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G-d’s Master Plan for Humanity
Part 3 of 3
G-d’s Master Plan
Began in Br’sheet, expanded in the Abrahamic Covenant with G-d choosing Abraham as His servant, and continued through Isaac & Jacob. It is an everlasting Covenant.
Continued in Egypt as G-d multiplied a great nation, ratified into a “constitution” at the Mt., and possessed in a land as Joshua brought the children into the land promised to Abraham and claimed by G-d as His own.
The Promised Seed-The Davidic Contract
2 Samuel 7:5-16 & Psalm 89:1-37 expand the Abrahamic Contract's seed promises in the Davidic Contract which describes Abraham's greatest seed, the Messiah, as the one who will reign over the earth with Israel-the rest of Abraham's seed-as the center of his rule.
2 Samuel 7:5-16
5 “Go and tell my servant David that this is what ADONAI says: ‘You are going to build me a house to live in?
6 Since the day I brought the people of Isra’el out of Egypt until today, I never lived in a house; rather, I traveled in a tent and a tabernacle.
7 Everywhere I traveled with all the people of Isra’el, did I ever speak a word to any of the tribes of Isra’el, whom I ordered to shepherd my people Isra’el, asking, “Why haven’t you built me a cedar–wood house?”’
8 “Therefore say this to my servant David that this is what ADONAI– Tzva’ot says: ‘I took you from the sheep–yards, from following the sheep, to make you chief over my people, over Isra’el.
9 I have been with you wherever you went; I have destroyed all your enemies ahead of you; and I am making your reputation great, like the reputations of the greatest people on earth.
10 I will assign a place to my people Isra’el; I will plant them there, so that they can live in their own place without being disturbed any more. The wicked will no longer oppress them, as they did at the beginning,
11 and as they did from the time I ordered judges to be over my people Isra’el; instead, I will give you rest from all your enemies. “‘Moreover, ADONAI tells you that ADONAI will make you a house.
12 When your days come to an end and you sleep with your ancestors, I will establish one of your descendants to succeed you, one of your own flesh and blood; and I will set up his rulership.
13 He will build a house for my name, and I will establish his royal throne forever.
14 I will be a father for him, and he will be a son for me. If he does something wrong, I will punish him with a rod and blows, just as everyone gets punished;
15 nevertheless, my grace will not leave him, as I took it away from Sha’ul, whom I removed from before you.
16 Thus your house and your kingdom will be made secure forever before you; your throne will be set up forever.’”
Psalm 89:1-37
1 ¶ A maskil of Eitan the Ezrachi: (89:2) I will sing about ADONAI‘ s acts of grace forever, with my mouth proclaim your faithfulness to all generations;
2 because I said, “Grace is built to last forever; in the heavens themselves you established your faithfulness.”
3 You said, “I made a covenant with the one I chose, I swore to my servant David,
4 ‘I will establish your dynasty forever, build up your throne through all generations.’” (Selah)
5 ¶ Let the heavens praise your wonders, ADONAI, your faithfulness in the assembly of the angels.
6 For who in the skies can be compared with ADONAI? Which of these gods can rival ADONAI,
7 a God dreaded in the great assembly of the holy ones and feared by all around him?
8 ADONAI Elohei–Tzva’ot! Who is as mighty as you, Yah? Your faithfulness surrounds you.
9 You control the raging of the sea; when its waves rear up, you calm them.
10 You crushed Rahav like a carcass; with your strong arm you scattered your foes.
11 The heavens are yours, and the earth is yours; you founded the world and everything in it.
12 You created north and south; Tavor and Hermon take joy in your name.
13 Your arm is mighty, your hand is strong, your right hand is lifted high.
14 Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; grace and truth attend you.
15 ¶ How happy are the people who know the joyful shout! They walk in the light of your presence, ADONAI.
16 They rejoice in your name all day and are lifted up by your righteousness,
17 for you yourself are the strength in which they glory. Our power grows by pleasing you,
18 for our shield comes from ADONAI–– our king is from the Holy One of Isra’el.
19 There was a time when you spoke in a vision; you declared to your loyal (prophets), “I have given help to a warrior, I have raised up someone chosen from the people.
20 I have found David my servant and anointed him with my holy oil.
21 My hand will always be with him, and my arm will give him strength.
22 No enemy will outwit him, no wicked man overcome him.
23 I will crush his foes before him and strike down those who hate him.
24 My faithfulness and grace will be with him; through my name his power will grow.
25 I will put his hand on the sea and his right hand on the rivers.
26 He will call to me, ‘You are my father, my God, the Rock of my salvation.’
27 (89:28) I will give him the position of firstborn, the highest of the kings of the earth.
28 I will keep my grace for him forever, and in my covenant be faithful with him.
29 I will establish his dynasty forever, and his throne as long as the heavens last.
30 “If his descendants abandon my Torah and fail to live by my rulings,
31 if they profane my regulations and don’t obey my mitzvot,
32 I will punish their disobedience with the rod and their guilt with lashes.
33 But I won’t withdraw my grace from him or be false to my faithfulness.
34 I will not profane my covenant or change what my lips have spoken.
35 I have sworn by my holiness once and for all; I will not lie to David––
36 his dynasty will last forever, his throne like the sun before me.
37 It will be established forever, like the moon, which remains a faithful witness in the sky.” (Selah)
David wanted to build a "house" (Temple) for God. God refused to allow this but made great promises to David. Some where fulfilled in Solomon, who would build a "house" for God. Others went far beyond Solomon. God promised to build an eternal "house" for David. Near Eastern cultures use the image of a house to indicate a line of descendants. Thus, God guarantees that David's line (or seed) will never be completely wiped out.
G-d then promises to establish David's throne forever, thus:
· the authority to rule Israel would always belong to David and his descendants.
· his family would never be displaced by another as the rightful royal line.
· It would be an eternal kingdom.
· Israel would be the center of that kingdom.
Thus, the Davidic Contract, like the contracts before it, guarantees Israel's ultimate, continued existence.
However, there are conditions that were attached to part of the contract. Disobedience by David's descendants would result in:
· God's judgment (2 Sam 7:14-15; Ps 89:30-34);
· the disobedient individuals would not participate in the promised blessings.
· They might also lose their part in ruling Israel.
· They would not experience the blessings because they would not appropriate them by faith.
2 Sam 7:14-15
14 I will be a father for him, and he will be a son for me. If he does something wrong, I will punish him with a rod and blows, just as everyone gets punished;
15 nevertheless, my grace will not leave him, as I took it away from Sha’ul, whom I removed from before you.
Ps 89:30-34
30 “If his descendants abandon my Torah and fail to live by my rulings,
31 if they profane my regulations and don’t obey my mitzvot,
32 I will punish their disobedience with the rod and their guilt with lashes.
33 But I won’t withdraw my grace from him or be false to my faithfulness.
34 I will not profane my covenant or change what my lips have spoken.
Yet, disobedience would not invalidate the covenant (Ps. 89:33-34). David's seed would remain the royal line. Changing forms of government, or divine judgment, might interrupt the actual rule over the kingdom by David's line. However:
· the line,
· the right to the throne,
· and the royal domain
would be preserved and never lost-despite sin, captivity, or dispersion. The survival of Joash (2 Kings 11) provides a good example of God's preservation of David's royal line.
2 Kings 11
1 ¶ When ‘Atalyah the mother of Achazyah saw that her son was dead, she set about destroying the entire royal family.
2 But Y’hosheva the daughter of King Yoram, sister of Achazyah, took Yo’ash the son of Achazyah and stole him away from among the princes who were being slaughtered. She took him and his nurse, sequestered them in a bedroom, and hid them from ‘Atalyah, so that he was not killed.
3 He remained hidden with his nurse in the house of ADONAI for six years; during this time ‘Atalyah ruled the land.
…
12 Then he brought out the king’s son, crowned him, gave him (a copy of) the testimony and thus made him king; they anointed him, clapped their hands and shouted, “Long live the king!”
13 ¶ When ‘Atalyah heard the shouting of the guard and the people, she entered the house of ADONAI where the people were,
14 looked and saw the king standing there on the platform, in keeping with the rule, with the leaders and trumpeters next to the king. All the people of the land were celebrating and blowing the trumpets. At this ‘Atalyah tore her clothes and cried, “Treason! Treason!”
15 Y’hoyada the cohen ordered the captains of hundreds, the army officers, “Escort her out past the ranks (of guards); but anyone who follows her, kill with the sword.” For the cohen had said, “She must not be put to death in the house of ADONAI.”
16 So they took her by force and led her through the horses’ entry to the royal palace, and there she was put to death.
17 ¶ Y’hoyada made a covenant between ADONAI, the king and the people, that they would be ADONAI‘ s people, and (a covenant) between the king and the people.
18 Then all the people of the land went to the house of Ba‘al and broke it down; they completely smashed its altars and images and killed Mattan the priest of Ba‘al in front of the altars. Next, the cohen appointed officers over the house of ADONAI.
19 He took the captains of hundreds, the Kari, the guards and all the people of the land; and they brought the king down from the house of ADONAI, going by way of the gate of the guards to the royal palace. There he sat on the throne of the kings.
20 All the people of the land celebrated, and at last the city was quiet. That is how they killed ‘Atalyah with the sword at the royal palace.
21 (12:1) Y’ho’ash was seven years old when he began his reign.
Continuous political government might not exist, but the royal line with its rights had to be preserved and restored.
The Messiah's rule over Israel on David's throne is founded on the Davidic Contract. Based on this contract, the prophets expected Messiah, as David's greatest descendent and Abraham's promised seed, to restore David's kingdom and reign over Israel in millennial blessings (Jer. 23:5-6). David's line was preserved and eventually culminated in the Messiah. In the near future, it will be restored in all its fullness.
Jer. 23:5-6
5 “The days are coming, ”says ADONAI when I will raise a righteous Branch for David. He will reign as king and succeed, he will do what is just and right in the land.
6 In his days Y’hudah will be saved, Isra’el will live in safety, and the name given to him will be ADONAI Tzidkenu (ADONAI our righteousness).
The prophets (Isaiah to Malachi) acted as prosecuting attorneys, i.e., they indicted the Nation for its disobedience during the time of the Kings. The Mosaic Covenant had promised blessings for obedience and judgment for disobedience, so the prophets message was one of judgment due to the Nations disobedience. Their message does end with hope, because the Abrahamic and Davidic Covenants promised that God would use Israel to bless the world and be the center of Messiah's reign. This did not happen in the Prophets time, but God had promised that this would be a reality. The Prophets looked forward to this future time. As part of this anticipation, and through the context of the prophets, God revealed the "New" Covenant.
The Culmination of the Blessing Program-The "New" Contract
The contract's terms, made specifically with Israel (Jer. 30:31), are spiritually radical. In it God promises:
· to wipe out sin.
· to give his people a new nature with new drives to obey him and keep his guidelines
· to put his Spirit in his people to energize their new nature.
· to establish an even more intimate relationship with his people, and eventually with all humanity.
Ultimately, these tremendous blessings relate to Israel's restoration and the worldwide benefits of Messiah's reign (Jer. 31:37-39). At that time, the entire earth will share in this blessing.
Jer. 30
1 ¶ This word came to Yirmeyahu from ADONAI:
2 “This is what ADONAI the God of Isra’el says: ‘Write all the words I have spoken to you in a scroll.
3 For the day is coming, ‘says ADONAI, ‘when I will reverse the exile of my people Isra’el and Y’hudah, ‘says ADONAI. ‘I will cause them to return to the land I gave their ancestors, and they will take possession of it.’”
4 These are the words ADONAI spoke concerning Isra’el and Y’hudah:
5 Here is what ADONAI says: “We have heard a cry of terror, of fear and not of peace.
6 Ask now and see: can men give birth to children? Why, then, do I see all the men with their hands on their stomachs like women in labor, with every face turned pale?
7 How dreadful that day will be! – there has never been one like it: a time of trouble for Ya‘akov, but out of it he will be saved.
8 “On that day, ”says ADONAI–Tzva’ot, “I will break his yoke from off your neck, I will snap your chains. Foreigners will no longer enslave him.
9 Instead, they will serve ADONAI their God and David their king, whom I will raise up for them.
10 ¶ “So don’t be afraid, Ya‘akov my servant, ”says ADONAI, “or be alarmed, Isra’el; for I will return you from far away and your offspring from their country of exile. Ya‘akov will again be quiet, at rest; and no one will make him afraid.
11 “For I am with you to save you, ”says ADONAI, “I will finish off all the nations where I have scattered you. However, you I will not finish off, but will discipline only as you deserve; I will not completely destroy you.”
12 For here is what ADONAI says: “Your wound is past healing, your injury most severe;
13 no one thinks your wound can be bandaged; you have no medicines that can heal you.
14 All your friends have forgotten you, they no longer seek you out. I have struck you down as an enemy would, punished as a cruel man would, because of your great wickedness, because of your many sins.
15 Why cry that your wound and pain are past healing? I have done these things to you because of your great wickedness, because of your many sins.
16 “But all who devour you will be devoured, all your enemies will go into exile, those who plunder you will be plundered, those who pillage you will be pillaged.
17 For I will restore your health, I will heal you of your wounds, ”says ADONAI, “because they called you an outcast, Tziyon, with no one who cares about her.”
18 ¶ Thus says ADONAI: “I will return Ya‘akov’s captives to their tents; I will take pity on his dwellings. Cities will be rebuilt on their own tel s, with palaces where they’re supposed to be.
19 From them will come thanksgiving and the sound of people celebrating. I will increase them; they will not be decreased; I will honor them; they will not be despised.
20 Their children will be as they used to be, their community confirmed in my presence; and I will punish everyone who oppresses them.
21 Their leader will be one of their own, their ruler will come from among them. I will cause him to come close and let him approach me; for, otherwise, who would guarantee his heart enough to approach me?” says ADONAI.
22 “You will be my people, and I will be your God.”
23 Look! The storm of ADONAI, bursting out in fury, a sweeping storm, whirling down upon the heads of the wicked!
24 ADONAI ‘s fierce anger will not abate till he accomplishes the purpose in his heart. In the acharit–hayamim, you will understand.
Jer 31
1 ¶ (30:25) “When that time comes, ”says ADONAI, “I will be God of all the clans of Isra’el, and they will be my people.”
2 (31:1) Here is what ADONAI says: “The people escaping the sword found favor in the desert – I have brought Isra’el to its rest.”
3 (31:2) From a distance ADONAI appeared to me, (saying,)“I love you with an everlasting love; this is why in my grace I draw you to me.
3 (31:2) From a distance ADONAI appeared to me, (saying,)“I love you with an everlasting love; this is why in my grace I draw you to me.
4 (31:3) Once again, I will build you; you will be rebuilt, virgin of Isra’el. Once again, equipped with your tambourines, you will go out and dance with the merrymakers.
5 (31:4) Once again, you will plant vineyards on the hills of Shomron, and those doing the planting will have the use of its fruit.
6 (31:5) For a day will come when the watchmen on Mount Efrayim will call, ‘Come, let’s go up to Tziyon, to ADONAI our God.’”
7 (31:6) For here is what ADONAI says: “Sing with joy for Ya‘akov! shout for the chief of the nations! Proclaim your praise, and say: ‘ADONAI! You have saved your people, the remnant of Isra’el!’
8 (31:7) Look! I am bringing them from the land in the north, gathering them from the far ends of the earth; among them are the blind and lame, women with children, women in labor, all together, a vast throng returning here.
9 (31:8) They will come weeping and praying as I bring them back. I will lead them by streams of water on smooth paths, so that they won’t stumble. For I am a father to Isra’el, and Efrayim is my firstborn son.”
10 ¶ (31:9) Nations, hear the word of ADONAI! Proclaim it in the coastlands far away. Say: “He who scattered Isra’el is gathering him, guarding him like a shepherd his flock.”
11 (31:10) For ADONAI has ransomed Ya‘akov, redeemed him from hands too strong for him.
12 (31:11) They will come and sing on the heights of Tziyon, streaming to the goodness of ADONAI, to the grain, the wine, the olive oil, and the young of the flock and the herd. They themselves will be like a well–watered garden, never to languish again.
13 (31:12) “Then the virgin will dance for joy, young men and old men together; for I will turn their mourning into joy, comfort and gladden them after their sorrow.
14 (31:13) I will give the cohanim their fill of rich food, and my people will be satisfied with my bounty, ”says ADONAI.
15 (31:14) This is what ADONAI says: “A voice is heard in Ramah, lamenting and bitter weeping. It is Rachel weeping for her children, refusing to be comforted for her children, because they are no longer alive.”
16 (31:15) This is what ADONAI says: “Stop your weeping, and dry your eyes, for your work will be rewarded, ”says ADONAI. “They will return from the enemy’s land;
17 (31:16) so there is hope for your future, ”says ADONAI. “Your children will return to their own territory.
18 ¶ (31:17) “I hear Efrayim bemoaning himself: ‘You disciplined me, and I took your discipline like a young ox not used to a yoke. Let me return, and I will return, for you are ADONAI, my God.
19 (31:18) Yes, I turned away; but later I repented. When I had been made to understand, I struck my thigh in shame and remorse, bearing the weight of the disgrace acquired when I was young.’
20 (31:19) “Isn’t Efrayim my very dear son, a child who delights me so? I speak about him all the time, I can’t help but recall him to mind. In sum, I deeply yearn for him; I will surely show him favor, ”says ADONAI.
21 (31:20) Set up road signs, erect guideposts, pay attention to the highway, the path on which you traveled. Come back, virgin Isra’el, come back to these cities of yours!
22 (31:21) How long will you hesitate, you unruly daughter? For ADONAI has created something new on earth: a woman with the strengths of a man.
23 (31:22) Here is what ADONAI–Tzva’ot, the God of Isra’el, says: “This expression will be used again in the land of Y’hudah and its cities after I have returned their exiles: ‘May ADONAI bless you, home of justice, holy mountain!’
24 (31:23) In it will live together Y’hudah and all its cities, the farmer and those who lead the flocks.
25 (31:24) For I have satisfied the weary and filled the needs of all in distress.”
26 (31:25) At this point I woke up and looked around, but I had enjoyed my sleep.
27 ¶ (31:26) “Here, the days are coming, ”says ADONAI, "when I will sow the house of Isra’el and the house of Y’hudah with the seed of humans and the seed of animals.
28 (31:27) At that time, just as I used to watch over them with the intent to uproot, break down, overthrow, destroy and do harm; so then I will watch over them to build and plant, ”says ADONAI.
29 (31:28) “When those days come they will no longer say, ‘The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge.’
30 (31:29) Rather, each will die for his own sin; every one who eats sour grapes, his own teeth will be set on edge.
31 (31:30) “Here, the days are coming, ”says ADONAI, “when I will make a new covenant with the house of Isra’el and with the house of Y’hudah.
32 (31:31) It will not be like the covenant I made with their fathers on the day I took them by their hand and brought them out of the land of Egypt; because they, for their part, violated my covenant, even though I, for my part, was a husband to them, ”says ADONAI.
33 (31:32) “For this is the covenant I will make with the house of Isra’el after those days, ”says ADONAI: “I will put my Torah within them and write it on their hearts; I will be their God, and they will be my people.
34 (31:33) No longer will any of them teach his fellow community member or his brother, ‘Know ADONAI‘; for all will know me, from the least of them to the greatest; because I will forgive their wickednesses and remember their sins no more.”
35 ¶ (31:34) This is what ADONAI says, who gives the sun as light for the day, who ordained the laws for the moon and stars to provide light for the night, who stirs up the sea until its waves roar – ADONAI –Tzva’ot is his name:
36 (31:35) “If these laws leave my presence, ”says ADONAI, “then the offspring of Isra’el will stop being a nation in my presence forever.”
37 (31:36) This is what ADONAI says: “If the sky above can be measured and the foundations of the earth be fathomed, then I will reject all the offspring of Isra’el for all that they have done, ”says ADONAI.
38 (31:37) “Look, the days are coming, ”says ADONAI, “when the city will be rebuilt for ADONAI from the Tower of Hanan’el to the Corner Gate.
39 (31:38) The measuring line will be stretched straight to Garev Hill, then turn to Go‘ah.
40 (31:39) The whole valley of corpses and ashes, including all the fields as far as Vadi Kidron, and on to the corner of the Horse Gate to the east, will be separated out for ADONAI; it will never be uprooted or destroyed again.”
However, individuals can enter into many of these blessings today by responding to God (Ezek. 36:25-27, see also John 3:5-10).
Ezek. 36:25-27
25 ¶ Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your uncleanness and from all your idols.
26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit inside you; I will take the stony heart out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.
27 I will put my Spirit inside you and cause you to live by my laws, respect my rulings and obey them.
John 3:5-10
5 Yeshua answered, “Yes, indeed, I tell you that unless a person is born from water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the Kingdom of God.
6 What is born from the flesh is flesh, and what is born from the Spirit is spirit.
7 Stop being amazed at my telling you that you must be born again from above!
8 The wind blows where it wants to, and you hear its sound, but you don’t know where it comes from or where it’s going. That’s how it is with everyone who has been born from the Spirit.”
9 Nakdimon replied, “How can this happen?”
10 Yeshua answered him, “You hold the office of teacher in Isra’el, and you don’t know this?
The specific Hebrew and Greek words for "new" (hadash and kainos) can also mean "renewed." They are used to describe the process of renewal (for example, the renewal or recurrence of the moon's cycles, or the refurbishing of a house). The terms and structure of this covenant also imply a renewal and ratification of the existing contracts (Jer. 33:14-22). The "New" Contract (Jer. 31:30-39; 33:14-22; Ezek 36:22-32) expands the Abrahamic Contract's blessing promises, and shows how Israel will be a source of blessing for the entire world.
Jer. 33:14-22
14 “Here, the days are coming, ”says ADONAI, “when I will fulfill this good promise which I have proclaimed for the house of Isra’el and the house of Y’hudah.
15 When those days come, at that time, I will cause to spring up for David a Branch of Righteousness. He will do what is just and right in the land.
16 When those days come, Y’hudah will be saved, Yerushalayim will live in safety, and the name given to her will be ADONAI Tzidkenu." (ADONAI our Righteousness)
17 ¶ For this is what ADONAI says: “There will never be cut off from David a man to occupy the throne of the house of Isra’el.
18 Nor will there ever be cut off from the cohanim who are L’vi’im a man before me to offer burnt offerings, burn grain offerings and offer sacrifices every day.”
19 This word of ADONAI came to Yirmeyahu:
20 “Here is what ADONAI says: ‘If you can break my covenant with the day and my covenant with the night, so that daytime and nighttime no longer come when they are supposed to,
21 then my covenant with my servant David also can be broken, so that he will not have a descendant to reign from his throne or L’vi’im who are cohanim to minister to me.
22 To the degree that the armies of heaven are past counting and the sand by the sea past measuring, I will increase the descendants of my servant David and the L’vi’im ministering to me.’”
Jer. 31:30-39
31 (31:30) “Here, the days are coming, ”says ADONAI, “when I will make a new covenant with the house of Isra’el and with the house of Y’hudah.
32 (31:31) It will not be like the covenant I made with their fathers on the day I took them by their hand and brought them out of the land of Egypt; because they, for their part, violated my covenant, even though I, for my part, was a husband to them, ”says ADONAI.
33 (31:32) “For this is the covenant I will make with the house of Isra’el after those days, ”says ADONAI: “I will put my Torah within them and write it on their hearts; I will be their God, and they will be my people.
34 (31:33) No longer will any of them teach his fellow community member or his brother, ‘Know ADONAI‘; for all will know me, from the least of them to the greatest; because I will forgive their wickednesses and remember their sins no more.”
35 ¶ (31:34) This is what ADONAI says, who gives the sun as light for the day, who ordained the laws for the moon and stars to provide light for the night, who stirs up the sea until its waves roar – ADONAI –Tzva’ot is his name:
36 (31:35) “If these laws leave my presence, ”says ADONAI, “then the offspring of Isra’el will stop being a nation in my presence forever.”
37 (31:36) This is what ADONAI says: “If the sky above can be measured and the foundations of the earth be fathomed, then I will reject all the offspring of Isra’el for all that they have done, ”says ADONAI.
38 (31:37) “Look, the days are coming, ”says ADONAI, “when the city will be rebuilt for ADONAI from the Tower of Hanan’el to the Corner Gate.
39 (31:38) The measuring line will be stretched straight to Garev Hill, then turn to Go‘ah.
Ezek 36:22-32
22 “Therefore tell the house of Isra’el that ADONAI ELOHIM says this: ‘I am not going to do this for your sake, house of Isra’el, but for the sake of my holy name, which you have been profaning among the nations where you went.
23 I will set apart my great name to be regarded as holy, since it has been profaned in the nations –– you profaned it among them. The nations will know that I am ADONAI, ‘says ADONAI ELOHIM, ‘when, before their eyes, I am set apart through you to be regarded as holy.
24 For I will take you from among the nations, gather you from all the countries, and return you to your own soil.
25 ¶ Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your uncleanness and from all your idols.
26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit inside you; I will take the stony heart out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.
27 I will put my Spirit inside you and cause you to live by my laws, respect my rulings and obey them.
28 You will live in the land I gave to your ancestors. You will be my people, and I will be your God.
29 I will save you from all your uncleanliness. I will summon the grain and increase it, and not send famine against you.
30 I will multiply the yield of fruit from the trees and increase production in the fields, so that you never again suffer the reproach of famine among the nations.
31 Then you will remember your evil ways and your actions that were not good; as you look at yourselves, you will loathe yourselves for your guilt and disgusting practices.
32 Understand, ‘says ADONAI ELOHIM, ‘that I am not doing this for your sake. Instead, be ashamed and dismayed for your ways, house of Isra’el.’
Yeshua identified himself as the "Renewed" Covenant's mediator or ratifier (Matt. 26:28; Luke 22:19-20; Heb. 9:15).
Matt 26:28
28 For this is my blood, which ratifies the New Covenant, my blood shed on behalf of many, so that they may have their sins forgiven.
Luke 22:19-20
19 Also, taking a piece of matzah, he made the b’rakhah, broke it, gave it to them and said, “This is my body, which is being given for you; do this in memory of me.”
20 He did the same with the cup after the meal, saying, “This cup is the New Covenant, ratified by my blood, which is being poured out for you.
Heb. 9:15
15 ¶ It is because of this death that he is mediator of a new covenant (or will). {#Jer 31:31} Because a death has occurred which sets people free from the transgressions committed under the first covenant, those who have been called may receive the promised eternal inheritance.
He made it possible for it to go into effect and for people to enjoy its benefits. The dynamic coming of the Holy Spirit at Shavuot (Pentecost), then, signaled the Renewed Contract's initiation. At that time, God indicated that he had dramatically put his Spirit in his people, as promised in the terms of the contract (Ezek. 36:24-27). Its other terms, as well as the unfulfilled promises of the other covenants, await a future fulfillment.
Ezek. 36:24-27
26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit inside you; I will take the stony heart out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.
27 I will put my Spirit inside you and cause you to live by my laws, respect my rulings and obey them.
The Tanakh’s last statements (Mal. 4:4--6) underline the centrality of these contracts. The prophet tells God's people to follow the Mosaic Covenant's guidelines, as the way of life that pleases God. He then alerts them to look for the coming of Elijah, the forerunner of Messiah, the Messiah who fulfills the Abrahamic, Mosaic, and Davidic Contracts, and institutes the Contract of Renewal.
Mal. 4:4-6
4 ¶ (3:22) “Remember the Torah of Moshe my servant, which I enjoined on him at Horev, laws and rulings for all Isra’el.
5 (3:23) Look, I will send to you Eliyahu the prophet before the coming of the great and terrible Day of ADONAI.
6 (3:24) He will turn the hearts of the fathers to the children and the hearts of the children to their fathers; otherwise I will come and strike the land with complete destruction.” {Look, I will send to you Eliyahu the prophet before the coming of the great and terrible Day of ADONAI.}
The Newer Testament carries on the flow of the covenants.
1. Mattityahu, for example, introduces Yeshua as the son of Abraham and David (Matt. 1:1), a theme he follows throughout this gospel to show that Yeshua fulfilled these contracts.
Matt 1:1 ¶ This is the genealogy of Yeshua the Messiah, son of David, son of Avraham:
2. In the Sermon on the Mount, Yeshua presents himself as the Mosaic Covenant's fulfillment as well (Matt. 5:17).
Matt 5:17 ¶ “Don’t think that I have come to abolish the Torah or the Prophets. I have come not to abolish but to complete.
3. Before Yeshua's birth, the angel who visited Miriam announced that the child would be given his father David's throne (Luke 1:32-33). Again, this indicated his close relationship to the Davidic Contract promises.
Luke 1:32-33
32 He will be great, he will be called Son of Ha‘elyon. ADONAI, God, will give him the throne of his forefather David;
33 and he will rule the House of Ya‘akov forever––there will be no end to his Kingdom.”
4. In her response (Luke 1:54-55), Miryam expressed gratitude to God for helping his servant Israel in keeping with his promises to Abraham. She understood the Messiah's unique relationship to the Abrahamic Covenant as its source of blessing.
Luke 1:54-55
54 “He has taken the part of his servant Isra’el, mindful of the mercy
55 which he promised to our fathers, to Avraham and his seed forever.”
5. Zecharyah (Zechariah), the father of Yochanan the Immerser (John the Baptizer), continues the theme by referring to Yeshua as the Savior from David's house and the fulfillment of promises to Abraham (Luke 1:68-79).
Luke 1:68-79
68 “Praised be ADONAI, the God of Isra’el, {#Ps 41:13 72:18 106:48} because he has visited and made a ransom to liberate his people
69 by raising up for us a mighty Deliverer who is a descendant of his servant David.
70 It is just as he has spoken through the mouth of the prophets from the very beginning––
71 that we should be delivered from our enemies and from the power of all who hate us.
72 “This has happened so that he might show the mercy promised to our fathers––that he would remember his holy covenant,
73 the oath he swore before Avraham avinu
74 to grant us that we, freed from our enemies, would serve him without fear,
75 in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.
76 You, child, will be called a prophet of Ha‘elyon; you will go before the Lord to prepare his way {#Mal 3:1 Isa 40:3}
77 by spreading the knowledge among his people that deliverance comes by having sins forgiven
78 through our God’s most tender mercy, which causes the Sunrise to visit us from Heaven,
79 to shine on those in darkness, living in the shadow of death, {#Isa 9:2} and to guide our feet into the paths of peace.”
6. The book of Hebrews highlights Yeshua as the Mosaic Contract's fulfillment and the Renewed Contract's mediator.
An important consideration, deriving from this discussion of the covenants becomes increasingly apparent. Yeshua's death and resurrection have been an important part of God's plan for the ages from the very outset. As Rav Shaul describes it, God planned this "before the creation of the universe"(Eph. 1:4 - In the Messiah he chose us in love before the creation of the universe to be holy and without defect in his presence.).
1. As Shimon put it in his prayer: "what your power and plan had already determined beforehand should happen" (Acts 4:28 - to do what your power and plan had already determined beforehand should happen.).
2. Yeshua tells us: "I lay down my life-in order to take it up again! No one takes it away from me; on the contrary, I lay it down of my own free will" (John 10:17-18).
John 10:17-18
17 “This is why the Father loves me: because I lay down my life––in order to take it up again!
18 No one takes it away from me; on the contrary, I lay it down of my own free will. I have the power to lay it down, and I have the power to take it up again. This is what my Father commanded me to do.”
In other words, the ultimate answer to the question "Who killed Yeshua?" is, in a very real sense, God did! It was his plan from before creation. God's grand purpose had unfolded in history. The time was finally ripe, and as Rabbi Shaul wrote, God "invaded" planet earth in the person of Yeshua (cp. Gal. 4:4).
Gal 4:4-5
4 but when the appointed time arrived, God sent forth his Son. He was born from a woman, born into a culture in which legalistic perversion of the Torah was the norm,
5 so that he might redeem those in subjection to this legalism and thus enable us to be made God’s sons.
Both the Older and Newer Testaments, therefore, make the significance of the covenants clear. By studying the Abrahamic Contract, and the Mosaic, Davidic, and Renewed Contracts' elaboration of it, we get a:
1. picture of God's plan for his world,
2. Yeshua's central role in God's plan, and
3. Israel's place in that program.
Some of God's promises to Israel have been fulfilled. Others await a future fulfillment as he continues to work with his people through history. It would be a true distortion of the plan of God to miss the centrality of the Jewish people in it, from Abraham through Yeshua, and beyond, into the Messianic Age.
The Jews were chosen to bring blessing to the world!
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