The Procedure of Blood Covenant as Revealed in the Bible

Blood Covenant Required Shedding the Blood

of an Innocent Perfect Substitute
Old Testament example. Blood covenanting always involved the sacrifice of an innocent
animal. Sometimes the victim was split in half lengthwise, and a corridor was formed
between the halves. The covenanting parties would then walk through the corridor
together in a figure eight pattern and meet in the middle to take the oath. This appears to
be the case in Genesis !"#, $ and %eremiah &'"(.
The Bible makes it clear that the blood represents life. )*or the life of the flesh is in the
blood) +,ev. $",'-. .nd as all the sacrifices had to be perfect +without blemish- both
internally and externally, the blood must represent a perfect life/ +,ev. "&,01#2 3um.
0"'2 4x. 5"!-.
*inal 3ew Testament fulfillment" The shed blood of %esus represented 6is perfect life
offered up to God on our behalf/ +7 8et. "9- )6ow much more shall the blood of :hrist,
who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your
conscience. . .) +6eb. 9"'-.
The blood was considered sacred. The blood was considered sacred and must be treated
with reverence +,ev. $"1'2 .c. !"5#2 6eb. #"59-.
*inal 3ew Testament fulfillment. %esus; blood was sacred because 6is blood was the
blood of God come in human flesh +.cts 5#"5(2 6eb. #"591&#-. 7t is the most precious
thing in the world because it is valuable enough to redeem us from all our sins +7 8et.
"92 4ph. "$-
The sacrifices at the Tabernacle and Temple in 7srael provided a temporary access to, and
reconciliation with, God. The blood of %esus
:hrist has provided a permanent access +reconciliation- with God. %esus died on the cross
to redeem us )with 6is own precious blood, as of a lamb without blemish and without
spot" who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in
these last times
for you) +7 8et. 5"'2 %ohn "59, &0--.
The Oath of a Covenant Involved a Blessing and a Curse
Old Testament example" The covenanting parties would meet in the middle of the parted
sacrifice and raise their hands to heaven and clasp them together as they proclaimed the
oath of the covenant. This could include a curse as it related to the killing of the
sacrificial victim, or a blessing proclaiming the benefits and purpose of the covenant. +see
Genesis !"01(2 5"5&15$2 55"01(-. <ead about the curse that would come upon the
nation of 7srael if she broke her blood covenant with God in =euteronomy 5$"!150 and
5("!1'!. >e can also read about the incredible blessings that would come upon 7srael if
they faithfully kept their covenant promise to God +=eut. 5("1'-.
Trumbull gives documentation for the idea that the handshake binding a man to his word
originally came from the binding power of blood covenant oaths. God uses this same
metaphor of 6imself when 6e wants to express the binding power of 6is covenant with
7srael. The Bible says, )The ,O<= hath sworn by his right hand, and by the arm of his
strength. . .) +7sa. 05"(-. One of the words translated )swear) in Scripture means literally ?
to lift up @the handAB +6ebrew C nasa @yadA- This term is used of God in 4xodus 0"(2
3umbers '"&#2 3ehemiah 9"!2 and of man in 7saiah &"$.
*inal 3ew Testament fulfillment" The blessing and the curse are clearly revealed in the
3ew :ovenant that God made with mankind when :hrist died on the cross for our sin.
%ohn &"01( says, )*or God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that
whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. *or God sent not
his Son into the world to condemn the world2 but that the world through him might be
saved. 6e that believeth on him is not condemned" but he that believeth not is condemned
already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.) Only
%esus can save us from the curse of breaking God;s moral law +Gal. &"&2 Datt. 5!"'1
'0-.
Giving Gifts Was an Important Part of Blood Covenant
ou !"change Clothes# $rmor# or Other Gifts
Old Testament example" Often there would be an exchange of clothes, armor, or other
gifts by the covenanting parties +Gen. 5"5$2 5'"'51!(2 7sa. '9"(2 0"#-. 7n exchanging
military attire they were pledging their armies or military strength to each other. This
would be .braham;s understanding when God told him, )*ear not, .bram" 7 am thy
shield, and thy exceeding great reward) +Gen. !"-. >hat great peace a man can have
when he has entered into a blood covenant relationship with the one true almighty God/
*inal 3ew Testament fulfillment" Scripture also tells us that after %esus cut the new
covenant on the cross )6e ascended up on high and gave gifts unto men) +4ph. '"(-. The
Scriptures are full of military metaphors from blood covenants. .s new covenant
believers, we are told to )put on the armor of light) +<om. &"5-. Because of the reality
of the spiritual warfare all around us we are warned to )be strong in the ,ord and in the
power of his might. 8ut on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against
the wiles of the devil) +4ph. 0"#1-. :hristians in blood covenant relationship with God
have protection from evil spirits.
The exchange of non1military graments was a powerful metaphor to convey spiritual
truth. >e are encouraged to )put off concerning the former conversation the old man,
which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and put on the new man, which after
God is created in righteousness and true holiness) +4ph. '"55,5'2 :ol. &"91#-. >e must
)put on the ,ord %esus :hrist, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts
thereof) +<om. &"'-.
$ Sign or %emorial of the Covenant &as !stablished
Old Testament example" Often a special sign was designated by which people would
constantly be reminded of their special covenant relationship. Sometimes a tree or trees
were planted as a memorial of a covenant +Gen. 5"5$, &&-. 7n the case of %acob and
,aban, a heap of stones became the ? heap of witness) to the covenant +Gen. &"''1'(-.
7n one of .braham;s covenants seven ewe lambs were set apart as ;a witness; to the
covenant transaction +Gen. 5"&#-. 7n .braham;s covenant with God the sign was
circumcision +Gen. $"-.
*inal 3ew Testament fulfillment" The sign of the 3ew :ovenant is the spiritual
fulfillment of Old Testament circumcision. 7t is )the circumcision made without hands, in
putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of :hrist) +:ol. 5"2
<om. 5"59-. The :ross is also a universally recogniEed sign of the :hristian;s blood
covenant relationship with God +Gal. 0"5, '-. Baptism is also a public demonstration
that one has entered into a blood covenant relationship with %esus :hrist +<om. 0"&1'2
Gal. &"5$-.
Blood Covenant !stablished a Strong Bond of 'ello&ship
$round the Covenant %eal
Old Testament example" . fellowship meal was an important part of covenants in the
Bible +Gen. 50"501&2 &"''1!'-. %acob and ,aban +Gen. &"!'-, and 7saac and
.bimelech +Gen. 50"501&#- shared a feast when they cut their covenants with each other.
>hen the covenant of Sinai was ratified between God and the people of 7srael, the elders
and Doses went up the mountain and had a covenant meal in the presence of God +4x.
5'"1 especially verses (1-/ The one true God wants to feast with 6is people +<ev.
&"5#2 7sa. 5!"02 =eut. '"5&-.
*inal 3ew Testament fulfillment" >e know from God;s special revelation in Scripture
that %esus :hrist is the spiritual fulfillment of the bread and wine of the covenant meal
+%ohn 0"&51&!-. %esus said, )7 am the bread of life2 he that cometh to me shall never
hunger2 and he that believeth on me shall never thirst) +%ohn 0"&!-. %esus instituted the
,ord;s Supper to symboliEe our spiritual union with 6im. The bread is the symbol of 6is
body and the cup contains the symbol of 6is blood +Datt. 50"501592 Dk. '"5515!2 ,k.
55"$15#2 7 :or. "5&1!-.
Daintaining the proper etiFuette at the feast of the ,ord;s table is Gust as important as it
was at the feast in the Temple of 6eaven. *or God tells us, )>hosoever shall eat this
bread, and drink this cup of the ,ord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of
the ,ord. *or he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to
himself) +7 :or. "5$, 59-.
Covenanting Parties Receive a (e& Covenant (ame
S)mbolical of Becoming a (e& Person
Old Testament example" Sometimes people would be given a new covenant name after
cutting a blood covenant. This is very common in marriage covenants where the wife
usually takes a new name from the husband. God gave both .bram and Sarai new
covenant names when 6e entered into a blood covenant relationship with them. .bram,
meaning )exalted father,) became .braham meaning, )father of many nations) +Gen.
$"!-. God changed Sarai;s name to Sarah +Gen. $"!-. %ehovah God was actually
adding a part of 6is name +)ah) from %ehovah- to each of theirs. Hou can observe this
even in the english spelling" Sarah and .braham. Dany people who considered
themselves to be in blood covenant relationship with %ehovah added a part of %ehovah;s
name into the name of their children. *or example Dicah means )who is like %ehovah.)
Iechariah means )%ehovah remembers.) %oshua+h- in hebrew means )%ehovah is
salvation.)
So we should not think it strange that in :hina the emperor;s who took part regularly in a
blood covenant ceremony with Shang =i would take part of the title or name of Shang =i
and make =i part of their title or name.
*inal 3ew Testament fulfillment" 4very :hristian is called by the name of :hrist. Taking
6is name is symbolic of us becoming )partakers of the divine nature) +5 8et. "'2 5 :or.
&"(-. 7f we have become )a new creature in :hirst +5 :or. !"$- we must manifest the
character of :hrist in our daily lives +Gal. 5"5#2 <om. ("59-.
%esus has also promised to give each believer a new name when 6e comes back to set up
6is eternal kingdom +<ev. 5"$2 &"5-. The new name will be needed to fully express the
glorious new person we will become when we see %esus face to face +7 %ohn &"51&-
!ach (e& Generation %ust Personall) !nter into the Covenant
Once It *as Been !stablished b) the 'orefathers
Old Testament example" Once a covenant was established by the forefathers, each new
generation had to make the decision as to whether or not they would enter into the
covenant themselves +Gen. $"$1(-. 4very male was entered into the .brahamic covenant
by the sign of circumcision +Gen. $"'-. .bimelech, .huEEath, and 8hichol make
+6ebrew C cut- a covenant with 7saac in Genesis 50"501&. This was a renewal of a
covenant that had previously been made between .braham and another man named
.bimelech, in Genesis 5"551&&.
*inal 3ew Testament fulfillment" There is a very touching story about a young man
named Dehphibosheth, who almost failed to enter into the blessing of a covenant that had
been established by his father with Jing =avid. Dephibosheth was the son of %onathan,
son of Jing Saul. 6e belonged to the royal line but was made a cripple by a fall +5 Sam.
'"'-. .s one of Saul;s offspring, he could have been put to death but is saved by the blood
covenant his father had made years before +5 Sam. 5"01$-. 6e lived many years in fear
for his life, hiding from God;s chosen king because he is ignorant of the covenant his
father had made years before. *inally, at the king;s initiative, Dephibosheth is called into
the king;s presence, exalted to sit in a place of honor, and invited to feast at the king;s
table everyday +5 Sam. 9"!,$-. This glorious heritage was his because of a blood covenant
that had been made by someone else +5 Sam. 9"91-.
The spiritual truths of this history can be applied to every crippled sinner that enters into
a blood covenant relationship with God through faith in %esus :hrist. 6ow many of us
were made a cripple by a fall into sin +<om. !"5-K 6ow many of us live in fear for our
lives +6eb. 5"'1!- because we are ignorant of the Blood covenant %esus cut for us on
the :ross +7 8et. "(19-K 6ow many of us have accepted God;s invitation to sit in the
highest place of honor in the universe +4ph. 5"'1$-K 6ow many of us fail to feast at the
,ord;s table because we never accepted the invitation of Jing %esus to receive the
blessings of the 3ew :ovenant +Datt. "5(1&#-K
>e must each make a whole hearted personal decision to trust %esus alone for our
salvation +.cts ("&$J%L-. 7f someone chooses not to enter into a blood covenant
relationship with God, through %esus :hrist, they will be cut off from the covenant
promises of glory and spend eternity in hell +6eb. #"5(1&-.