1. The Mosaic Covenant Part II

2. Review of Last Week The Significance of the Mosaic Covenant The Setting of the Mosaic Covenant: After God’s Redemption of Israel and Guidance to Sinai The Mosaic Covenant Never Intended as a Means of Salvation The Purpose of the Mosaic Covenant: To Set Israel Apart as God’s Own Possession, a Kingdom of Priests and a Holy Nation

3. Is the Mosaic Covenant conditional upon Israel’s obedience?

4. Conditionality of the Mosaic Covenant It is true that the Mosaic Covenant was the most conditional of all the biblical covenants. Of all the covenants, it dealt specifically with how the people of God should live. The fulfillment of the promises and blessings of any of the covenants for any particular individual or generation was dependent upon their obedience to God’s revelation. Disobedience annulled the blessings of God for that individual or generation in his/her/its own time, but disobedience did not invalidate the unconditional terms of the covenant (Barrick, “The Mosaic Covenant,” 222).

5. Conditionality of the Mosaic Covenant In the end, however, all that is in question is whether God will be revealed through Israel’s faithful reflection of him, or whether he will reveal himself through his discipline of Israel’s unfaithfulness.... God’s self-revelation will be accomplished through Israel, one way or another (Walton, Covenant: God’s Purpose, God’s Plan, 100).

6. The Sign of the Mosaic Covenant The sign of the Abrahamic Covenant is circumcision. The sign of the Mosaic Covenant is Sabbath observance (Exod 31:12-17). Just as failing to circumcise was an offense worthy of death, so was sabbath-breaking (Exod 31:14). In both cases, such action indicated deliberate rebellion against the covenant. Sabbath observance is described as an “everlasting covenant” between God and Israel (Exod 31:16), implying the everlasting nature of the Mosaic Covenant (cf. Lev 24:8).

7. Blessings and Curses Associated with the Covenant: Leviticus 26 Vv. 1-2: Fundamentals of the Law Vv. 3-13: Blessings for Obedience –Prosperity –Peace –Power –Population –Provision –Presence Vv. 14-39: Curses for Disobedience –Debilitation and Defeat –Drought –Devastation by Wild Beasts –Devastation by Siege –Deportation Vv. 40-46: Promise of Restoration

8. Later Commentary on the Mosaic Covenant in Scripture After the book of Deuteronomy, in which the Mosaic Covenant is renewed with a new generation of Israelites, much of the remainder of the OT is largely a commentary on Israel’s lack of fidelity to the covenant God made with her at Sinai. –The historical books provide the record of this infidelity. –A number of the Psalms lament it. –The Latter Prophets seek to call Israel to repent of it and return to her God. In the NT, much of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount is a clarification of the true meaning of the stipulations of the covenant (Matt 5:17- 19), in contrast to the teaching of the Pharisees.

9. Next Time: The Mosaic Covenant Part III