Last Wednesday was our first Choir rehearsal for the season. I am very excited about the choir this year. We
have a larger group, which always makes it better. The song selection this season is challenging, but they are
great pieces. I believe the choir will enjoy singing them and I hope and trust you will enjoy listening. It’s not
too late to join the choir if you think you might have an interest.
Last Thursday the staff was given a day away to refresh. The gift came from a very generous couple in the
church. You know who you are—thank you so, so much! We had a great time. It was just what we needed to
reconnect after a summer of busy, scattered schedules.
Sunday night Marcia and I visited Green Street Baptist Church to hear the Rick Webb singers in concert. It
was a heart touching evening. We enjoyed ourselves and were glad to have been able to attend.
In Sunday morning’s message I left out some items that I think may be of interest for further study.
I had mentioned there were 9 parts to a typical Jewish covenant ceremony. Let me recount those for you;
1. The Introduction To The Covenant
The initiator would hand his coat to other person, which represented giving himself to other person. In
Hebrew thought one’s coat symbolized "who you are". The initiator would also hand his belt and weapons to
other person which they would fight for the other person. Then the recipient would reciprocate.
2. The Dying Of The Old, The Resurrection Of The New
Animals would be cut in half, forming two walls of death. Each person in the ceremony would then face
each other, surrounded by dead animals, and recite their vows to each other.
This Ritual Signified Two Things: 1) The Participants would die to what they were as individuals and would
come alive into a united relationship. 2) The agreement was until death.
In essence by walking through the center of the divided animals, the participants were saying—“If I break
the terms of this covenant , may God do the same to me as to these animals.”
3. The Shedding Of the Participant’s Blood
The participants would take knives and cut themselves on the wrist or hand, and would then join hands, thus
mixing their blood.
Page 2 of 2
4. Exchanging Of Names
Each participant took on the name of the other so that they were identified as being in the same family. After
the covenant between God and Abraham, Abraham was known as the friend of God, and God identified
himself as “The God of Abraham”.
5. The Seal And Sign Of Covenant
Black powder was rubbed into the wounds, creating a lasting scar. The scar existed for two reasons: 1) It
reminded those in the covenant of their great responsibility to the other partner; anything that happens to
him, happens to me. 2) It reminded those in the covenant of their great privileges. They were now allies until
death.
6. The Declaration Before Witnesses
Each party would declare their total assets and debts. Then they would jointly assume the assets and debts of
the other.
7. A Memorial Would Be Arranged
The memorial could be a variety of things; a pile of stones, planted trees, a ring, the exchange of livestock. It
was something that signified that the covenant was now established.
8. A Covenant Meal Was Shared
Sharing a meal was extremely significant in Jewish culture. Ceremonial meals were only shared with
covenant partners. That meal consisted of two parts; 1) bread, which was broken and fed to the other person.
2) wine which symbolized life and blood.
9. All Children Were Automatically In The Covenant Whether Born Or Unborn
At the age of accountability a child could either choose to stay in the covenant, or choose to get out. The
choice was final.
That’s some of the material we looked at Sunday. What I didn’t have time to do, and what may be beneficial
for your further study, is to see how Christ’s New Covenant followed those elements.
1. Jesus introduced the covenant by taking on human flesh, thus giving himself totally to us
2. Christ cut the covenant with His own blood
3. As people passed through the severed wall of animals, Jesus passed through death for us
4. He took on our name (son of man) and offered us his name (Christian)
5. He gave us a seal (The Holy Spirit Ephesians 1:13ff.)
6. We exchanged assets and debts. We traded our debt of sin for his asset of eternal life—
(2 Corinthians 5:17)
7. The memorial is His cross
8. The meal of covenant was served in the upper room
9. Every child born is automatically under the covenant of grace until the age of accountability
Maranatha! Keep your eyes to the sky. Our Redemption draws near!
Grace & Peace,
Pastor Rick
No comments:
Post a Comment