He Gave Us Prophets: Dynamics of the Covenant

Dear Church Family,

In our continuing Sunday school lessons using a video curriculum and discussion format entitled, “He Gave Us Prophets,” the eight lessons in this series are as follows:

1. Essential Hermeneutical Perspectives
2. A Prophet’s Job
3. People of the Covenant
4. Dynamics of the Covenant
5. Historical Analysis of Prophecy
6. Literary Analysis of the Prophets
7. The Purpose of Predictions
8. Unfolding Eschatology

Dynamics of the Covenant

In this fourth lesson, we examined the general structure of the covenants in the Old Testament along with the blessings and curses that attended these covenants.

1. Covenant Ideals

As we learned in a previous lesson, the structure of Old Testament covenants followed the same pattern of the suzerain-vassal treaties of the ancient near east. These covenants were based upon the suzerain’s (or emperor’s) benevolence; as such, the vassal’s status was not earned but simply received. The prophets of the old covenant did not speak in a vacuum; they simply applied the teachings of the previous covenants which God had entered into with His people Israel.

The book of Deuteronomy follows basic structure of a suzerain-vassal treaty:

Preamble                     (Deuteronomy 1:1-4)
Historical Prologue     (Deuteronomy 1:5-4:43)
Stipulations                 (Deuteronomy 4:44-26:19)
Blessings & Curses      (Deuteronomy 27:1-30:20)
Succession                  (Deuteronomy 31:1-34:12)

2. Covenant Judgment

The types of judgments which the prophets warned about were all forewarned in the Mosaic covenant (Deuteronomy 4:25-28; 28:15-68; 29:16-29; 32:15-43; Leviticus 26:14-39). These included judgements in nature (drought, pestilence, famine, disease, wild animals, population loss) and judgments in war (defeat, sieges, occupation, death, destruction, exile). Leviticus 26:14-39 is an important text as it established divine patience, increasing severity of judgment in the face of continued sin and rebellion, and a warning of the particular climax of God’s judgment through exile.

2. Covenant Blessings

Likewise, the types of blessings which the prophets promised were all based in the Mosaic covenant (Deuteronomy 4; 28; 30; Leviticus 26). And, these also included blessings in nature (agricultural plenty, livestock fertility, health, and population increase) and blessings in warfare (defeat of enemies, end to warfare, relief from destruction, and return of captives from exile). These promised blessings were always received on the basis of God’s grace, varied in degree, and spoke of the ultimate climax of the permanent blessing of the remnant of God’s people.

Conclusion

I hope you will join us on Sunday mornings at 9:15 am as we learn how better to interpret the prophetic books of the Old Testament!

The Lord be with you!
Pastor Peter M. Dietsch