The seven covenants in the Bible are some of the most sacred and important promises that were ever made, as they were directly from God to humanity. Covenant means “promise” and each of the seven covenants indicate God’s commitments to us throughout our journey on this earth. The covenants found in the Bible serve a critical role in the overall narrative arc throughout the Old and New Testaments.
The first covenant is found in Genesis, outlining the promise between God and all living creatures, called the Noahic Covenant. This covenant was made to sustain the earth and to never destroy life on the planet with another flood. In exchange, God promised that He would be with us in every season of life and offer protection and guidance. This was the first covenant and therefore the basis of all covenants that followed.
The second covenant reveals the relationship between God and Abraham and is found in the book of Genesis. This covenant is called the Abrahamic Covenant, and it established a physical homebase for the children of Israel, in the Promised Land. This covenant fulfilled the promise made to Abraham and his descendants that they would be called the chosen people and enjoy unconditional favor, success, and blessing from God.
Thirdly, the Mosaic Covenant, also known as the Law of Moses, was given to the Jewish people when they were enslaved in Egypt, to lead them out of slavery and to the Promised Land. This covenant also provided instructions for how to live in God’s favor, how to live a holy life, and how to make sacrifices and offerings to redeem one’s sins. These laws were recorded in the books of Exodus and Leviticus.
Psalm 89:3-4 outlines the fourth covenant, the Davidic Covenant, a promise to David’s offspring and a promise to Israel as a nation that would remain with them forever. This covenant was also a promise that one day, Jesus Christ would be born and descend from the house of David.
The fifth covenant is known as the New Covenant, found in Jeremiah 31:31. This covenant is a promise of a new relationship between God and His people, with complete forgiveness of all sins and available grace. Since Jesus was sent to earth to fulfill the requirements of this covenant, it is considered the most revolutionary covenant. It brings us into a right relationship with God through faith in Jesus.
The sixth covenant is outlined in Revelation 21:1-4, which reveals a new heaven and earth. This is known as the Eternal Covenant, indicating that Heaven will be an eternal home one day for all of God’s chosen people.
The seventh covenant is the Marriage Covenant, revealed in the book of Malachi. This covenant is a concept used to describe the relationship between a man and woman as they are united in marriage. This covenant binds them together in trust, respect, commitment, and loyalty original made with Adam and Eve.
Salvation Tied To The Covenants
It is clear that central to all covenants is a theme of redemption and hope. All seven covenant center around how humanity can be saved from earthly suffering. The covenant in Genesis established an arc of hope for the redemption of the nation of Israel. The Mosaic Covenant provided instructions for living an upright life in God’s favor and made a way for atonement when one sins. The Davidic Covenant laid out a hope for an Anointed One to come and save the nation from its exile and bring eternal peace. The New Covenant, which was bought through Jesus’s sacrifice on the Cross, gave believers a way to reconcile with God and be saved from the ultimate punishment of death. Additionally, the Eternal Covenant gives us hope for a way out of the sadness and suffering of this world and into the peace and joy of Heaven. The Marriage Covenant, while not directly connected to salvation, provides a way for believers to live in the love and grace of God, as a married couple with a strong and loving commitment to one another.
God’s Promises Made Real In Each Covenant
The Bible reveals a God who keeps His promises, time and time again. Every broken heart, every betrayal, every sin made, God stepped in to restore, redeem, and renew that relationship. He did this through the seven covenants for us, giving us the utmost forgiveness and grace. Every covenant is the Lord’s promise coming to life and satisfaction provided for those whose faith is strong in Him.
God made seven specific covenants to demonstrate His immense love for us and His power to protect us and guide us. Our strength and security lies in Him and the promises He made to us through these covenants. The Noahic Covenant serves as a reminder that He will protect us no matter what storms and floods may come our way. The Abrahamic Covenant reminds us that He will love, guide, and protect us unconditionally. Through the Mosaic Covenant, we are given the opportunity to live a holy life through His Word and teachings. The Davidic Covenant is an example of the faithfulness of God, that one day our deliverer will conquer the evil in this world. The New Covenant is our access to restoring our relationship with God and being saved through the sacrifice of Jesus. The Eternal Covenant offers comfort and assurance that the suffering and pain of the world can be replaced with true and everlasting joy. Lastly, the Marriage Covenant is an example of God’s grace and mercy, enshrining within us the perfect example of love and loyalty in marriage.
Characteristics Of God Revealed In Each Covenant
Each of these seven covenants invite us to explore an aspect of God’s character. As we read through these sacred promises, it becomes clear that God is a God of grace and mercy, one who abundantly provides for us, faithfully remembers us and unwaveringly holds us up in times of need. He continually strives to redeem us, forgive us, and restore us, no matter what our circumstances are. As we journey through the Old and New Testaments, we learn that God desired to have a close and intimate relationship with us, even though we have broken our relationship with Him many times. It is through His determination and relentless loyalty that He continually comes back, seeking the best for us.
God’s love for us is further demonstrated through the seven covenants. Through these seven covenants we learn that He is a God of mercy and grace. For example, the Noahic Covenant is an illustration of God’s forgiveness and mercy as He spared mankind from destruction and renewed and restored our relationship with Him. The Abrahamic covenant is a symbol of God’s unwavering love for His people. He never gave up on them, and even after periods of disobedience He still stayed dedicated to them and wanted what was best for them. The New Covenant was a promise of Jesus coming to earth and offering us a way to reconcile and be saved from death. In short, God loves us so much that He made promises He could not break, promises of a way out of suffering, and promises of a new and everlasting covenant, that of eternal life.
Living A Life Of Covenant Faithfulness
Christianity calls us to live a life to emulate the faithfulness of God. Our response to God begins with being faithful to Him. This can be done by trusting Him and relying on Him to keep His promises, which requires us to remember His faithfulness. Secondly, we must keep our promises and live in agreement with His plans and instructions for our lives, as outlined in the Bible. Thirdly, we must show grace and mercy to those around us. Lastly, we must be faithful to our commitments, knowing that all our relationships may each embody the faithfulness of God.
When we live a life of covenant faithfulness, we come to understand the power of His promises, that they are not just words on a page but are a way of life. This type of life, marked by obedience and trust, draws us closer to God, as He draws closer to us, fulfilling every promise in His word. Living in covenant faithfulness makes us aware of God’s commitment to us, faithfully providing replenishment and restoration in every season of life. Like the Lord said in Jeremiah 33:14, “The days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when I will fulfill the good promise I have made to the people of Israel and Judah.” This promise is fulfilled through Jesus. He is the way, the truth and the life and He is the fulfillment of all that was promised to us through each of the seven covenants.
The Purpose Of The Covenants
All seven covenants were made with the same goal in mind, a return to fellowship with God. God created us for relationship and wanted to be intimately connected with us. Throughout the Biblical narrative, God continuously pursues us, and never gives up, even after we have sinned and disobeyed Him many times. It is through these seven covenants that God promised to prove that His love is ever-present and never-failing, and they are the assurance of blessings and redemption to come.
God declared through the Abrahamic Covenant that He would bless those who are faithful to Him, and make sure that they are granted abundance. The Mosaic Covenant serves as a reminder that God desires us to follow His laws, and He will purify us with His mercy and restrain us with His justice. The New Covenant showed us that He will make us rightly related to Him and break free from a sinful lifestyle. Through these covenants, God taught us that He will protect us from destruction, provide a way into the Promised Land, and save us from death and destruction. In essence, the seven covenants in the Bible portrays how God desires to be in deep relationship with us, and how His love will sustain us in life.
God As The Foundation Of The Covenants
The seven covenants are driven by God’s immense love for us. He desires to have a relationship with us that is intimate and everlasting. Therefore, to understand these seven covenants, we must first trust in Him and rely on Him. Through these covenants, He gave us grace and mercy, guidance and protection, repentance and salvation, and He provided what we needed to begin and maintain a relationship with Him. It is God who establishes and fulfills all these promises and it is He who keeps His promises. Ultimately, these seven covenants are not just words on a page, but true, living relationships that we have with God.
Commitment To Putting Our Trust In God
Although we come across many difficult times and are tested with hardships, it is ultimately through clinging to God’s promises that we are able to experience true peace and rest. As we remember the seven covenants in the Bible, we need to make a commitment to putting our trust in God and rely on Him for His grace and mercy. Although we may drift away from Him, He will never depart from us, but yearn to restore our relationship with Him. We can be reassured of His faithfulness towards us and know that He will fulfill all of His promises, just as He vowed through all the seven covenants.
