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THE COVENANT TREATY FORMAT OF THE OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS:  TREATIES WITH GOD AS SOVEREIGN LORD

 

"If, however, from there you start searching once more for Yahweh your God, and if you search for him honestly and sincerely, you will find him.  You will suffer; everything I have said will befall you, but in the Final Days you will return to Yahweh your God and listen to his voice.  For Yahweh your God is a merciful God and will not desert or destroy you or forget the covenant which he made on oath with your ancestors."  
Deuteronomy 4:29-31

 

Relationships between people and between nations have always been bound by covenants.  It is a human tradition that reaches back in ancient times to the cradle of civilization in Mesopotamia. In a similar fashion, God's relationship with man has always been defined through the sacred bond of the Covenant, from the Covenant with Adam and Creation to the Covenant established with the blood Jesus Christ. In the Sinai Covenant and the creation of the nation of Israel, God joined Himself to Israel in a Covenant that is expressed as a marriage relationship bound in covenant between Yahweh and His bride, Israel.  But Yahweh is also bound in covenant with Israel as the Great King to His vassal state.  It is an amazing historical link to the Bible that the formal covenant arrangements in Scripture bears a striking resemblance to the structure of peace treaties of the city-states and Empires of the Ancient Near East (see Meredith G. Kline, Treaty of the Great King: The Covenant Structure of Deuteronomy (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Pub. Co., 1963); Jon D. Levenson, Sinai & Zion: An Entry into the Jewish Bible, Harper and Row, 1987, pages 26-75; the treaty between Marsilis and Duppi-Tessub of Amurru, translated by A. Goetze in Ancient Near Eastern Texts, 3^rd edition.

 

In the Bible two types of covenants are established between Yahweh as the great King and His vassals, whether individuals or nations: The Royal Grant Covenant in which the King, Yahweh, grants His favor without stipulation or obligation in a perpetual covenant and the Covenant Treaty in which Yahweh promises covenant blessings for faithful obedience but covenant curses/judgment for disobedience to the covenant obligations.  In the formation of a covenant both the dominant King and his vassal swear an oath in treaty form, thereby creating a covenant binding the 2 parties.  Each party receives a copy of the covenant treaty.  You will recall that in the Sinai Covenant the binding words of the covenant are written on the front and on the back of two stone tablets.  In the ancient Near East each party kept their copy of the treaty in their most sacred shrine.  In the case of the 10 Commandments both Yahweh's copy and Israel's copy were kept in the Ark of the Covenant.  The standard Biblical covenant had 5 parts while secular covenants had six, including the witness of pagan gods, absent in Biblical covenant treaties (Kline)

COVENANT TREATY FORMAT

 

A marriage Covenant followed a similar format with covenant duties and obligations.   In the Bible covenants form family bonds.  A covenant with an equal creates "brothers", while covenants with non-equals like Yahweh the Great King and Israel his vassal, creates a father / son relationship.  The vassal owes the king the loyalty and obedience a son owes a father.  Yahweh expresses his covenant with Israel as both a great king to a vassal but more meaningfully as a husband to his wife, another aspect of human relationship bound in covenant.  When Israel strays from Yahweh to embrace other gods she is an unfaithful wife, a harlot breaking the marriage covenant and when she makes treaties with other nations she commits treason against her Suzerain/ Great Lord.

 

COVENANT TREATIES IN THE OLD TESTAMENT

 

One of the best examples of a Covenant Treaty in the Old Testament is the covenant renewal treaty found in the Book of Deuteronomy written by Moses just before the new generation of the Sinai Covenant took possession of the Promised Land (the original Exodus generation had died during the 40 years between the giving of the Law at Sinai and arriving at the plains of Moab and the entrance into the Promised Land). This renewal treaty marks a subtle shift in Israel's relationship with Yahweh.  From the time of the first formation of the covenant at Sinai, Yahweh was Israel's Bridegroom/King.  But now that Israel is about to embark on nationhood by taking possession of the Promised Land, the people will be looking to establish a monarchy like other nations.  With foreknowledge of this change, Yahweh adjusts His relationship with the Chosen People from national king to Suzerain of a Kingdom of nations through the formation of a Covenant Treaty.  Great Kings do not require written Covenant Treaties with their own states but they do require these agreements with vassal states.  The written document of the 10 Commandments was more a marriage covenant bound by the Law of Moses rather than a covenant treaty between a king and a nation.  As Israel positions herself to begin the Conquest of Canaan, the relationship between Israel and Yahweh shifts.  Yahweh is not just a local king, He is King of Kings of all the nations of the earth and the Covenant Treaty of Deuteronomy reflects His authority as the King of all nations with Israel as His firstborn son / principal vassal state among many such vassal states.  It will be Israel's duty to be Yahweh's holy people and a witness to the other nations that Yahweh is the One True God.  Once Jerusalem is established as the capital city of the nation of Israel the desert Tabernacle becomes obsolete, having room to serve only the Chosen People.  Solomon's Temple built in Jerusalem will have a "court of the Gentiles' where the Gentile nations can come to be instructed and invited into covenant with the One True God.  The book of Deuteronomy naturally divides into 5 sections that correspond to the 5 parts of ancient covenant treaty structure. (Kline: Treaty of the Great King; also Sutton That you may Prosper: Dominion by Covenant: Tyler, Texas: Institute for Christian Economics, 1987).

 

Covenant Treaty Format of the Book of Deuteronomy

 

COVENANT TREATY LAWSUITS IN THE OLD TESTAMENT

In the ancient Near East when a vassal kingdom violated the terms of the covenant agreement, the Great Lord would send emissaries to warn the offenders of the coming judgment and enforcement of the curse sanctions.  If the covenant relationship could not be reestablished and the violations continued the great king's emissaries would call a "covenant lawsuit" against the offending vassal. In the Bible it was the mission of God's holy Prophets (who acted as God's emissaries) to bring a restoration of covenant obligations or, when failing in restoration, to act as Yahweh's prosecuting attorneys to bring the message of the covenant Lawsuit against the offending nation.  In Hebrew a covenant lawsuit is called a 'rib' or riv.  For example: Isaiah and Hosea brought a Covenant Lawsuit against the Northern Kingdom Israel in the 8^th century BC.  The prophets Jeremiah and Ezekiel brought a Covenant Lawsuit against the Southern Kingdom of Judea in the 6^th century BC.  In every case the holy prophet acting as Yahweh's emissary addressed the generation on which the Covenant curses would fall. Some examples of covenant lawsuits in Scripture are found in:

1. Deuteronomy 4:26; 30:19; 32:1
2. Psalms 50:4-7
3. the Book of Isaiah 1:2 & 21
4. the Book of Hosea  4:1 "Israelites, hear what Yahweh says, for Yahweh indicts (literally brings a 'riv', covenant lawsuit to) the citizens of the country:  there is no loyalty, no faithful love, no knowledge of God in the country..."

 

The covenant lawsuit in the book of Hosea is laid out in the classic Covenant Treaty format:

 

The book of the prophet Ezekiel is especially noteworthy as a Covenant Lawsuit.  It contains the judgment pronounced against Southern Kingdom of Judah in the 6^th century BC.  Ezekiel is given a series of vision which foretell the Babylonian conquest, the destruction of Jerusalem and Solomon's Temple, and the 70 year exile of the people.  But what is remarkable about these 6^th century visions is that they are repeated in the visions of  God's prophet John in the 1^st century AD in the last book in the Bible, the Book of Revelation:

Parallels between the visions of the Book of Revelation and the visions of the Book of the Prophet Ezekiel

 

It is very important to note that each of the Old Testament Covenant Lawsuits is addressed to the current generation upon which the covenant curses will be unleashed.  When the covenantal context of prophecy is ignored, the message the prophet was told to communicate is either lost or distorted.  The point is, if John's prophetic vision is the calling down of a Covenant Lawsuit (it follows the classic format) then John is addressing the current generation who rejected the Messiah. But he is also addressing the New Covenant Church symbolized in the letters to the seven Churches.  Each of those letters is also formatted as a Covenant Treaty.  In other words, the Old Covenant Church faces judgment for rejecting the Messiah while the New Covenant Church becomes the successor, the New Israel.  I think this is a key to unraveling the interpretation of the book of Revelation.  John's revelation is a prophecy with a specific covenantal orientation and reference.  A covenant lawsuit is not a divorce in the "marriage covenant" between God and Israel as some Protestant scholars have suggested; it is a covenant judgment.  Yahweh's covenantal promised are irrevocable even when those with whom He is in covenant abandon their covenant obligations.  Judgment is meant to bring the covenant partner to repentance and restoration.

COVENANT TREATY FORMAT IN THE NEW TESTAMENT

Compare of the Judgments of St. John's Apocalypse and The Gospel of Matthew's prophecies of Judgment.  Each of the Synoptic Gospels gives a mini apocalypse of future judgment.  Only John's Gospel is lacking the passages on the judgment of Jerusalem, a prophecy fulfilled in 70AD when the Roman Army destroyed Jerusalem and the Temple after a 3 ½ year rebellion against the Roman Empire.  Why doesn't John give a mini apocalypse like the Synoptic Gospels?  Could it be because he gives a maxi apocalypse in the Book of Revelation?

 

In fact, the Book of Revelation [Apocalypse] is full of Covenant Treaty format outlines.  Each of the letters to the 7 churches falls neatly into the same format.  These, however are not covenant lawsuits but the covenant treaty of the New Covenant with the universal Church represented by the 7 Churches of Revelation.

 

The Covenant Treaty format in the letter to the Ephesians:

• PREAMBLE:  Identifying the lordship of the Great King: Rev. 2:1"The One who holds the seven stars in His right hand, the One who walks among the seven golden lampstands."
• HISTORICAL PROLOGUE: Surveying the lord's previous relationship to the vassal, especially emphasizing the blessings bestowed: Rev. 2:2-4 " I know your deeds....etc."
• ETHICAL STIPULATIONS: Expounding the vassal's obligations.  Rev. 2:5a "Remember therefore from where you have fallen, and repent, and do the deeds you did at first.."
• SANCTIONS:  Outlining the blessings for obedience and the curses for disobedience:  Rev. 2:5b  "Or else I am coming to you, and will remove your lampstand out of its place, unless you repent."
• SUCCESSION ARRANGEMENTS:  Dealing with the continuity of the covenant relationship over future generations.  Rev. 2:7  ".......To him who overcomes I will grant to eat of the Tree of Life, which is in the Paradise of My God"

 

The Covenant Treaty Format in the Letter to Smyrna:

• PREAMBLE:  Rev. 2:8 "Here is the message of the First and the Last, who was dead and has come to life again."
• HISTORICAL PROLOGUE:  Rev.  2:9 "I know your hardships and your poverty.."
• ETHICAL STIPULATIONS:  Rev. 2:10 "Do not be afraid of the sufferings that are coming to you..."
• SANCTIONS: Rev. 2:10 "Even if you have to die, keep faithful,"
• SUCCESSION ARRANGEMENTS:  Rev. 2:10-11"and I will give you the crown of life ...listen to what the Spirit is saying...for those who prove victorious will come to no harm"

 

The Covenant Treaty Format of the Letter to Pergamum:

• PREAMBLE:  Rev. 2:12 "...the One who has the sharp sword, double-edged"
• HISTORICAL PROLOGUE: Rev. 2:13 "I know where you live...."
•  ETHICAL STIPULATIONS: Rev. 2:14-15 "Nevertheless, I have one or two charges..."
•  SANCTIONS: Rev. 2:16 "So repent, or I shall soon come to you and attack these..."
•  SUCCESSION ARRANGEMENTS: Rev. 2:17 "To those who prove victorious I will give some hidden manna and a white stone with a new name written on it, ..."

 

The Covenant Treaty Format of the Letter to Thyatira:

• PREAMBLE: Rev. 2:18 "Here is the message of the Son of God who has eyes like a burning flame and feet like burnished bronze..."
• HISTORICAL PROLOGUE: Rev. 2:19 " I know your activities, your love, your faith, ...."
• ETHICAL STIPULATIONS:  Rev. 2:20-21 "Nevertheless, I have a complaint to make.."
• SANCTIONS: >Rev. 2:22-24  "Look, I am consigning her to a bed of pain,...."
• SUCCESSION ARRANGEMENTS: Rev. 2:26-29 "To anyone who proves victorious and keeps working for me until the end, I will give the authority over the nations which I myself have been given by my Father....And I will give such a person the Morning Star.  ...."

 

The Covenant Treaty Format of the Letter to Sardis:

• PREAMBLE: Rev. 3:1a  "...Here is the message of the one who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars."
• HISTORICAL PROLOGUE: Rev. 3:1b  "I know about your behavior...."
• ETHICAL STIPULATIONS: Rev.  3: 2 "Wake up; put some resolve into what little vigor you have left.."
• SANCTIONS: Rev. 3:3 "Repent!  If you do not wake up I shall come to you..."
• SUCCESSION ARRANGMENTS: Rev. 3:4-6"There are a few...Anyone who proves victorious will be dressed like these in white robes; I shall not blot that name out of the book of life....".

 

The Covenant Treaty Format of the Letter to Philadelphia

• PREAMBLE:  Rev.3:7 "...Here is the message of the holy and true One..."
• HISTORICAL PROLOGUE: Rev.3:8  "I know about your activities....."
• ETHICAL STIPULTIONS: Rev.3:9  "Look, I am going to make the..."
• SANCTIONS: Rev. 3:10  "Because you have kept my commandments..."
• SUCCESSION ARRANGEMENTS:  Rev. 3:11-13 "I am coming soon...let no one take your victor's crown away from you.  Anyone who proves victorious I will make into a pillar in the sanctuary of my God, and it will stay there for ever; I will inscribe on it the name of my God...."

The Covenant Treaty Format of the Letter to Laodicea

• PREAMBLE: Rev.3:14 "...Here is the message of the Amen, the trustworthy, the true witness, the Principle of God's creation."
• HISTORICAL PROLOGUE:  Rev. 3:15 "I know about your activities......"
• ETHICAL STIPULATIONS:  Rev. 3:16-17 "I wish you were one or the other....."
• SANCTIONS:  Rev. 3:18-20 "I warn you...."
• SUCCESSION ARRANGEMENTS:  Rev. 3: 21-22:  "Anyone who proves victorious I will allow to share my throne, just as I have myself overcome and have taken my seat with my Father on his throne.""

 

Jesus the Messiah came fulfilling the prophecies of the Prophets of Yahweh.  He came as prophet, priest, and king to form the New Covenant promised in Jeremiah 31:31-34, but He also came as Yahweh's prosecuting attorney against an apostate Old Covenant people.  In the Gospel of Matthew 21:43-46 Jesus, Yahweh's divine Prophet, the prophet promised in Deuteronomy 18:18, pronounces a  covenant lawsuit against the Old Covenant people who have rejected the Gospel of salvation: Jesus speaking to the Priests, scribes, and Jews at the Temple: "I tell you, then, that the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit.... the chief priests and the scribes realized he was speaking about them..."  St. John the Apostles brought the last prophetic warning against the Old Covenant people in the covenant lawsuit delivered in the visions of the Book of Revelation.  However, just as the judgment which fell upon Judea and Jerusalem in 70AD were a replay of the covenant judgments which fell upon Judah and Jerusalem in 587/6BC, we should heed the warning that the same covenant judgments will be replayed for us at the end of the Age of man when Jesus the King comes with His host of angels to bring mankind's Final Judgment and the end of time as we know it.  St. Peter warned the faithful to prepare for that great event in 2 Peter 3:8-10: But there is one thing, my dear friends, that you must never forget: that with the Lord, a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.  The Lord is not being slow in carrying out his promises, as some people think he is; rather is he being patient with you, wanting nobody to be lost and everybody to be brought to repentance.  The Day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then with a roar the sky will vanish, the elements will catch fire and melt away, the earth and all that it contains will be burned up.  Lord Jesus, give us the vigilance to be ready and the faith to embrace Your coming!  Hallelujah, amen!

 

Michal Hunt, Copyright © 1998 Agape Bible Study. Permissions All Rights Reserved.