Covenant of Blood

PART 4 Strangers to the Covenant Series

 Steps In A Covenant
1.Exchange of Coats 2. Exchange of Weapon Belts 3. Exchange of Vows in walk of Blood

 4. The two parties pass between the sacrifice in a FIGURE 8.(Infinity or eternal significance) 5. Pledge is made and curse is pronounced upon the one who would break covenant.

 6. Accounting of possessions 7. Exchange of names. 8. Covenant meal. One loaf of bread placed in each others mouth. Cup of wine indicating our blood is one.

 At end they are now called friends This relationship, by this union, is now governed by an attitude towards each other calledlovingkindness hesed in Heb.

 Without an understanding of HESED, you cannot understand the covenant. Words are used interchangeably throughout the Old Testament approx. 250 times

 HESED is the working out of the expressions of love in the covenant commitment. It is the covenant in ACTION! It speaks of His lovingkindness in the context of DOING, SHOWING, and KEEPING covenant when every word is put to the test.

 3 IDEAS PRESENT TO GRASP ITS MEANING:

1. Strength 2. Steadfastness 3. Love Each to be understood in the context of a covenant having been made. Only one or even just two and it loses its meaning.

 Thy mercy(hesed), O Lord, is in the heavens; and thy faithfulness reacheth unto the clouds. Ps.36:5

 It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord, and to sing praises unto thy name, O Most High: To shew forth thy lovingkindness(hesed) in the morning, and thy faithfulness every night, Ps.92:1-2

 I have not hid thy righteousness within my heart; I have declared thy faithfulness and thy salvation: I have not concealed thy lovingkindness and thy truth from the great congregation. Withhold not thou thy tender mercies from me, O Lord: let thy lovingkindness(hesed) and thy truth continually preserve me Ps.40:10-11

 When we make a covenant it is in order to create the bond of lovingkindness and hold it in place. (i.e. marriage) When God makes a covenantit is to SHOW HE IS lovingkindness!

 A covenant is a binding, unbreakable obligation between two parties, based on unconditional love sealed by blood and sacred oath that creates a relationship in which each party is to take up each others undertakings.

 And the Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed, The Lord, The Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin Ex.34:6-7a

 The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy. Ps.103:8

 O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever Ps.136 The entire Psalm is summed up in this word His Mercy endureth forever!

 This coming from a man who under the law should have been killed! His dual sin of murder and adultery under the law meant DEATH!

 Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. Ps. 51:1

 David was a man who knew covenant. His covenant with Jonathon is rich with meaning.

 Now 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. Saul took him that day, and would not let him go home to his fathers house anymore.

 Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul. And Jonathan took off the robe that was on him and gave it to David, with his armor, even to his sword and his bow and his belt. 1 Sam.18:1-4

 Therefore you shall deal kindly with your servant, for you have brought your servant into a covenant of the Lord with you. Nevertheless, if there is iniquity in me, kill me yourself, for why should you bring me to your father?1 Sam.20:8

 And you shall not only show me the kindness of the Lord while I still live, that I may not die; but you shall not cut off your kindness from my house forever, no, not when the Lord has cut off every one of the enemies of David from the face of the earth.

 So Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David, saying, Let the Lord require it at the hand of Davids enemies. Now Jonathan again caused David to vow, because he loved him; for he loved him as he loved his own soul. 1 Sam.20:14-17

 And he said to him, Do not fear, for the hand of Saul my father shall not find you. You shall be king over Israel, and I shall be next to you. Even my father Saul knows that. So the two of them made a covenant before the Lord. And David stayed in the woods, and Jonathan went to his own house. 1 Sam.23:17-18

 Now David said, Is there still anyone who is left of the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathans sake? 2 Sam.9:1

 So David said to him, Do not fear, for I will surely show you kindness for Jonathan your fathers sake, and will restore to you all the land of Saul your grandfather; and you shall eat bread at my table continually. 2 Sam9:7