COVENANTS SESSION 7

COVENANTS SESSION 7

THE MOSAIC COVENANT

We are discussing the seventh of our Divine Covenants. This time we are examining the Mosaic Covenant. It is the Covenant of Law; it applies only to the nation of Israel and the Israeli people. As we look through it we will glean those things that apply to us and refuse those that tend to put us under law. We need to closely examine how we apply this covenant to our lives, take what is good and make use of it. Avoid bondage and the shackles that can be placed on our freedom in Christ Jesus.

Moses: a man of God, a chosen man, a leader and a survivor. This is the man the Lord chose to lead His people from bondage into freedom. The man that would not receive his call until he was eighty years old, would devote the next forty years leading the children of Israel and then would be denied the opportunity to enter the promise land. This man appeared on the Mount of Transfiguration with Elijah and Jesus, and was so revered by men that his burial place was hidden. Even after that Michael, the archangel, tangled with the devil over Moses’ body (Jude 9). The New Covenant speaks of being “baptized into Moses” (1 Corinthians 10:2) among several other things. So this is the man the Lord revealed His covenant to. It was made at Mt. Sinai and was not an everlasting covenant. It was a “schoolmaster” (tutor) according to Galatians 3:24-25:

Galatians 3:24-25 (KJV) - ²⁴ Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. ²⁵ But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.

Galatians 3:24-25 (AMP) - ²⁴ So that the Law served [to us Jews] as our trainer [our guardian, our guide to Christ, to lead us] until Christ [came], that we might be justified (declared righteous, put in right standing with God) by and through faith. ²⁵ But now that the faith has come, we are no longer under a trainer (the guardian of our childhood).

Everything Moses did was to bring people to Christ Jesus!

Larry Richards in his book, Every Covenant and Promise in the Bible, said “We choose our actions. But we cannot choose our consequences. Consequences flow from all actions, and those who develop a habit of wrong choices rush assuredly toward personal disaster.” This came from a discussion of being obedience, or disobedient. The Mosaic Covenant is a covenant of deciding if the Israelite would be obedient, or disobedient.

Let’s review some facts concerning the Mosaic Covenant:

· It is possibly the most difficult and complicated of all the covenants to interpret. Because of sacrifices, offerings, priesthood instructions, sanctuary instructions, the complete governing of the nation of Israel that it contains, and their intertwining makes this the most difficult and hardest to understand covenant. Acts 15 and Galatians illustrate these facts.

· It is elaborately worded. Because of its wording it makes for long reading and consideration. The inspired and intricate details of the provisions of the covenant make it a difficult and arduous reading.

· It contains the fullest information about a covenant in Scripture. It leaves nothing to “chance”, its explicit external forms illustrate the more implied portions of the other covenants.

· This covenant was made strictly with the Israelite nation.

· This covenant followed the covenant given to Abraham by 430 years.

· There were two reasons for this covenant: the Israeli nation was on probation and it exposed God’s purpose for the world.

· The Mosaic Covenant didn’t replace the Abrahamic but was placed alongside because of Israel’s transgressions. It was provided so that Israel might still partake of the blessing contained within the Abrahamic.

· While the Abrahamic Covenant was everlasting and irrevocable, the Mosaic was temporary. The Mosaic was based upon obedience to its terms, and due to the disobedience to it there was a wide dispersion of the Jewish nation.

· It is called by several different things: the Mosaic Covenant, the law of Moses, and often it is just called the Law.

· It differs from the Abrahamic, and the other covenants, because they are unilateral and it is bilateral.

· We mostly speak of the Ten Commandments but Jewish tradition say there are six hundred and thirteen commandments.

· The entire Book of Deuteronomy is written as a covenant.

· It is applied to the nation and not necessarily to individuals. It is a national covenant.

· The Mosaic covenant has no effects on the covenants of promise.

· Unlike the Noahic and Abrahamic Covenants, which did not contains any ifs, and or buts, this covenant is loaded with them.

· The Noahic and Abrahamic covenants were in essence a statement of God’s intent – a promise which God was committed to keep. This was regardless of national or personal response.

· Simply put, the law provided a way for any Israelite generation to experience the Abrahamic covenant’s blessings.

Exodus 19:1-17 (NLT) - ¹ Exactly two months after the Israelites left Egypt, they arrived in the wilderness of Sinai. ² After breaking camp at Rephidim, they came to the wilderness of Sinai and set up camp there at the base of Mount Sinai. ³ Then Moses climbed the mountain to appear before God. The Lord called to him from the mountain and said, “Give these instructions to the family of Jacob; announce it to the descendants of Israel: ⁴ ‘You have seen what I did to the Egyptians. You know how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. ⁵ Now if you will obey me and keep my covenant, you will be my own special treasure from among all the peoples on earth; for all the earth belongs to me. ⁶ And you will be my kingdom of priests, my holy nation.’ This is the message you must give to the people of Israel.” ⁷ So Moses returned from the mountain and called together the elders of the people and told them everything the Lord had commanded him. ⁸ And all the people responded together, “We will do everything the Lord has commanded.” So Moses brought the people’s answer back to the Lord. ⁹ Then the Lord said to Moses, “I will come to you in a thick cloud, Moses, so the people themselves can hear me when I speak with you. Then they will always trust you.” Moses told the Lord what the people had said. ¹⁰ Then the Lord told Moses, “Go down and prepare the people for my arrival. Consecrate them today and tomorrow, and have them wash their clothing. ¹¹ Be sure they are ready on the third day, for on that day the Lord will come down on Mount Sinai as all the people watch. ¹² Mark off a boundary all around the mountain. Warn the people, ‘Be careful! Do not go up on the mountain or even touch its boundaries. Anyone who touches the mountain will certainly be put to death. ¹³ No hand may touch the person or animal that crosses the boundary; instead, stone them or shoot them with arrows. They must be put to death.’ However, when the ram’s horn sounds a long blast, then the people may go up on the mountain.” ¹⁴ So Moses went down to the people. He consecrated them for worship, and they washed their clothes.
¹⁵ He told them, “Get ready for the third day, and until then abstain from having sexual intercourse.” ¹⁶ On the morning of the third day, thunder roared and lightning flashed, and a dense cloud came down on the mountain. There was a long, loud blast from a ram’s horn, and all the people trembled. ¹⁷ Moses led them out from the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain.

Notice what is underlined. Moses was told to give this to the Nation of Israel. It was a covenant; it required the hearing of His voice and the keeping of His commandments. Then they would “be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.”

1 Peter 2:9 (NLT) - ⁹ But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.

Glory to GOD!!!! We aren’t part of that if you do this, because of Jesus Christ we are a royal priesthood and a holy nation. Praise be to Jesus!

Moses was selected as a lawgive.

o He received the one-sided commandments of the Lord.

Exodus 19:20 (NKJV) - ²⁰ Then the Lord came down upon Mount Sinai, on the top of the mountain. And the Lord called Moses to the top of the mountain, and Moses went up.

o He was not like most people, he was a nationalist rather than an individualist.

Exodus 3:12 (AMP) - ¹² God said, I will surely be with you; and this shall be the sign to you that I have sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain [Horeb, or Sinai].

Moses was prepared for his position:

§ During his infancy he was divinely protected

Exodus 2:6 (NLT) - ⁶ When the princess opened it, she saw the baby. The little boy was crying, and she felt sorry for him. “This must be one of the Hebrew children,” she said.

Hebrews 11:23 (NKJV) - ²³ By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden three months by his parents, because they saw he was a beautiful child; and they were not afraid of the king's command.

§ He was rescued from death and raised as royalty.

Hebrews 11:24-26 (NASB95) - ²⁴ By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, ²⁵ choosing rather to endure ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, ²⁶ considering the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he was looking to the reward.

Exodus 2:10 (NASB95) - ¹⁰ The child grew, and she brought him to Pharaoh's daughter and he became her son. And she named him Moses, and said, "Because I drew him out of the water."

§ He was undeniably a strong leader.

Exodus 4:29-31 (NLT) - ²⁹ Then Moses and Aaron returned to Egypt and called all the elders of Israel together. ³⁰ Aaron told them everything the Lord had told Moses, and Moses performed the miraculous signs as they watched. ³¹ Then the people of Israel were convinced that the Lord had sent Moses and Aaron. When they heard that the Lord was concerned about them and had seen their misery, they bowed down and worshiped.

The Mosaic Covenant was the foundation for greater things:

1. It guaranteed a land of promise

Exodus 13:5 (NASB95) - ⁵ "It shall be when the LORD brings you to the land of the Canaanite, the Hittite, the Amorite, the Hivite and the Jebusite, which He swore to your fathers to give you, a land flowing with milk and honey, that you shall observe this rite in this month.

2. It typified the meaning of sacrifice.

Exodus 24:7 (NLT) - ⁷ Then he took the Book of the Covenant and read it aloud to the people. Again they all responded, “We will do everything the Lord has commanded. We will obey.”

3. The love of the Mosaic Covenant foreshadowed the New Covenant in Christ.

Exodus 24:8 (NASB95) - ⁸ So Moses took the blood and sprinkled it on the people, and said, "Behold the blood of the covenant, which the LORD has made with you in accordance with all these words."

4. Moses stood for the Law of God.

Luke 24:44 (NKJV) - ⁴⁴ Then He said to them, "These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me."

John 1:17 (AMP) - ¹⁷ For while the Law was given through Moses, grace (unearned, undeserved favor and spiritual blessing) and truth came through Jesus Christ.

5. Moses proved himself to be a leader of men and was the forerunner of greater things.

Hebrews 3:16 (NLT) - ¹⁶ And who was it who rebelled against God, even though they heard his voice? Wasn’t it the people Moses led out of Egypt?

The blessings of the Mosaic Covenant

Deuteronomy 28:1-14 (NASB95) - ¹ "Now it shall be, if you diligently obey the LORD your God, being careful to do all His commandments which I command you today, the LORD your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth. ² "All these blessings will come upon you and overtake you if you obey the LORD your God:
³ "Blessed shall you be in the city, and blessed shall you be in the country. ⁴ "Blessed shall be the offspring of your body and the produce of your ground and the offspring of your beasts, the increase of your herd and the young of your flock. ⁵ "Blessed shall be your basket and your kneading bowl. ⁶ "Blessed shall you be when you come in, and blessed shall you be when you go out.
⁷ "The LORD shall cause your enemies who rise up against you to be defeated before you; they will come out against you one way and will flee before you seven ways. ⁸ "The LORD will command the blessing upon you in your barns and in all that you put your hand to, and He will bless you in the land which the LORD your God gives you. ⁹ "The LORD will establish you as a holy people to Himself, as He swore to you, if you keep the commandments of the LORD your God and walk in His ways. ¹⁰ "So all the peoples of the earth will see that you are called by the name of the LORD, and they will be afraid of you. ¹¹ "The LORD will make you abound in prosperity, in the offspring of your body and in the offspring of your beast and in the produce of your ground, in the land which the LORD swore to your fathers to give you. ¹² "The LORD will open for you His good storehouse, the heavens, to give rain to your land in its season and to bless all the work of your hand; and you shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow. ¹³ "The LORD will make you the head and not the tail, and you only will be above, and you will not be underneath, if you listen to the commandments of the LORD your God, which I charge you today, to observe them carefully,
¹⁴ and do not turn aside from any of the words which I command you today, to the right or to the left, to go after other gods to serve them.

Notice they will come upon you and overtake you – stop running for them and look around you because they are chasing you.

Blessings of the Mosaic Covenant:

Verse 3 - "Blessed shall you be in the city, and blessed shall you be in the country.

Verse 4 - ⁴ "Blessed shall be the offspring of your body and the produce of your ground and the offspring of your beasts, the increase of your herd and the young of your flock.

Verse 5 - "Blessed shall be your basket and your kneading bowl.

Verse 6 - "Blessed shall you be when you come in, and blessed shall you be when you go out.

Verse 7 - "The LORD shall cause your enemies who rise up against you to be defeated before you; they will come out against you one way and will flee before you seven ways.

Verse 8 - "The LORD will command the blessing upon you in your barns and in all that you put your hand to, and He will bless you in the land which the LORD your God gives you.

Verse 9 - "The LORD will establish you as a holy people to Himself, as He swore to you, if you keep the commandments of the LORD your God and walk in His ways.

Verse 10 - "So all the peoples of the earth will see that you are called by the name of the LORD, and they will be afraid of you.

Verse 11 - ¹¹ "The LORD will make you abound in prosperity, in the offspring of your body and in the offspring of your beast and in the produce of your ground, in the land which the LORD swore to your fathers to give you.

Verse 12 - "The LORD will open for you His good storehouse, the heavens, to give rain to your land in its season and to bless all the work of your hand; and you shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow.

Verse 13 - "The LORD will make you the head and not the tail, and you only will be above, and you will not be underneath, if you listen to the commandments of the LORD your God, which I charge you today, to observe them carefully,

Verse 14 - and do not turn aside from any of the words which I command you today, to the right or to the left, to go after other gods to serve them.

The curses of the Mosaic Covenant:

Deuteronomy 28:15-19 (NLT) - ¹⁵ “But if you refuse to listen to the Lord your God and do not obey all the commands and decrees I am giving you today, all these curses will come and overwhelm you: ¹⁶ Your towns and your fields will be cursed. ¹⁷ Your fruit baskets and breadboards will be cursed. ¹⁸ Your children and your crops will be cursed. The offspring of your herds and flocks will be cursed. ¹⁹ Wherever you go and whatever you do, you will be cursed.

Verse 15 - “But if you refuse to listen to the Lord your God and do not obey all the commands and decrees I am giving you today, all these curses will come and overwhelm you:

Verse 16 - Your towns and your fields will be cursed.

Verse 17- Your fruit baskets and breadboards will be cursed.

Verse 18 - Your towns and your fields will be cursed. ¹⁷ Your fruit baskets and breadboards will be cursed. ¹⁸ Your children and your crops will be cursed. The offspring of your herds and flocks will be cursed.

Verse 19 - Wherever you go and whatever you do, you will be cursed.

There is a long list of what “the Lord will send on you” in verses 20-64, however we need to keep in mind that they don’t apply to us. We are not under the Mosaic Covenant but under the New Covenant in Christ.

Galatians 5:18 (NLT) - ¹⁸ But when you are directed by the Spirit, you are not under obligation to the law of Moses.