The covenants I'm referring to are those made between God and mankind; His human creatures. His covenants have often dealt in blood but not always and not always with animal blood. Let me explain.
There have been several covenants between God and human beings but I will only highlight a couple.
One of the most well-known covenants is likely that between God and Noah. Noah had come out of the ark after being cooped up for so many days and nights and promptly erected an altar of thanksgiving and praise to God, offering up clean animals for burnt offering sacrifice. God spoke to Noah and promised that He would never flood the whole earth ever again. God "signed and sealed" that promise with His rainbow. God really knows how to do things in style! He's still keeping that promise thousands of years later even though Noah doesn't know (Genesis 8 & 9).
Another covenant of paramount significance is the one God made with Abraham. This was a three-pronged promise. He was promised a promised land; his descendants would be blessed and redeemed; and his covenant would be everlasting (Genesis 12:1-3). The sign between God and Abraham was that he and all his male descendants would be circumcised. This little operation causes blood to flow which in turn, symbolizes and represents the signing and sealing of the covenant. Abraham readily accepted these terms and set to work fulfilling his part of the agreement.
There were other great covenants; for instance, the one with David the king of Judah and Israel in which God promised him an eternal throne. What king does not want to hear such a promise? In some ways this was an "appreciation" gift from God to David because David had, for the most part, been wholly committed to God and walked in God's ways as an outpouring of love and devotion from his heart to God. (When we read many of the Psalms written from David's pen, the reader can see that trust, dependence, love and gratitude.)
This did not involve blood but years later, we find Jesus, many generations later, in the genealogy of the descendants of David (Matthew 1). This is Jesus, who we know is the King of kings and who will reign forever (2 Samuel 7:13-16; Psalm 89:29, 36).
Go back further in time to Moses and the covenant he mitigated between God and the children of Israel. As they were traipsing through the wilderness en route to the Promised Land after having the miraculous escape from slavery in Egypt God wanted to interact with them and firm up His covenant with them.
God spoke the Law to Moses and Moses explained all the rules and regulations to the throngs of Israel. He asked if they would accept this and be obedient to God their Almighty God, Guide, the One who'd rescued them and was accompanying them along the way. If they'd be obedient, God would bless them. If not, they'd bring curses down on their heads as delineated by Moses from God. They adamantly agreed to do all God asked.
Moses then sacrificed offerings to God. This covenant was signed and sealed with the blood of animals (Read Exodus 24:3-8).
"Moses then took the blood, sprinkled it on the people and said, "This is the blood of the covenant that the LORD has made with you in accordance with all these words" (vs 8 NIV).
In the New Testament we see God making another covenant with all of mankind. Jesus, the promised Messiah, the Root and Offspring of David, the Star (Isaiah 11:1-2; Zechariah 3:8; 6:12; Revelation 5:5 and 22:16), would be the Lamb of God who would shed His blood for the remission of sin (Hebrews 9:22, 28).
"...the blood of Jesus Christ, His (God's) Son, purifies us from all sin" (1 John 1:7 NIV).
Peruse Luke 22:19 and 20. Verse 19 speaks of Jesus' body being given for us (all mankind). Continue to verse 20, in regards to Jesus' blood which was spilt when on the cross of Calvary. It tells us, Jesus said,
"This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you" (NIV).
The signs and seals of God's covenant promise with the Church are water baptism after one has accepted Jesus Christ as Savior and then partaking of the "Lord's Table" in remembrance of Jesus in His death for us and all that entails. We do this as often as we can to show our belief, allegiance, obedience, love, thankfulness, and more, to Him but most of all, we proclaim His death until He comes (1 Corinthians 11:26). All this because He first loved us (1 John 4;19).
In this covenant, God does all because He knows and has proven to mankind, that mankind cannot help themselves. They fail time and again in keeping any kind of covenant. Thank God that He keeps us safe in His hands (John 10:27-30).
The connection I really like here is the symbolism of Moses sprinkling the Israelites with the blood of animals showing the acceptance of God's terms of their covenant. As we read the 1 John 1:7 verse and see that it is Jesus' blood that atones for our souls, I see it as God's doing more than just "sprinkling", He washes and purifies us from our sins; total, once for all purification of our justification.
This covenant is of great importance to God and has far-reaching repercussions. This New Covenant's other signs and seals are the promise of forgiveness of sins and the giving of the gift of everlasting life when God looks down and sees the blood of Jesus Christ has washed away the sins on the hearts and lives of individuals who have accepted "the terms".
Praise God for all He has done for you!
This is an enduring covenant.
~ERC December 2019~
Sing What The Lord Has Done; Hillsong
Jeremiah 31:31-34
Hymn: The New Covenant Blessings
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