2002-01-01
Good Morning Dear Readers,
The Lord has lead me to L. Berkhof’s “Systematic Theology,” in a effort to better understand covenants. He also directs me to clearly convey His lessons from the citations that are used by Berkhof to clarify the principles of covenant theology. Remember that a covenant is a two-way promise, and that some covenants are dipleuric (between two equal parties) and some are monopleuric (between two parties where one party is greater than the other, as in covenants with God). The usual Greek word for “covenant” is “suntheke,” but that word is not used to describe the covenants in the Bible. Instead, the Greek word, “diatheke,” which means “disposition and consequently, a testament,” is used. This raised the question of why. Berkhof explains the reason that the word, “suntheke,” suggests equality of the parties to the covenant, which is certainly not the case in a covenant with God.
IS 28: 15 is used by Berkhof as an example. God speaks through Isaiah here to discuss His plan for Cornerstone for Zion, directing his comments to the arrogant rulers of Jerusalem. “You boast that you have made a treaty with death and reached an agreement with the world of the dead. You are certain that disaster will spare you when it comes, because you depend on lies and deceit to keep you safe.” It is interesting here that both Greek words, “suntheke” and “diatheke” are used synonymously here. It is clear from the verses that follow it (16-17a) where God announces His decision to place in Zion “a foundation that is firm and strong. In it, I am putting a solid Cornerstone on which are written the words ‘Faith that is firm is also patient.’ Justice will be the measuring line for the foundation and honesty will be its plumb line.” The monopleuric nature of this covenant is clear, as God’s superiority, sovereignty, and supremacy can be clearly seen as he imposes this covenant on the people. This is no small matter. The leaders of Israel in Isaiah’s time have certainly demonstrated their inability to be good stewards of the people. God must impose such a covenant on them if this problem of poor shepherds is to ever be solved in enough time that the sheep can find salvation. That Cornerstone is the only Source for salvation-Jesus Christ! We should take note of the timeline for this promise. It has not yet been fulfilled, but will be when Christ returns for the second time [ZECH 14: 4-5].
Any covenants that exist between two or more people are a faint shadow of the one that establishes the Trinitarian being of God. That is the quintessential archetype of all covenants. It has always been God’s desire that covenants should be an integral pillar of mankind’s social life. To keep them requires honesty and diligence. Those are traits that God approves of in mankind. Of course, the covenants that bring out those traits need to be godly ones in the first place. “Honor among thieves” doesn’t qualify here. It is also interesting to note that covenants existed from the very beginning and didn’t just start with Noah and Abraham. The organization of the Trinity itself demonstrates this. God, the Father, makes all the decisions; Christ, the Son, carries them out, leads us to salvation, and gives His life on the cross to make it possible; the Holy Spirit indwells in the believer to encourage righteousness and help us to understand the teaching that comes from the Father and Christ. This and all the covenants we have with God have direct impact on our lives as individuals today.
In the Covenant of Grace, which all believers are under, we are only able to meet our part of the agreement if we bow to the regenerating and sanctifying influence of the Holy Spirit. This is just another way of saying, that for us to be sanctified (furthered in the process of perfection in preparation for glorification), we must empty our spiritual vessels of human agendas and allow the Holy Spirit to fill them. When we do, we discover God at work in us, and wonderful things happen to us and to those whom we influence for God. This is what happened to the ancient member of the tribe of Judah, Jabez, who was the most honorable member of his family. His prayer, found in 1 CH 4: 10, is one that I will pray every day for the rest of my life. I hope you will too. “Oh that You will bless me indeed, that You will enlarge my territory, that I will feel Your hand in my life, and that You will keep me from evil and from doing evil. Amen.” Dear Ones, Jabez is a man who allowed his spiritual vessel to be filled with the Holy Spirit and who acted under God’s direction. That God granted him what he requested is ample proof that this man gives us an example of how to please God.
PRAYER: O Lord, in RO 8: 28 You told us through Paul, “We know that in all things God works for good with those who love Him, those who are called according to His purpose.” I testify today to the truth of that statement. From before the creation of earth You entered into the Trinitarian relationship and carried it out. All the other covenants that You made were for the benefit of mankind. While man has not always been able to understand that and has not always taken his part in them seriously as he should, You have remained consistent, patient, and compassionate. It was always Your intention and still is that the covenants which are a part of our lives should bring out honesty, loyalty to You, and diligence on our parts. Unlike the arrogant Jewish leaders of Isaiah’s time, You want us to see that we cannot base our lives on lies and deceit. You want us to know Your righteousness and use it as a mode for our lives. You want us to be saved by faith in Your Son and are eager to bless us abundantly. You desire that we should seek You for direction and then take it. You offer us comfort when our burdens seem to overwhelm us [MT 11: 28-30]. You give us examples of man that please You like Jabez, so that we will also know how to please You. For that and so much more, we humbly approach You will confession of our sin and to express our faith in Jesus Christ. To You and Him, we offer our adoration, worship, loyalty, trust, obedience, glory, honor, praise, and thanks. In His name, amen.
Tomorrow, I am led to share some light on the subject of covenants from Lewis S. Chafer’s “Systematic Theology,” [not the same book as L. Berkhof’s]. There are a million things that can be said about the love that God has for us. If God labored under the limitations that we humans do, one might say that He took a walk on the wild side or went out on a limb for us. But, God is a perfect and sovereign Being Who knows everything and is not under such limitations. When Jesus said in MK 10: 27, “This is impossible for man but not for God; everything is possible for God,” he said a mouthful! The truth is that in giving His only Son on the cross so that we could be saved, He did what had to have been the most painful and difficult thing for Him to do. Who could miss the profound love in that?! And, think about it: that’s not all God has done and continues to do for us in our lives! Peter and I also send you our love too.
Grace Be With You Always,
Lynn