Everything Old is New again

“Everything Old is New Again”

We are all encouraged by a leader, who stirs us, to move ahead, someone who believes we can do the task, we have been given. Certain leaders empower us to do, and accomplish, great things.

Martin Luther King once said;

“I have been to the mountain top, and I have seen the Promised Land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight that we, as a people, will get to the Promised Land. And I’m happy, tonight. I’m not worried about anything. I am not fearing, any man. Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord.”


Martin Luther King had a dream, and had a vision. He knew changed was needed, and he knew it would come at a cost; but he knew it was needed, none-the-less.

Change is never easy, it requires the acknowledgement, of something not working, and the willingness, to try something untested.

Today’s scripture deals with the New Covenant that was coming, and the Old Covenant that would soon be replaced.

But, before we go on, let me explain…

A Covenant is a binding obligation, a promise, a mutual agreement or contract; with conditions, expectations, and consequences spelled out. It is an Agreement, a Bond, a Pact, a Pledge, and a Guarantee.

First question:
Who was replacing the Old Covenant?
Well, that would be the Lord, God. Through out history, God has made many covenants with His people. Generally speaking, there are 7 agreed upon covenants, found in the Bible, made between God and mankind:

1. In the Garden of Eden, Genesis 3, God promised to Adam and Eve that from the point of the Great Fall -forward, Satan and mankind would be enemies.

2. Also in Genesis, 9, God made a pack with Noah, after the Great Flood, that He would never again destroy the earth with water. The sign of His promise, was the rainbow, which we all have seen many, many times.

3. Then, in Genesis 15 & 17, as we looked at 2 weeks ago, was God’s promise to Abraham, that Abraham descendants would become a great nation; and God would love them forever.

4. At Mount Sinai, in Exodus 19, a promise was made in which Israel would be God’s special people, a Holy Nation. The sign here, did not go un-noticed, as God made possible (for all to see and witness) the Great Exit from Egypt.


5. Then, in Numbers 25, the Pledge of Priesthood, where God promised that Aaron’s descendants would be priests - forever. And the sign that sealed the deal, was actually the Aaronic Priesthood.

6. In 2 Samuel 7 & 23, God promised that Salvation would come through David’s family line, through the birth of the Great Messiah, JC. And the sign, was that David’s line would continued, and that the Messiah, was born, a true descendant of David. That was the Bond that guaranteed our Salvation.

7. The 7th Covenant found in the Bible (in Jeremiah 31 and Hebrews 8), the covenant that we are focused on today, is the New Covenant, the New Promise, the New Agreement, the New Pledge, made with our ancestors (through adoption), by God.

This new covenant promised that forgiveness and salvation are available through faith in Jesus; and the sign was, and the sign is, something we will celebrate in a few weeks, the Resurrection of Christ – at Easter.

So, who was bringing in this new covenant – that was God.

Second question:
What was wrong with the Old Covenant?

The foundation of what we call the Old Covenant is found in God’s laws; handed down by Moses; when Moses met God at the Burning Bush - at Mount Sinai. Moses brought forth the 10 Commandments, God’s Laws; to which God said to the nation of Israel, in Exodus 19: 5-6;

“Now, if you will obey Me, and keep My covenant, you will be My own special treasure, from among all the nations of the earth…And you will be to Me, a Kingdom of Priests, My Holy Nation…”

Simply, the Covenant said, that if the Israelites would follow God’s laws (the 10 Commandments) then they would be God’s special people.

In Exodus 19:8, the people agreed;
“We will certainly do everything the Lord asks of us.”

But, that is not the end of the story, it was only the beginning - the beginning (some say) of the end; for God’s people soon turned against this covenant, they failed to live-up to their agreement, they broke the promise they made with God.

So, What was wrong with the Old Covenant? Nothing really, it was just that the people could not keep it. They continued to sin; “falling short of the glory of God.”

Because of Adam and Eve, and the Great Fall, in the Garden of Eden, all of mankind was inherent-ly sinful. So, for mankind, to try and keep all the laws of Moses, was unrealistic and unattainable.

God recognized this, still wanted the best for His Chosen People, and knew the Old Covenant, in that perspective, was flawed.

What was wrong with the Old Covenant?

I feel, it was simply too high a goal to achieve; the bar was set too high, and the expectation was too great – to follow all those laws. That’s what I think.

Questions 3 & 4:
When and where was the Old Covenant replaced, can be answered together.

The setting was between 627–585 BC, during Jeremiah’s ministry, as prophet to the nation of Israel; and more specifically, the southern kingdom of Judah, and its capital city, Jerusalem.

Because of the sins of Israel, Jerusalem is destroyed, the Temple ruined, and the people were captured and carried off to Babylon. The people were totally responsible for their own hardships, because they refused to listen to God’s warnings, delivered by His prophet, Jeremiah.

It was the time of exile for the Israelites, but after 70 years, God calls His people back to their homeland; and He makes this vow to them.

31 The time is coming," declares the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah.

The Old Covenant was forever linked to what we do, and don’t do; in relation to the Laws – not in relation to our love for God. The Laws of Moses were to be a guidepost, but in reality, the laws simply highlighted everything the people did wrong.

32 It will not be like the covenant I made with their forefathers, when I took them by the hand, to lead them out of Egypt, because they broke my covenant, though I was a husband to them," declares the LORD.

God made those laws to help the Israelites live a better life, but they had to learn the laws. So, the Israelites, were like us today, as we often learn by “trail & error.” And, God realized that “trail & error” often meant making mistakes, but God also realized that it was a process – a learning curve.

33 This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after that time, declares the LORD. I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.

Here, God says that the NC is not concerned with the letter of the law, but with the intent; the spirit of the covenant. Moral understanding will come from knowing God, instead of knowing God’s laws. And, since we know Him, we would want to become like Him.

The real difference is ‘knowing God,’ as opposed to ‘knowing the law.’ And, since we know God, we would also know His moral rights.

That’s the difference between writing it, on a stone tablet, and it being written on our hearts. That knowledge will not be taught by instructors, but will be the product of the divine fellowship with God – which is knowing God.

34 No longer will a man teach his neighbor, or a man his brother, saying, Know the LORD, because they will all know me, from the least of them - to the greatest, declares the LORD.

In this covenant community, that divine society, the knowledge of Yahweh, will be equally available to all; from the least to the greatest. From those most important, to those who seem insignificant. From the poor to the rich; from those of noble standing, to those who simply stand by and watch.

For everyone, and all of you, will be able to posses this knowledge of the Lord.

But, be reminded, that this New Covenant, at this point in time, was not yet fulfilled; for God declared in verse 31;

The time is coming, when I will make a new covenant…



God knew of the mistakes made by His people, within that Old Covenant; and He knew that a New and Improved Covenant must be shaped. And it wasn’t that God was lowering His standards or expectations, or changing the Laws already set-down by Moses, He was changing how the people would come to know the Law.

By coming to know God, and striving to be like Him, we are also following His laws. So, by accepting God into our hearts, coming to know and love God, we are following the laws of the Old Covenant; which is the foundation of the New Covenant.

The Old Testament prophesizes the New Covenant, which is fulfilled in the coming of the Great Messiah. Not only was Jesus, the fulfillment of the Old Testament scriptures, He was also, and more importantly, the actualization of the New Covenant – for He was the New Covenant.

Question 5:
Why was the Old Covenant being replaced?

To make way for the New Covenant, Jesus Christ. The New Covenant, as outlined, and referenced to the New Testament, was the fulfillment of all that was foretold in the Old Testament; and something the Old Covenant could not do.

The OC signifies God’s pledge to save, and keep a people for Himself, but, the NC signifies God’s love for us – through Jesus Christ.

The former covenant needed to be replaced by the new covenant, because of human frailty. So, the Lord had to either reduce His demands – until they were within the range of human powers, or else change the heart of man.

And, since the Laws reflect the true nature of God, and therefore are unchangeable, God could not reduce or change His standards, without ceasing to be Himself. So, He created the New Covenant as a way of changing the hearts of man, to match the requirements of His Laws.

And how would this New Covenant do this;
The law would be written within the individual’s heart, the people would have fellowship with Yahweh, they would posses a perceptive and insightful knowledge of God, and by the forgiveness of sins.

God made this promise;
For I will forgive their wickedness, and, will remember their sins, no more.

Conclusion

Because of, and through this New Covenant, we have this wonderful opportunity to make a fresh start, and establish a permanent, personal relationship with God. Jesus came to enact that promise.

We are all encouraged by a leader, who stirs us, to move ahead, someone who believes we can do the task, we have been given. Certain leaders empower us to do, and accomplish, great things.

God is that kind of leader. He made the first covenant with us and then realized we could not fulfill that promise, so, in His deep love for us, and through His mercy and grace, created a covenant that could be fulfilled – through Jesus.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you, and not to harm you; plans to give you hope and a future.”

Because, everything old, is new again!

Let’s pray;