What is the covenant?

[rdscheirer]

Talking with a Jewish friend today and mentioned the “covenant” of God with the jews- His reply was what is the covenant? What does it mean? He then went on to talk about Jewish tradition that there are 10 righteous people on the earth at all times otherwise God would destroy the entire world. Where does this come from?

 

[AmISearching]

as far as the 10 righteous people bit, I’m thinking perhaps that was a rabbinical interpretation of applying the story where Abraham pleaded with God down to if there was 10 righteous people in Sodom and Gamorrah he would not destroy the city. I don’t pretend to understand how Judaism interprets the OT, though I do find it facinating - so that is all just speculation on my part…

 

[trogiah]

rdscheirer:

Talking with a Jewish friend today and mentioned the “covenant” of God with the jews- His reply was what is the covenant? What does it mean? He then went on to talk about Jewish tradition that there are 10 righteous people on the earth at all times otherwise God would destroy the entire world. Where does this come from?

I believe the answer to the 10 righteous people is correct. The story of how Abraham talked God down from 50 is a classic bit of haggling.

The “Covenant” I think goes something Like this

God (to the Hebrews): “If you listen to my voice and keep my commandments then I will be your God and you will be people”

That is the covenant in a nutshell.

peace

-Jim

 

[NotWorthy]

If you want a good crash course on God and His covenants with:

1. Adam and Eve - Marriage
2. Noah - Family
3. Abraham - Tribal
4. Moses - Nation
5. David - Kingdom
6. Christians - Universal

You must read “Our Father’s Plan” with Scott Hahn. I can’t believe a Jewish person would ask what is the covenant (unless he was asking which Covenant). Yahweh’s covenants has shaped his first born children for over 3500 years! The whole “Promised Land” was part of His covenant.

A second bonus to reading this book is you’ll get a wonderful background on the history behind God’s people all through the Old Testament. This book has really helped me appreciate the fullness of the Old Testament.

NotWorthy

 

[Eileen_T]

Scott Hahn explains it like this:

" In a contract you say, “This is yours and that is mine,” but Scripture shows how in a covenant you say, “I am yours and you are mine.” Even when God makes a covenant with us, He says, “I will be your God and you will be my people.”

“After studying Hebrew, I discovered that 'Am, the Hebrew word for people, literally means, kinsman, family. I will be your God and father; you will be my family, my sons and my daughters, my household. So covenants form kinship bonds which makes
family with God.”

Does this help?

 

[Steven_Merten]

Hello rdscheirer,

A covenant is a promise or a contract.

God’s covenant with man is that if man loves God through obedience to His commands with all his heart and with all his strength, God will bring man into eternal life through Jesus.

NAB DEU 30:15 The Choice before Israel.

“Here then, I have today set before you life and prosperity, death and doom. If you obey the commandments of the LORD, your God, which I enjoin on you today, loving him, and walking in his ways, and keeping his commandments, statutes and decrees, you will live and grow numerous, and the LORD, your God, will bless you in the land you are entering to occupy.”

NAB MAT 19:16

“Teacher, what good must I do to possess everlasting life?” He answered, “Why do you question me about what is good? There is One who is good. If you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments.” “Which ones?” he asked. Jesus replied “You shall not kill”; ‘You shall not commit adultery’; ‘You shall not steal’; ‘You shall not bear false witness’; ‘Honor your father and mother’; and ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’"NAB DEU 6:1

"These then are the commandments, the statutes and decrees which the LORD, your God, has ordered that you be taught to observe in the land into which you are crossing for conquest, so that you and your son and your grandson may fear the LORD, your God, and keep, throughout the days of your lives, all his statutes and commandments which I enjoin on you, and thus have long life. Hear then, Israel, and be careful to observe them, that you may grow and prosper the more in keeping with the promise of the LORD, the God of your fathers, to give you a land flowing with milk and honey." The great commandment. Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD alone! Therefore, you shall love the LORD, your God, with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength. Take to heart these words which I enjoin on you today. Drill them into your children. Speak of them at home and abroad, whether you are busy or at rest. Bind them at your wrist as a sign and let them be as a pendant on your forehead. Write them on the doorposts of your houses and on your gates.

NAB LUK 10:25

"Teacher, what must I do to inherit everlasting life?" Jesus answered him: "What is written in the law? How do you read it?" He replied:

**"You shall love the Lord your God **
**with all your heart, **
**with all your soul, **
**with all your strength, **
**and with all your mind; **
and your neighbor as yourself."
Jesus said, “You have answered correctly. Do this and you shall live.”