The Mosaic Covenant contains very extensive detailed information and the Scriptural account of the covenant extends from Exodus 20:1 through Deuteronomy 28:68. The parties of this covenant were God and Israel. The covenant was not made with the Gentiles or the Church, but with Israel only, a point made in Deuteronomy 4:7-8; Psalm 147:10-20 and Malachi 4:4.
The main provision of the Mosaic Covenant was the Law of Moses; 613 commandments of blessings for obedience and curses for disobedience. 365 of these were things that were forbidden, 248 were things that should be done.
This is a Conditional Covenant. If featured if-then items. If Israel did so-and-so, God would do sucn-and-such.
The key element of the entire Mosaic Law centered around the sacrifice of blood. It is exemplified in Leviticus 17:11, “For the life of the flesh is in the blood; and I have given it to your upon the altar to make atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that makes atonement by reason of the life.”
This is a VERY important issue, for Israel was to supply the blood from animals, but some day, God would supply the blood once and for all in His Son, Jesus.
The Mosaic Covenant required five different offerings. You can see them in Leviticus chapters 1-7. There were also diet restrictions, death penalties, signs (such as circumcision) and tokens (such as the Sabbath).
The Law of Moses was not a means of salvation. Salvation always has been, is now and always will be by grace through faith in Christ. The purpose of the Law of Moses is to reveal God’s holiness, to keep Israel a distinct people, to provide a rule of life for Jews, to serve as a wall of partition between Israel and Gentile nations, to reveal and show what sin is and to drive one to faith.
The Mosaic Covenant, being conditional, is no longer in effect. It was fulfilled and came to an end with the death of Messiah. The Law, in its totality no longe has authority over any individual, as noted in Romans 7:5; 10:4 and Galatians 3:19.
In Matthew 5:17-18, we read: “Think not that I have come to destroy the law or the prophets, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass away from the law; till all things be accomplished.” Most who use this passage do not accept their own thesis, since they must believe in doing away in some form of many of the commandments of the Law of Moses, but reserve some, arbitrarily, to remain in effect.
The Land Covenant (often referred to as the Palestinian Covenant) is found in Deuteronomy 29:1 through Deuteronomy 30:20. This covenant is often considered part of the Mosaic Covenant, but the Deuteronomy 29:1 passage clearly indicates that it is distinct. It is between God and Israel. It reaffirms the title deed to the Land (now referred to as Palestine) belongs to Israel. It is still very much in effect.
The Davidic Covenant, was made between God and David. It is important to note that the promise from God was that the THRONE of David would be established forever (not Solomon or his progeny). This is most important to understand: the Messiah was to come from the Seed of David (I Chronicles 17:11 and many others). Messiah’s throne, house and kingdom would be forever. In I Chronicles 17:12-15 we see that it is the Messiah who will be established on David’s throne, not the throne itself.
The importance of the Davidic Covenant is that it gives significance to the Seed aspect of the Abrahamic Covenant. Messiah was to come from the Seed of Abraham.
The Davidic Covenant is an Unconditional Covenant. It is God’s plan for the salvation of the creation He loves.
NEXT WE WILL SEE HOW THESE SEVEN COVENANTS ARE FULFILLED IN AND SUPERSEDED BY THE PERSON OF THE NEW COVENANT, SOMETHING SO RADICAL THAT ONLY GOD COULD HAVE THOUGHT OF IT.
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