Final Flashcards
(46 cards)
Rehearse O.P. Robertson’s Christ of the Covenants…
Introduce this with the overview of covenantal relationships and scripture references.
Scripture obviously presents a series of covenantal relationships instituted by the one true living God. Explicit references can be found to a divine covenant established with Noah (Gen. 6:18), Abraham (Gen 15:18), Israel (Ex. 24:8), and David (Ps. 89:3). Jeremiah 31:31 also references the new covenant which God would establish with his people.
Scripture doesn’t mention the word “covenant” prior to _____, but….
Scripture doesn’t mention the word “covenant” prior to Genesis 6:18, but certainly God did enter into a bond of life and death with Adam in Genesis 2:15-17. If Adam would refrain from eating the forbidden fruit, he would life. If he did not refrain, he would die. Does this bond qualify as a covenant?
Does the bond with Adam qualify as a covenant?
To clarify this question, O.P. Robertson helps by offering a clear and simple definition of a covenant as it is presented a Scripture. According to Robertson, a covenant is a bond in blood, sovereignly administered. Using this definition it becomes clear that man’s relationship to God prior to God was definitely covenantal. In full sovereignty God established a relationship which involved a commitment for life and death.
Robertson identifies this initial covenant as the Covenant of Creation and notes that man, as part of creation is responsible to…
obey the ordinances embedded in creation. He discusses three ordinances in particular. These are the Sabbath, marriage, and labor.
Discuss the ordinance of the Sabbath.
With regard to the Sabbath, it is important to note that God explicitly blessed and sanctified it (Gen 2:3) and that Jesus pointed out that “the Sabbath came into being for the sake of man” (Mark 2:27). God instituted the Sabbath because it was good for man and the whole of creation.
Discuss the ordinance of marriage.
Marriage was instituted through God’s declaration that “it is not good for man to be alone” (Gen 2:18) and the idea of a man leaving and cleaving to his wife in Genesis 2:22-24. The ordinance of labor is important as man was given the unique responsibility to “subdue” the earth and rule over every living creature (Gen. 1:27-28).
Discuss the ordinance of labor.
Labor is to be seen as the principal means by which man’s enjoyment of creation is assured. This is evidenced by Gen 2:15 where man is to cultivate and keep the garden as well as in 2 Thessalonians 3:10-12, where Paul makes clear that a proper respect for work is vital within the Christian community.
Once the covenant of creation was violated…
Once the covenant of creation was violated, the only way of relief of the death-curse was in a bloody substitution. Jesus bearing in himself the ultimate curse of the creation covenant was the only way restoration could be accomplished. The rest of the narrative of Scripture thus outlines the narrative of the covenant of redemption, administered through a gradual unfolding of the varied aspects of this single bond.
Give Robertson’s names for the administrations of the covenant of redemption.
These administrations were
with Adam in the Covenant of Commencement,
with Noah in the Covenant of Preservation,
with Abraham in the Covenant of Promise,
with Moses in the Covenant of Law,
with David in the Covenant of the kingdom, and with Christ in the Covenant of Consummation.
Describe the Covenant of Commencement with scripture references.
The Covenant of Commencement (Gen. 3:14-19)
i. This covenant was made with Adam after the Fall – “Elements of
curse and blessing are found in each address [to Satan, the woman, and
Adam], thus serving structurally to bind inseparably the covenant of
creation with the covenant of redemption” (93).
Describe The Covenant of Preservation with scripture references.
The Covenant of Preservation (Gen. 6:17-22; 8:20-22; 9:1-7; 8-17)
i. This covenant was made with Noah – “the covenant with Noah
provides the historical framework in which the Immanuel principle
may receive its full realization. God has come in judgement; but he
also has provided a context of preservation in which the grace of the
redemption may operate. From the covenant with Noah it becomes
quite obvious that God’s being ‘with us’ involves not only an
outpouring of his grace on his people; it involves also an outpouring of
his wrath on the seed of Satan” (125).
Describe The Covenant of Promise with scripture references.
The Covenant of Promise (Gen. 15, 17).
i. This covenant was made with Abraham – “God’s covenant with
Abraham may be characterized particularly as the covenant of
promise. By the solemn ceremony described in Genesis 15, God
promised redemption.” (145). God assumed all the covenantal
responsibility (146).
Describe The Covenant of Law with Scripture references.
The Covenant of Law (Exodus 19-24)
4
i. This covenant was made with Moses – and it provided an externalized
codification of God’s law. “The ‘covenant of law’ refers to a new
stage in the process of God’s unfolding the richness of the covenant of
redemption. As such, the law which came through Moses did not in
any way disannul of suspend the covenant of promise” (175).
Describe The Covenant of Kingdom with Scripture references.
The Covenant of Kingdom (2 Sam. 7)
i. This covenant was made with David – it establishes the promise of a
kingdom forever out of the house of David, “So the entire history of
monarchy in Israel hinges on the word of the Lord. Having established
the basis of his covenant relationship with David, God faithfully
demonstrates the veracity of his word.” (266).
Describe the covenant of consummation with scripture references.
The Covenant of Consummation (Jer. 31:31-34)
i. This is the New Covenant in Christ which consummates all the
covenantal dealing between God and his people.
Discuss how the Day of Atonement relates to the expulsion narrative of Gen. 3, incorporating in your answer the particular BT theme developed in class.
What is the theme of all of scripture?
The theme of all of Scripture is given in Revelation 21:3, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.” This is what Adam and Eve had resting in the garden of Eden near the summit of the mountain of God. Upon transgression, they were exiled out of the garden, east of Eden, and YHWH God set cherubim, along with a swirling flaming sword, on the eastward gateway to guard the way to the tree of life. The history of Genesis then narrates the steady eastward descent of humanity away from the face and abode of God. How was humanity to get back to the summit of the mountain of God and rest in his divine presence? Or as Psalm 24 puts it, “Who may ascend the mountain of YHWH?”
Discuss how the Day of Atonement relates to the expulsion narrative of Gen. 3, incorporating in your answer the particular BT theme developed in class.
How is this theme developed in Genesis?
This question is traced through the books of Genesis as both Noah and Abraham offer ascension offerings of atonement upon mountain summits. The whole burnt offering of a whole life as consecrated to God is pictured beautifully with Abraham and Isaac on Mount Moriah. This theme of just such a gesture of atonement is also seen in the Joseph narrative as Judah offers himself in the place of Benjamin and this is the act which triggers Joseph’s self-disclosure and the story’s reversal. But what kind of atonement can bring man back into fellowship with God?
Discuss how the Day of Atonement relates to the expulsion narrative of Gen. 3, incorporating in your answer the particular BT theme developed in class.
How is this theme developed with Moses in Exodus?
These ideas are continued with the life of Moses in Exodus as he functions as the mediator between God and Israel. Moses ascends Mt. Sinai to represent Israel before God, and then descends the mountain to represent God to Israel. In Exodus 32-34, Moses demonstrates his willingness to offer his own life on behalf of the people and while God doesn’t accept it, Moses’ mediation has its effect. And looking back, it is easier to see what the ancient near east original audience would probably have readily seen, Adam, functioning as the High Priest in Eden was responsible to offer himself as atonement for his wife. Ezekiel 28:12-16 further pictures this idea with a description of Adam in the garden, covered with all of the jewels worn on the High Priest’s ephod, placed on the holy mountain of God, walking in the midst of the stones of fire, and then sinning and being cast from the mountain of God.
Discuss how the Day of Atonement relates to the expulsion narrative of Gen. 3, incorporating in your answer the particular BT theme developed in class.
How is this all brought together in Leviticus 16 with the High Priest and tabernacle parallels?
All of this (and much more) is brought together in Leviticus 16 with the Day of Atonement. The High Priest, having inherited the roles of Adam in the garden and Moses on Mt. Sinai, is the mediator ascending toward God, westward, through the tabernacle into the Holy of Holies. That the tabernacle functions as a mountain of God like Mt. Sinai can be seen in many ways, one of the most striking being the three zones of holiness with an altar at the foot of the mountain and in the courtyard of the tabernacle, the limited group of people who could go up to a certain point on the mountain and the limited priesthood who could enter the Holy Place, and the Holy of Holies as the summit where only the High Priest could go and only once a year.
Discuss how the Day of Atonement relates to the expulsion narrative of Gen. 3, incorporating in your answer the particular BT theme developed in class.
What is the parallel to the sin of Adam and Eve in the garden?
A strong parallel to the sin of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden can be seen in that just prior to the Day of Atonement instructions given in Leviticus 16, Nadab and Abihu offered strange fire before Yahweh, resulting in the pollution of the Tabernacle. And so the Day of Atonement is given which would ensure that God’s presence could continue to dwell in an undefiled tabernacle and that God’s people could continue to come before him by atoning for any sins and transgressions which had not already been atoned for and cleanse the Israelites from the stain of sin beyond forgiveness.
Discuss how the Day of Atonement relates to the expulsion narrative of Gen. 3, incorporating in your answer the particular BT theme developed in class.
What happens on the Day of Atonement? Conclude.
Just as cherubim guarded the way to the Tree of Life in Eden, the cherubim on the veil as well as on the mercy seat guarded the way to the presence of God in the Holy of Holies. The High Priest, after offering the morning sacrifice would take off his priestly garments, bathe, and put on simple linen garments to offer two purification offerings, one for the high priest and his priestly house, and the other for all Israel. A bull for the priests and two male goats taken from the people of Israel were for their sin offerings respectively. After offering the bull, lots were cast for the two goats with one falling for the LORD to be killed as a sin offering and the other falling for Azazel to be presented alive and sent away into the wilderness. A censer was used to create a cloud of incense smoke, shielding his eyes from beholding the divine glory, the high priest entered the Holy of Holies, the Garden of Eden, the summit of the mountain, the cultic counterpart to the heavenly throne room of God. He sprinkled the blood of the bull and the blood of the goat eastward, indicating he would presumably be required to stand west of the ark. The movement of purgation then continues eastward from the ark with the cleansing of the holy place and then the altar in the courtyard. From the courtyard the live goat then continues the eastward movement in carrying off Israel’s sins and culpability to an uninhabited place in the wilderness.
Within the narrative progression, then, atonement, along with its elements of purification and ransom, is that which enables the return to YHWH God, a reversal of Eden’s eastward expulsion.
Outline 5 points on the theology of Mount Zion
- Zion is the Mount of Abraham’s Worship: Blessing to the Nations
- Zion is the City of David: Kingship
- Zion is YHWH’s Chosen Habitation: Inviolable
- Zion is a Copy and Reflection of the Heavenly Reality: axis mundi
- Zion is a ‘new’ Eden: Goal of Eschaton/return from exile
Give Scripture to support Zion is the Mount of Abraham’s Worship: Blessing to the Nations
Genesis 22:2; 1 Chron 21:1-22:2; 2 Chron 3:1
Genesis 22:2
English Standard Version
2 He said, “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.”
Read full chapter Genesis 22:2 in all English translations 1 Chronicles 21:1-22:2 English Standard Version David's Census Brings Pestilence 21 Then Satan stood against Israel and incited David to number Israel. 2 So David said to Joab and the commanders of the army, “Go, number Israel, from Beersheba to Dan, and bring me a report, that I may know their number.” 3 But Joab said, “May the Lord add to his people a hundred times as many as they are! Are they not, my lord the king, all of them my lord's servants? Why then should my lord require this? Why should it be a cause of guilt for Israel?” 4 But the king's word prevailed against Joab. So Joab departed and went throughout all Israel and came back to Jerusalem. 5 And Joab gave the sum of the numbering of the people to David. In all Israel there were 1,100,000 men who drew the sword, and in Judah 470,000 who drew the sword. 6 But he did not include Levi and Benjamin in the numbering, for the king's command was abhorrent to Joab.
7 But God was displeased with this thing, and he struck Israel. 8 And David said to God, “I have sinned greatly in that I have done this thing. But now, please take away the iniquity of your servant, for I have acted very foolishly.” 9 And the Lord spoke to Gad, David’s seer, saying, 10 “Go and say to David, ‘Thus says the Lord, Three things I offer you; choose one of them, that I may do it to you.’” 11 So Gad came to David and said to him, “Thus says the Lord, ‘Choose what you will: 12 either three years of famine, or three months of devastation by your foes while the sword of your enemies overtakes you, or else three days of the sword of the Lord, pestilence on the land, with the angel of the Lord destroying throughout all the territory of Israel.’ Now decide what answer I shall return to him who sent me.” 13 Then David said to Gad, “I am in great distress. Let me fall into the hand of the Lord, for his mercy is very great, but do not let me fall into the hand of man.”
14 So the Lord sent a pestilence on Israel, and 70,000 men of Israel fell. 15 And God sent the angel to Jerusalem to destroy it, but as he was about to destroy it, the Lord saw, and he relented from the calamity. And he said to the angel who was working destruction, “It is enough; now stay your hand.” And the angel of the Lord was standing by the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite. 16 And David lifted his eyes and saw the angel of the Lord standing between earth and heaven, and in his hand a drawn sword stretched out over Jerusalem. Then David and the elders, clothed in sackcloth, fell upon their faces. 17 And David said to God, “Was it not I who gave command to number the people? It is I who have sinned and done great evil. But these sheep, what have they done? Please let your hand, O Lord my God, be against me and against my father’s house. But do not let the plague be on your people.”
David Builds an Altar
18 Now the angel of the Lord had commanded Gad to say to David that David should go up and raise an altar to the Lord on the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite. 19 So David went up at Gad’s word, which he had spoken in the name of the Lord. 20 Now Ornan was threshing wheat. He turned and saw the angel, and his four sons who were with him hid themselves. 21 As David came to Ornan, Ornan looked and saw David and went out from the threshing floor and paid homage to David with his face to the ground. 22 And David said to Ornan, “Give me the site of the threshing floor that I may build on it an altar to the Lord—give it to me at its full price—that the plague may be averted from the people.” 23 Then Ornan said to David, “Take it, and let my lord the king do what seems good to him. See, I give the oxen for burnt offerings and the threshing sledges for the wood and the wheat for a grain offering; I give it all.” 24 But King David said to Ornan, “No, but I will buy them for the full price. I will not take for the Lord what is yours, nor offer burnt offerings that cost me nothing.” 25 So David paid Ornan 600 shekels[a] of gold by weight for the site. 26 And David built there an altar to the Lord and presented burnt offerings and peace offerings and called on the Lord, and the Lord[b] answered him with fire from heaven upon the altar of burnt offering. 27 Then the Lord commanded the angel, and he put his sword back into its sheath.
28 At that time, when David saw that the Lord had answered him at the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite, he sacrificed there. 29 For the tabernacle of the Lord, which Moses had made in the wilderness, and the altar of burnt offering were at that time in the high place at Gibeon, 30 but David could not go before it to inquire of God, for he was afraid of the sword of the angel of the Lord.
22 Then David said, “Here shall be the house of the Lord God and here the altar of burnt offering for Israel.”
David Prepares for Temple Building
2 David commanded to gather together the resident aliens who were in the land of Israel, and he set stonecutters to prepare dressed stones for building the house of God.
Footnotes
1 Chronicles 21:25 A shekel was about 2/5 ounce or 11 grams
1 Chronicles 21:26 Hebrew he
2 Chronicles 3:1
English Standard Version
Solomon Builds the Temple
3 Then Solomon began to build the house of the Lord in Jerusalem on Mount Moriah, where the Lord[a] had appeared to David his father, at the place that David had appointed, on the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite.
Give Scripture to support Zion is the City of David: Kingship
2 Samuel 5:7-10; 1 Kings 8:1; Psalm 48:2
i. David’s choice of Jerusalem coincides with YHWH’s choice of Zion, and of David.
ii. Zion is associated with the Davidic Covenant and Solomonic Temple. 2 Samuel 7 (cf. 1 Kgs 8:16-26); Pss 2; 110
2 Samuel 5:7-10
English Standard Version
7 Nevertheless, David took the stronghold of Zion, that is, the city of David. 8 And David said on that day, “Whoever would strike the Jebusites, let him get up the water shaft to attack ‘the lame and the blind,’ who are hated by David’s soul.” Therefore it is said, “The blind and the lame shall not come into the house.” 9 And David lived in the stronghold and called it the city of David. And David built the city all around from the Millo inward. 10 And David became greater and greater, for the Lord, the God of hosts, was with him.
Read full chapter 1 Kings 8:1 English Standard Version The Ark Brought into the Temple 8 Then Solomon assembled the elders of Israel and all the heads of the tribes, the leaders of the fathers' houses of the people of Israel, before King Solomon in Jerusalem, to bring up the ark of the covenant of the Lord out of the city of David, which is Zion.
Read full chapter
1 Kings 8:1 in all English translations
Psalm 48:2
English Standard Version
2 beautiful in elevation,
is the joy of all the earth,
Mount Zion, in the far north,
the city of the great King.
2 Samuel 7
English Standard Version
The Lord’s Covenant with David
7 Now when the king lived in his house and the Lord had given him rest from all his surrounding enemies, 2 the king said to Nathan the prophet, “See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of God dwells in a tent.” 3 And Nathan said to the king, “Go, do all that is in your heart, for the Lord is with you.”
4 But that same night the word of the Lord came to Nathan, 5 “Go and tell my servant David, ‘Thus says the Lord: Would you build me a house to dwell in? 6 I have not lived in a house since the day I brought up the people of Israel from Egypt to this day, but I have been moving about in a tent for my dwelling. 7 In all places where I have moved with all the people of Israel, did I speak a word with any of the judges[a] of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel, saying, “Why have you not built me a house of cedar?”’ 8 Now, therefore, thus you shall say to my servant David, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, that you should be prince[b] over my people Israel. 9 And I have been with you wherever you went and have cut off all your enemies from before you. And I will make for you a great name, like the name of the great ones of the earth. 10 And I will appoint a place for my people Israel and will plant them, so that they may dwell in their own place and be disturbed no more. And violent men shall afflict them no more, as formerly, 11 from the time that I appointed judges over my people Israel. And I will give you rest from all your enemies. Moreover, the Lord declares to you that the Lord will make you a house. 12 When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. 14 I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son. When he commits iniquity, I will discipline him with the rod of men, with the stripes of the sons of men, 15 but my steadfast love will not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away from before you. 16 And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me.[c] Your throne shall be established forever.’” 17 In accordance with all these words, and in accordance with all this vision, Nathan spoke to David.
David’s Prayer of Gratitude
18 Then King David went in and sat before the Lord and said, “Who am I, O Lord God, and what is my house, that you have brought me thus far? 19 And yet this was a small thing in your eyes, O Lord God. You have spoken also of your servant’s house for a great while to come, and this is instruction for mankind, O Lord God! 20 And what more can David say to you? For you know your servant, O Lord God! 21 Because of your promise, and according to your own heart, you have brought about all this greatness, to make your servant know it. 22 Therefore you are great, O Lord God. For there is none like you, and there is no God besides you, according to all that we have heard with our ears. 23 And who is like your people Israel, the one nation on earth whom God went to redeem to be his people, making himself a name and doing for them[d] great and awesome things by driving out before your people,[e] whom you redeemed for yourself from Egypt, a nation and its gods? 24 And you established for yourself your people Israel to be your people forever. And you, O Lord, became their God. 25 And now, O Lord God, confirm forever the word that you have spoken concerning your servant and concerning his house, and do as you have spoken. 26 And your name will be magnified forever, saying, ‘The Lord of hosts is God over Israel,’ and the house of your servant David will be established before you. 27 For you, O Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, have made this revelation to your servant, saying, ‘I will build you a house.’ Therefore your servant has found courage to pray this prayer to you. 28 And now, O Lord God, you are God, and your words are true, and you have promised this good thing to your servant. 29 Now therefore may it please you to bless the house of your servant, so that it may continue forever before you. For you, O Lord God, have spoken, and with your blessing shall the house of your servant be blessed forever.”
Footnotes
2 Samuel 7:7 Compare 1 Chronicles 17:6; Hebrew tribes
2 Samuel 7:8 Or leader
2 Samuel 7:16 Septuagint; Hebrew you
2 Samuel 7:23 With a few Targums, Vulgate, Syriac; Hebrew you
2 Samuel 7:23 Septuagint (compare 1 Chronicles 17:21); Hebrew awesome things for your land, before your people
1 Kings 8:16-26
English Standard Version
16 ‘Since the day that I brought my people Israel out of Egypt, I chose no city out of all the tribes of Israel in which to build a house, that my name might be there. But I chose David to be over my people Israel.’ 17 Now it was in the heart of David my father to build a house for the name of the Lord, the God of Israel. 18 But the Lord said to David my father, ‘Whereas it was in your heart to build a house for my name, you did well that it was in your heart. 19 Nevertheless, you shall not build the house, but your son who shall be born to you shall build the house for my name.’ 20 Now the Lord has fulfilled his promise that he made. For I have risen in the place of David my father, and sit on the throne of Israel, as the Lord promised, and I have built the house for the name of the Lord, the God of Israel. 21 And there I have provided a place for the ark, in which is the covenant of the Lord that he made with our fathers, when he brought them out of the land of Egypt.”
Solomon’s Prayer of Dedication
22 Then Solomon stood before the altar of the Lord in the presence of all the assembly of Israel and spread out his hands toward heaven, 23 and said, “O Lord, God of Israel, there is no God like you, in heaven above or on earth beneath, keeping covenant and showing steadfast love to your servants who walk before you with all their heart; 24 you have kept with your servant David my father what you declared to him. You spoke with your mouth, and with your hand have fulfilled it this day. 25 Now therefore, O Lord, God of Israel, keep for your servant David my father what you have promised him, saying, ‘You shall not lack a man to sit before me on the throne of Israel, if only your sons pay close attention to their way, to walk before me as you have walked before me.’ 26 Now therefore, O God of Israel, let your word be confirmed, which you have spoken to your servant David my father.
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Psalm 2
English Standard Version
The Reign of the Lord's Anointed
2 Why do the nations rage[a]
and the peoples plot in vain?
2 The kings of the earth set themselves,
and the rulers take counsel together,
against the Lord and against his Anointed, saying,
3 “Let us burst their bonds apart
and cast away their cords from us.”
4 He who sits in the heavens laughs;
the Lord holds them in derision.
5 Then he will speak to them in his wrath,
and terrify them in his fury, saying,
6 “As for me, I have set my King
on Zion, my holy hill.”
7 I will tell of the decree:
The Lord said to me, “You are my Son;
today I have begotten you.
8 Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage,
and the ends of the earth your possession.
9 You shall break[b] them with a rod of iron
and dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.”
10 Now therefore, O kings, be wise;
be warned, O rulers of the earth.
11 Serve the Lord with fear,
and rejoice with trembling.
12 Kiss the Son,
lest he be angry, and you perish in the way,
for his wrath is quickly kindled.
Blessed are all who take refuge in him.
Footnotes
Psalm 2:1 Or nations noisily assemble
Psalm 2:9 Revocalization yields (compare Septuagint) You shall rule
Psalm 110
English Standard Version
Sit at My Right Hand
A Psalm of David.
110 The Lord says to my Lord:
“Sit at my right hand,
until I make your enemies your footstool.”
2 The Lord sends forth from Zion
your mighty scepter.
Rule in the midst of your enemies!
3 Your people will offer themselves freely
on the day of your power,[a]
in holy garments;[b]
from the womb of the morning,
the dew of your youth will be yours.[c]
4 The Lord has sworn
and will not change his mind,
“You are a priest forever
after the order of Melchizedek.”
5 The Lord is at your right hand;
he will shatter kings on the day of his wrath.
6 He will execute judgment among the nations,
filling them with corpses;
he will shatter chiefs[d]
over the wide earth.
7 He will drink from the brook by the way;
therefore he will lift up his head.
