The Altar: Part 4

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The Altar Part 4

• A Place of Covenant

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A place of covenant

• An altar was built where the covenant was made
  between the Lord and Abraham, and the land was
  sealed as a timeless promise to Abraham and his
  offspring (Genesis 15).

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What is a covenant?

• A covenant is a contract or agreement between two
  or more parties. Covenant is how God has chosen
  to communicate to us, to redeem us, and to
  guarantee us eternal life in Jesus.

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• These truths, revealed in the Bible, are the
  basis of Christianity. The Bible is a covenant
  document. The Old and New Testaments are really
  Old and New Covenants. The word "testament" is
  Latin for Covenant.

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Six components of a Covenant
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The Parties

• A covenant is an agreement or treaty between two
  people or groups of people.
• Genesis 15 1 After these things the word of the
  Lord came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear
  not, Abram I am thy shield, and thy exceeding
  great reward.

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The Promises

• Each party declares his promises to the other
  party.
• 3 And Abram said, Behold, to me thou hast given
  no seed and, lo, one born in my house is mine
  heir.4 And, behold, the word of the Lord came
  unto him, saying, This shall not be thine heir
  but he that shall come forth out of thine own
  bowels shall be thine heir

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• . 5 And he brought him forth abroad, and said,
  Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if
  thou be able to number them and he said unto
  him, So shall thy seed be.6 And he believed in
  the Lord and he counted it to him for
  righteousness. 7 And he said unto him, I am the
  Lord that brought thee out of Ur of the Chaldees,
  to give thee this land to inherit it.

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The Conditions

• Each party is responsible to fulfill his
  promises. If one fails to keep his promise
  (breaks the covenant), the other is no longer
  bound to the covenant.
• The only condition that God gave Abraham was to
  have faith in Him. This is evident by the
  sacrifice of Isaac.

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(An example of covenant conditions between God
and Jeremiah)

• Jeremiah 1515Then I said, LORD, you know whats
  happening to me. Please step in and help me.
  Punish my persecutors! Please give me time dont
  let me die young. Its for your sake that I am
  suffering. 16When I discovered your words, I
  devoured them. They are my joy and my hearts
  delight, for I bear your name,

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• O LORD God of Heavens Armies. 17I never joined
  the people in their merry feasts. I sat alone
  because your hand was on me. I was filled with
  indignation at their sins. 18Why then does my
  suffering continue? Why is my wound so incurable?
  Your help seems as uncertain as a seasonal brook,
  like a spring that has gone dry.

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Gods covenant conditions

• 19This is how the LORD responds If you return
  to me, I will restore you so you can continue to
  serve me. If you speak good words rather than
  worthless ones, you will be my spokesman. You
  must influence them do not let them influence
  you!

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• 20They will fight against you like an attacking
  army, but I will make you as secure as a
  fortified wall of bronze. They will not conquer
  you, for I am with you to protect and rescue you.
  I, the LORD, have spoken! 21Yes, I will certainly
  keep you safe from these wicked men. I will
  rescue you from their cruel hands.

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The Duration

• The length of time that the covenant is binding
  upon each party.
• 13 And he said unto Abram, Know of a surety that
  thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is
  not theirs, and shall serve them and they shall
  afflict them four hundred years

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• 14 And also that nation, whom they shall serve,
  will I judge and afterward shall they come out
  with great substance. 15 And thou shalt go to thy
  fathers in peace thou shalt be buried in a good
  old age.16 But in the fourth generation they
  shall come hither again for the iniquity of the
  Amorites is not yet full.

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The Sign

• Often there is a visual object used as a sign of
  the covenant. When the parties of the covenant
  look upon the sign, they are reminded of the
  covenant. This may be an object or the covenant
  contract itself.
• 8 And he said, Lord God, whereby shall I know
  that I shall inherit it?

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• 9 And he said unto him, Take me an heifer of
  three years old, and a she goat of three years
  old, and a ram of three years old, and a
  turtledove, and a young pigeon. 10 And he took
  unto him all these, and divided them in the
  midst, and laid each piece one against another
  but the birds divided he not. 11 And when the
  fowls came down upon the carcases, Abram drove
  them away. 12 And when the sun was going down, a
  deep sleep fell upon Abram and, lo, an horror of
  great darkness fell upon him.

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• 17 And it came to pass, that, when the sun went
  down, and it was dark, behold a smoking furnace,
  and a burning lamp that passed between those
  pieces. 18 In the same day the Lord made a
  covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I
  given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the
  great river, the river Euphrates

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The Dedication

• A dedication is performed, often in the form of a
  ceremony. This often involves the shedding of
  blood.
• Genesis 1318 Then Abram removed his tent, and
  came and dwelt in the plain of Mamre, which is in
  Hebron, and built there an altar unto the Lord.