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Covenant
Christian Community
by Bob Tedesco
In the Sword of the Spirit we
say that we are in covenant together, at
the local level, and at the international
level. Our covenants are unique at the
local level, but they all contain a
paragraph that describes our relationship
to the international community of
communities. The issue could be easily
raised as to whether or not a written
covenant is necessary, or whether or not
it can be described as a part of the
nature of life in the Body of Christ. We
believe that the Lord has called us into
covenant with him and with this people. We
have had numerous prophecies that have
initiated and sustained that
understanding. Here are some excerpts:
“I am making
a covenant with you…this covenant is part
of my plan to renew my church…”
“Yes, I have
called you together in a covenant that is
of great significance for the life of my
people throughout the world, and I want
you to bind yourselves to me and show
forth your loyalty to me. I want you to
come to me under this covenant, submit
yourselves to my service, lay down your
lives for the mission that I have given
you.”
Exodus 19:5 says,
“Now therefore, obey my voice and keep my
covenant and be my possession.” It could
be said here that the prophecies are for
us, for those to whom they were spoken. It
could also be said that the scripture
given is for the Old Testament folks, or
more narrowly, for those that the prophet
addressed. We would not say that all
Christians or Christian groups should sit
down and write a covenant, but we do think
we have something to contribute in this
area. Furthermore, since the Bible is
broken into the Old and New Testaments
(covenants), it may be the case that the
Lord does have certain expectations on his
New Testament people based on his covenant
with us, sealed by the blood of his son.
We have been led in our local
communities to attempt to identify and
summarize that greater covenant and to
commit ourselves together in covenant
relationships.
The Roman
Catholic Bishop James A. Griffin talked
about commitment this way:
“Words like
commitment, compassion and empathy have no
place in the world of objects,” said
Bishop Griffin.
Individual relationships in
our society are characterized by looser
connections. We’re no longer joiners
living out commitments in fraternal or
social groups. We’ve become more
individualistic. Individual fulfillment is
more important. …If this is where we find
ourselves, is there any antidote for the
loose connections? The solution is found
in commitment.
“We learn
this in the family, which is the root of
all relationships. Within every family
there is a commitment to all the members
of the family and a shared commitment to a
common value system,” he added.
“Without
commitment, there can be no lasting
relationships”, said Bishop Griffin, and
“barriers are insurmountable.
Disagreements are destructive.
Shortcomings are terminal. Commitment
allows individuals’ lack to be filled up
with gifts of others.”1
More
Covenant Background
Pertinent
Questions
What are the needs in society
today? How is the Lord addressing those
needs? What is there about our call that
is unique, or important or prophetic?
Society today is increasingly unstable,
increasingly disconnected. We see a
profound example of this at the family
level where many marriages have failed and
many families have unraveled at the altars
of individualistic hedonism and
narcissism.
The Lord wants a
people where unity is a blessing, and to
be scattered is seen as a curse. It is not
good when members of a family run in every
direction, each pursuing his own path to
self-fulfillment. If we consider the
marriage covenant and the divorce rate, we
can identify and target one of the major
threats to the stability and strength of
the family, to society, and to the church.
If making and keeping covenants
strengthens and supports marriages, we
would have ample reason for seeing value
in our life together. It is the
case that covenant communities have
divorce rates far below that of
most churches. That result is important
and prophetic. The Lord is addressing a
need.
Types of Covenants
There are many types of
covenants: solemn, implied, simple, legal,
simple-legal, limited duration, etc. An
example of an implied contract is when a
paper boy delivers a paper for weeks and
is paid weekly. There is then an implied
covenant that if he delivers the paper
next week, he will get one week’s pay. It
is also implied that his price will be the
same.
I’d like to
describe marriage as an expansive
covenant: The vows may have been simple
and limited, but there is a much broader
understanding of what a man and woman are
entering into as husband, as wife, as
father, and as mother. There are legal,
spiritual, and societal expectations that
go beyond, “I will be a friend to you.” So
too with us; when we agree to follow the
Lord together, to be faithful to him and
to each other, it is broader than the few
elements that we identify in our local
covenants. But, we would certainly like to
focus on and get those elements to work. We
would
get a long way into the Christian life if
we took our covenants seriously.
The Covenant Nature of God
Trinity
We see first in the
Trinity a clearly defined relationship of
a certain order, of fierce loyalty, of
covenant love. Jesus knew his role and his
relationship to the Father and to the Holy
Spirit; the Father spoke of his Son, and
the Spirit gives testimony to Jesus in the
hearts of millions daily. Is there a
written covenant among the Father, Son and
Spirit? I don’t know. But their
relationship is clear, and clearly
defined.
God
and Man
All through the Bible we see
the Lord entering into agreements with
man, promising certain things in return
for certain obedience. These agreements
and promises have theological names based
on persons and places (Davidic, Edenic,
Sinaitic, Abrahamic, etc.), but each one
shows certain aspects of the covenant
nature of God: 1) his faithfulness (he
will do his part); 2) his justice (he
requires our part); 3) his tenacity (he is
determined to get mankind on the right
track and into his family); 4) his desire
to “deal” with man. There is also a
progressive nature to these covenants as
mankind is shepherded more closely onto
the path that leads back to God. We see
the culmination of God’s covenant nature
with the life, death and resurrection of
Jesus Christ. He will go to great lengths
to keep his side of the deal: the
sacrifice of his son.
There is an
algebraic rule which states that if “A=B”
and “B=C”, then “A=B=C.” In a certain way
we are acting in a similar fashion. That
is, if the Trinity has a clearly defined
relationship and God defines his
relationship with man, then it is good for
brothers and sisters to have clearly
defined relationships. We attempt to mimic
our Father, to relate the way he relates,
and to take on the covenant nature of God.
Covenant
in Scripture
Berith
The word “covenant”
is used as a translation for the Hebrew
word “berith” in the Old Testament. That
word literally means “fetter” or “bind,”
but it also means “to eat with.” For the
Hebrews, it was a serious thing to have a
meal with someone. In the New Testament,
the Lord’s Supper is the covenant meal of
the Christian. It is where and how we
celebrate our “deal” with the Lord…the
deal that gets us into heaven and delivers
us from the fires of hell. The words
translated “covenant” show up about ninety
times in the Old Testament and
twenty-eight times in the New Testament.
It is clearly a major theme, an important
way of describing the character and
intentions of God.
Three
Types
There are three types of
covenants common in Scripture:
- A two-sided
agreement between equals (David and
Jonathan; see example next section)
- A one-sided disposition imposed by a
superior party, and
- God’s
self-imposed obligation (our redemption
by the work of Christ is in this
category).
Serious Intentions Require Serious
Tools
Difficult Assignments
Close
brotherhood and Christian mission are
often complex endeavors. We saw in the
New Testament that John Mark did not
complete his mission as Paul expected
and was subsequently excluded from the
next mission (Acts 15:38). Marriage is a
complex journey which is begun (and not
until) with marriage vows. We have
“confessing” churches, and “rules” for
religious orders. These defined
relationships have taken an approach
that puts them at odds with our
shifting-sands culture. Our
shifting-sands culture affects both
marriage and mission.
At Stake
At
stake are survival, continuity,
endurance, longevity and
trans-generational strength. Our word
should be important; our covenants are a
blueprint for the present as well as a
seed for future generations. They are a
mix of God and man, and express our best
efforts to describe our intended
response to him and to each other.
Summary
Covenants are serious.
Covenants are serious tools
for serious intentions (community,
discipleship, mission, all require
covenant).
Covenants are serious
because our WORD should be serious.
Covenant-breaking unravels
relationshipsfamily,
society and the Church.
Covenant reflects the very
nature of God.
Covenant reflects the
relationship of the Trinity.
Restoring covenant is one
of the key works of God being introduced
to us and then shown through us (a gift
from the Lord to meet a need).
It is not the idea or the
invention of some prophets of a
movement.
It is
ancient, widely expressed in scripture,
and in Church life, in civil law, and in
marriage.
The inability to commit,
the inability to honor and to keep your
word is a modern fatal flaw…a need that
is being addressed by God.
Covenant
is trans-generational but must be fully
embraced in nature and fully embraced
with character to benefit from its
blessing.
A Scriptural Example
In a quick study of Ruth,
we see it begins with the widow Naomi
instructing her Moabite daughters-in-law
to return to their own land now that her
two sons have died. Ruth says, “Wherever
you go I shall go, wherever you live I
shall live; your people will be my
people, and your God will be my God too”
(Ruth 1:16 paraphrased).
This example of covenant
love works out well for Ruth who marries
Boaz. They have a son, Obed, who was the
father of Jesse, the father of David.
So
covenant love and faithfulness is in the
line of David. The very next book in the
Old Testament is 1 Samuel. In 1 Samuel,
we see the story of Samuel, the story of
Saul and the story of David (1 Samuel
16).
Covenant Lived Out
The knitting of the souls
of Jonathan and David; Jonathan and
David make a covenant (1 Samuel
18:1-5) “When
he had finished speaking to Saul, the
soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of
David, and Jonathan loved him as his own
soul. And Saul took him that day and
would not let him return to his own
house. Then Jonathan made a covenant
with David, because he loved him as his
own soul. And Jonathan stripped himself
of the robe that was upon him, and gave
it to David, and his armor, and even his
sword and his bow and his girdle. And
David went out and was successful
wherever Saul sent him; so that Saul set
him over the men of war. And this was
good in the sight of all the people and
also in the sight of Saul’s servants.”
The outbreak of jealousy
in the heart of Saul (1 Samuel 18:6-9)
“As they were coming home,
when David returned from slaying the
Philistine, the women came out of all
the cities of Israel, singing and
dancing, to meet King Saul, with
timbrels, with songs of joy, and with
instruments of music. And
the women sang to one another as they
made merry, “Saul has slain his
thousands, and David his ten thousands.”
And Saul was very angry, and this saying
displeased him; he said, “They have
ascribed to David ten thousands and to
me they have ascribed thousands; and
what more can he have but the kingdom?”
And Saul eyed David from that day on.”
The attempted murder of
David by the now insane Saul (1 Samuel
18:10-12) “And on the morrow an evil
spirit from God rushed upon Saul, and he
raved within his house, while David was
playing the lyre, as he did day by day.
Saul had his spear in his hand; and Saul
cast the spear, for he thought, “I will
pin David to the wall.” But David evaded
him twice.”
Things continue to
deteriorate between Saul and David,
yet the covenant stands (1 Samuel
20:3-4; 8a) “But David replied, ‘Your
father knows well that I have found
favor in your eyes; and he thinks, ‘Let
not Jonathan know this, lest he be
grieved.’ But truly, as the Lord lives,
and as your soul lives, there is but a
step between me and death.’ Then said
Jonathan to David, “Whatever you say, I
will do for you…(David replied,) “Therefore deal kindly with
your servant, for you have brought your
servant into a sacred covenant with
you.”
The covenant extends to
family (1 Samuel 20:14-17) “‘If I am still alive, show
me the loyal love of the Lord, that I
may not die; and do not cut off your
loyalty from my house for ever. When the
Lord cuts off every one of the enemies
of David from the face of the earth, let
not the name of Jonathan be cut off from
the house of David. And may the Lord
take vengeance on David’s enemies.’ And
Jonathan then made David swear again by
his love for him; for he loved him as he
loved his own soul.”
The covenant is
reiterated (1 Samuel 20:23) “And as for the matter of
which you and I have spoken, behold, the
Lord is between you and me forever.”
The covenant is
reiterated as trans-generational (1
Samuel 20:41-42) “And as soon as the lad had
gone, David rose from beside the stone
heap and fell on his face to the ground,
and bowed three times; and they kissed
one another and wept with one another,
until David recovered himself. Then
Jonathan said to David, “Go in peace,
forasmuch as we have sworn both of us in
the name of the Lord, saying, “The Lord
shall be between me and you, and between
my descendants and your descendants,
forever.”
Recommitment
night (1 Samuel 23:15-18) “And David was afraid
because Saul had come out to seek his
life. David was in the wilderness of
Ziph at Horesh. And Jonathan, Saul’s
son, rose, and went to David at Horesh,
and strengthened his hand in God. And he
said to him, “Fear not; for the hand of
Saul my father shall not find you; you
shall be king over Israel, and I shall
be next to you; Saul my father also
knows this.” And the two of them made a
covenant before the Lord.”
Saul and David remain at
odds (2 Samuel 3:1) “There was a long war
between the house of Saul and the house
of David; and David grew stronger and
stronger, while the house of Saul became
weaker and weaker.”
Saul and Jonathan die (1
Samuel 31:2, 4c) “And the Philistines
overtook Saul and his sons; and the
Philistines slew Jonathan and Abinadab
and Mal’chishu’a, the sons of
Saul...Therefore Saul took his own sword
and fell upon it.”
The introduction of
Jonathan’s son (2 Samuel 4:4) “Jonathan, the son of Saul,
had a son who was crippled in his feet,
Mephib’osheth.”
The covenant extends to
Jonathan’s family (2 Samuel 9: 1-13) And David said, “Is there
still any one left of the house of Saul,
that I may show him kindness for
Jonathan’s sake?” Ziba replied, ‘There
is still a son of Jonathan; he is
crippled in his feet.” The king said to
him, “Where is he?” And Ziba said to the
king, “He is in the house of Machir the
son of Am’miel, at Lo’debar. Then King
David sent and brought him from the
house of Machir the son of Am’miel, at
Lo’debar. And Mephib’osheth, the son of
Jonathan, the son of Saul, came to
David, and fell on his face and did
obeisance. And David said,
“Mephib’osheth!” And he answered,
“Behold, your servant.” And David said
to him, “Fear not for I will show
kindness for the sake of your father
Jonathan, and I will restore to you all
the land of Saul your father; and you
shall eat at my table always.” And he
did obeisance, and said, “What is your
servant, that you should look upon a
dead dog such as I?”
Then the
king called Ziba, Saul’s servant, and
said to him, “All that belonged to Saul
and to all his house I have given to
your master’s son. And you and your sons
and your servants shall till the land
for him, and shall bring in the produce,
that your master’s son may have bread to
eat; but Mephib’osheth your master’s son
shall always eat at my table.” Now Ziba
had fifteen sons and twenty servants.
Then Ziba said to the king, “According
to all that my lord the king commands
his servant, so will your servant do.”
So Mephib’osheth ate at David’s table,
like one of the king’s sons. And
Mephib’osheth had a young son whose name
was Mica. And all who dwelt in Ziba’s
house became Mephib’osheth’s servants.
So Mephib’osheth dwelt in Jerusalem; for
he ate always at the king’s table. Now
he was lame in both his feet.
Note:
In ancient times a covenant in blood
was not uncommon. Each man would make
a small cut at the base of his thumb
and the two would bring their two
hands together and mix the blood as a
sign of being joined together. Some
think that this covenant of David and
Jonathan was a “blood covenant.”
[This article is excerpted
from Essays on Christian
Community, copyright © Bob
Tedesco 2010, published by Tabor
House. Used with permission.]
Bob Tedesco is past President
of the North American Region of the
Sword of the Spirit, a founder of the
People of God community in Pittsburgh,
Pennsylvania, USA, and has been one of
its key leaders for the past 40 years.
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