Before we dive into our text study of 1st Samuel Chapter 12, there’s something important I need to make sure you understand.
For the past 3 centuries, God’s justice has been administered through a series of appointed Judges.
However, with the coronation of Saul as King, Israel’s form of government was about to change into a full-fledged monarchy.
Now, while the form of government may change, there’s one thing that would NEVER change:
The obligation of Israel (and all those grafted into Israel) to keep the Laws of the Mosaic Covenant.
Samuel actually made this clear to the people back in chapter 8.
He told them the new king would have the authority to establish all kinds of rulings over them.
But no matter what the new rulings were, the laws of Moses stood above all of the earthly king’s edicts and rulings.
God’s holy law would remain intact no matter what form of government Israel adopted.
Truth be told, there would be situations when the new king’s rulings would make obeying God’s laws difficult at times.
But it didn’t matter.
They were still to be followed.
So keep that in mind as we go through 1st Samuel Chapter 12.
See, Samuel’s address to the people here in chapter 12 is really a covenant renewal ceremony.
This means the terms of the original covenant (the Mosaic law) remain firmly intact.
And that’s why it’s a mistake to call the New Covenant a “new” covenant.
Because it’s not new.
It’s actually the old covenant inscribed on the hearts of believers through their faith in the Jewish Messiah.
In fact, when you read the New Testament from beginning to end, you’ll see there’s nothing covenantal in nature about it in terms of containing a legal code etcetera.
All of the covenant terms and conditions are in the so-called “Old” Testament.
So think about that for a sec.
If the NT is built on the foundation of the OT…
Don’t you think it’s much more appropriate and accurate to call it the RENEWED covenant?
Or as another reader suggested, a RE-ESTABLISHED covenant (thanks Steven!)?
Because that’s what it really is.
Ya feel me?
CONNECTING THIS TEACHING TO THE NEW TESTAMENT
“Do not think that I have
come to abolish the Law
or the Prophets; I have
not come to abolish them
but to fulfill them.”
-Matthew 5:17
Comparing the Old Testament(OT) with the New Testament (NT) based on ORIGIN, and purpose you are 1000% right,
Though I stand to be corrected , anyway, there are aspects of the NT completely strange and foreign to the people of the OT
2 Cor 5:16-17
So from now on we regard no one according to the flesh. Although we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. 17Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.a The old has passed away. Behold, the new has come!
18All this is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19that God was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ, not counting men’s trespasses against them. And He has committed to us the message of reconciliation.
20Therefore we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making His appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ: Be reconciled to God. 21God made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.
Thanks for sharing Abraham.
I’m not quite sure how the NT scriptures you posted would be completely strange and foreign to the people of the OT.
The Bible, from beginning to end, including the New Testament is a HEBREW book.
Be blessed.
To Abraham, when Shaul (Paul) said that the old has passed away, he was not talkign about the law. He was talking about us, people, who were in the flesh but now, in Messiah, that old flesh has passed away.
It has nothign to do with Torah.
Rich- I understand your point and find nothign wrong with it, saying the new covenant is a renewed one, but is it really?
It was given in Jeremiah 31:31, and every covenant God made has built upon and included the prior covenants- God’s covenants have always been inclusive, not exclusive, so renewed may be acceptable, but I would respectfully suggest “re-established” because throughout Judges we are told everyone did what they thought was right (implying not doing what God thought was right) and with a king, who God demanded read and live Torah every day, the Torah would be re-established.
It’s just semantics, but since I am Semitic, semantics is important to me. 🙂
Hey Steven,
As a professional copywriter, trust me, semantics are important to me too.
I wouldn’t have a problem with your suggestion of using the word “re-established”.
Be blessed.