testament”) designates the two main characteristics of the Bible—the Old Testament (Covenant) and the New. This is the major metaphor used to describe the relationship between God and His people. It is a valuable lens through which one can recognize, appreciate, and evaluate the biblical community.
Biblical covenants follow a rather standard format, which one could easily miss, but once seen, is readily evident.
- The covenant, or agreement of the two parties, begins with a description of the past relationship between the two—this “historical prologue” sets the tone for the rest of the agreement.
- The promises and provisions are then laid out, where God (usually the initiator of the biblical covenant) pledges specific blessings to the people.
- It requires the human party in the agreement to agree upon the stipulations and obligations.
- What follows are signs and seals of the covenant—visual and tangible reminders that confirm and ratify the covenant.
- Finally, a ratification ceremony and act of renewal, which both commits the parties to the covenant and celebrates the relationship, is affirmed.
This format is followed numerous times in the Scripture:
- the Noahic Covenant (God’s promises to Noah, Genesis chapter 9);
- the Abrahamic Covenant (with Abraham, Genesis chapters 15 & 17);
- the Sinai Covenant (Moses and the Ten Commandments, Exodus chapter 20);
- the Davidic Covenant (2 Samuel chapter 7);
- and the New Covenant promises of Jesus for salvation (see, for instance, 1 Corinthians chapter 11).
Once you see the structure, the covenants readily appear when one reads the text.
These covenants again describe the relationship between God and His people—the background upon which it rests, the promises God makes, the obligations and stipulations assumed by the people, the sign or mark of the covenant relationship, and the process whereby the covenant is celebrated and remembered.
All this and more is packed into our text for this week, 2 Samuel chapter 7, the Davidic Covenant. To prepare for worship, read the chapter and seek God’s promises to us.
- What is the basic “covenant” or “promise” God makes here with David? Why is this important?
- Can you identify the five elements mentioned above in the relationship God establishes with David here? For instance, where is the “historical prologue,” the description of the past relationship between the two parties?
- We will describe how this covenant relationship is still important in the New Testament era of Jesus Christ. Can you anticipate why this is the case?
- Read through David’s response to receiving this word from God (verse 18 and following). How does he describe himself? His God? How is this already a partial fulfillment of the covenant promises?
By Henry Knapp