The Covenant Series, Part 3

Symbolism of Covenant...The Covenant between Jonathan and David -

One of the most famous man to man covenants was between King Saul's son, Jonathan and David, who had been anointed to be the next king by the prophet Samuel (1 Samuel l8:2). 1 Samuel l8:1 reads – 'Now it came about when he (David) had finished speaking to Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was 'knit' to the soul of David.' (NIV) The soul of Jonathan bound itself to the soul of David...became one in spirit with David, and Jonathan loved him as himself. Jonathan swore to be his blood brother. And Jonathan stripped himself of the royal robe that was on him and gave it to David, with his armor, including his sword and his bow and his belt. At the same time, David stripped himself of his shepherd's clothing and gave his clothes and staff to Jonathan. David and Jonathan understood making covenant. If we understand what they understood through their ceremony, we can perhaps understand better what Christ did for us. We must also realize that

Jonathan initiated the cutting of a Covenant with David because he loved him as himself. He loved David as his soul or as his own life. Now, thinking back on other covenants between man,how does this covenant differ from most of those other covenants between men? Clearly, it was based not on 'fear' but it was based on 'friendship'.

Twice in 1 Samuel l8:1, the Scripture records that Jonathan loved him as his own soul. The Hebrew verb 'ahab' describes God's love for His children (Hosea l:l)...”When Israel was a youth, I loved him”, human love for God (Deut.6:5..'you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might), and the love for every man which is commanded by God...(Lev.19:18)...'you shall love your neighbor as yourself.'

The Exchanging of Robes...

Jonathan demonstrates his commitment to this solemn covenant by giving David his royal robe. In that symbolic sense

(especially as this practice was understood in the ancient world) in the contest of covenant, David is 'putting on' Jonathan. David is taking on the identity of his covenant partner Jonathan. In essence the two have become one. It is interesting that this new relationship heralded in an end of independent living for both partners since they now are called to live for each other...to cover one another's backs so to speak. There is to be a 'surrender of self' for the covenant partner and we see that Jonathan willingly gave up his right to be king to David. David is seen in Jonathan's clothes that all may take notice he is Jonathan's second self. Our Lord Jesus has shown His love to us, that He stripped Himself also so He could clothe us, emptied Himself to enrich us and clothed Himself with our rags.

How Did Jesus Take Our Robes?

In Philippians 2: 4-8...'Let each of you esteem and look upon and be concerned for not (merely) his own interests, but also each for the interests of others, 5) Let this same attitude and purpose and (humble) mind be in 'you' which was in Christ Jesus; (Let Him d and in the form of God (possessing the fullness of the attributes which make God God), did not think this equality with God was a thing to be eagerly grasped or retained, 7) But stripped Himself (of all privileges and rightful dignity), so as to assume the guise of a servant (slave), in that He became like men and was born a human being. 8) And after He had appeared in human form, He abased and humbled Himself (still further) and carried His obedience to the extreme of death, even the death of the cross! (Amp).

For all eternity, Jesus wore the 'robe of Divinity' as co-equal with God. In order to take on the 'robe' of humility, He stepped down from His exalted position as the only begotten Son of God as Paul carefully outlined.

1. He chose not to demand or cling to His rights as God. He continued to fully exist as God but during His Incarnation refused to hold on to His divine rights and privileges.

2. He emptied Himself. Although He remained fully God, He emptied Himself completely of certain aspects of His prerogatives as God

3. He took the form of a bond-servant. Form is the Greek word morphe which stresses essence of one's nature. Thus Jesus existed in the form (morphe) of God and now in the form of a bond-servant. In other words, He did not just put on the external raiment of a slave but actually became a slave in the fullest sense.

4. He was made in the likeness of men. Likeness means that which is made to be like something else, not just in appearance but in reality. Jesus possessed all the attributes of men and was not simply a reasonable facsimile of a man, not like Adam before the Fall but with all the frailties, limitations, and sufferings that were the result of the fall. All except He was without sin.

5. Being found in appearance as a man. This phrase teaches that Jesus was recognized as a man by those who observed Him during His time on earth. The word appearances schema which contracts with form and likeness which both refer to the very essence and basic nature. Schema on one hand refers to outward shape or form. Jesus' whole outward appearance bore no difference to that of other men.

6. He humbled Himself. The word humbled (tapeinoo) has the root idea of that which lies low and thus means to be brought low, referring especially to one's attitude. Greeks saw humility as shameful, but Jesus took the attitude of lowering Himself relative to God and to other men! This is an astounding, unfathomable truth. Believers need to remember this great truth when the slightest impulse arises to become self-assertive and self-seeking(or anything else focused on 'self'.)

7. He became obedient to the point of death. Jesus in taking on man's robes, died in man's place, in perfect submission to His Father. He took on the robe of humanity in order that he might bear our sins and that we in exchange might put on His robe of righteousness by entering the New Covenant. What an incredible exchange of robes. This is the foundational truth of the New Covenant in His blood 'While we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly...Romans 5:6.

We can see that Jesus exchanged His robe of Divinity for the likeness of a man. He fulfilled His destiny as a Man by becoming obedient to the point of death on the cross..thus becoming our Substitute for sin. This is the New Covenant in His blood. Now when the Father looks at us, he sees us in the righteousness of His Son. Our position, therefore, calls for a new practice.

A New Self = A New Man

It is time to take a look at the Book of Ephesians, Chapter 4, verses 2l through 32...AMP...'Assuming that you have really heard Him and been taught by Him, as (all) Truth is in Jesus (embodied and personified in Him). 22) Strip yourselves of your former nature (put off and discard your old unrenewed self) which characterized your previous manner of life and becomes corrupt through lusts and desires that spring from delusion; 23) And be constantly renewed in the spirit of your mind (having a fresh mental and spiritual attitude). 24) And put on the New Nature (the regenerated self) created in God's image, (Godlike) in true righteousness and holiness. 25)Therefore, rejecting all falsity and being done now with it, let everyone express the truth with his neighbor, for we are all parts of one body and members one of another. 26)When angry, do not sin; do not ever let your wrath (your exasperation, your fury, or indignation) last until the sun goes down. 27) Leave no (such) room or foothold for the devil (give no opportunity to him). 28) Let the thief steal no more, but rather let him be industrious, making an honest living with his own hands, so that he may be able to give to those in need. 29) Let no foul or polluting language, nor evil word nor unwholesome or worthless talk (ever) come out of your mouth, but only such (speech) as is good and beneficial to the spiritual progress of others, as is fitting to the need and the occasion, that is may be a blessing and give grace (God's favor) to those who hear it. 30) And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God (do not offend or vex or sadden Him), by Whom you were sealed (marked, branded as God's own, secured) for the day of redemption (of final deliverance through Christ from evil and the consequences of sin). 3l)Let all bitterness and indignation and wrath (passion,

rage, bad temper) and resentment (anger, animosity) and quarreling (brawling, clamor contention) and slander (evil-speaking), abusive or blasphemous language) be banished from you, with all malice (spite, ill will, or baseness of any kind).

32. And become useful and helpful and kind to one another, tenderhearted, (compassionate, understanding, loving-hearted), forgiving one another (readily and freely), as God in Christ forgave you. (Amp)

So, in Ephesians 4, Paul describes what happened to our 'filthy rags' when we entered into covenant with the Lord Jesus Christ and as He gave us His royal robe.,,(see verses 2l and 25).

Summarizing up the truth as related to covenant we see that... l) We laid aside our Old Self...all I was in the filthy garment of Adam before I put on Christ's robe of righteousness at salvation (Eph.4:22). 2) We are being Renewed in the spirit of your mind. (This process began the moment we entered the new covenant and is occurring continually in our lives as the Holy Spirit takes the truth of the Word and renews our thinking at the core level, transforming us from glory to glory...(dimension to dimension). 3) We have put on the 'New Self'

PUT OFF PUT ON

Falsehood (lying)...Eph. 4:25 Speak Truth...Eph 4:25

Sinful Anger...Eph 4:28 Righteous Anger...Eph 4:26

Stealing...Eph 4:28 Work for Living...Eph 4:28

Rotten Words...Eph.4:29 Words that Build Up...Eph 4:29

Bitterness, Wrath, Anger, Clamor, Slander, Malice...Eph 4:31 Be Kind, Tender-Hearted, Forgiving

A New Practice...Colossians 3

Immorality PUT ON: Heart of Compassion

Impurity Kindness

Passion Humility

Evil Desire Gentleness

Greed or Idolatry Patience

Anger Bearing With One Another

Wrath Forgiving One Another

Malice Put On Love

Slander Let the Love of God Rule in Your

Abusive Speech Hearts

Lying Let the Word of the Lord Dwell Within You

We have gone through and summarized some basic teaching about 'Covenant'. We admonish you to

'Live Like a New Man' who dwells in Christ Jesus.

We sincerely hope that this has helped you come into a somewhat deeper understanding of what God's Covenant with us truly entails.

The Night is Almost Gone... In light of the lateness of the hour before Christ's soon return, let us take one moment, Beloved, and ponder the words of Adoniram Judson who literally gave up his life and worldly fame and success to take the gospel 'light' to the spiritual darkness in Burma.

He states, 'A life once spent is irrevocable. It will remain to be contemplated throughout eternity...the same may be said of each day. When it is once past, it is gone forever. All the marks which we put upon it, it will exhibit forever...each day will not only be a witness of our conduct, but will effect our everlasting destiny. How shall we then wish to see each day marked with usefulness. It is too late to mend the days that are past. The future is in our power. Let us then each morning, resolve to send the day into eternity in such a garb as we shall wish it to wear forever. And at night, let us reflect that one more day is irrevocably gone, indelibly marked.

How many of us are looking more into the world of flesh rather then that of the Spirit of God? Can you see the significance of what Jesus did for us? The God of the Universe has become your Covenant Partner! He has

pledged Himself to stand by you, to cover your back. If we are faithless, He remains faithful. He promised.

He declares, “I Am always with you!” And, He expects us to Walk in Covenant with Him also.

Hallelujah and Amen.

All scriptures either came from the NIV or the Amplified Versions of the Bible.

All information came from the Internet through Google...Covenant: Abrahamic vs Old vs. New.