Covenantal Structure
Bible scholars recognize that there is a typical structure to biblical
covenants; this was seen even in covenants made by the ancient Hittites.
That is, God communicated to the people in a manner that they, in their
culture, could especially understand.
The covenants that were common during the time of ancient Israel
had the following parts: preamble (who God is); historical prologue
(past relationship defined); stipulations or laws; blessings and curses;
witnesses; special provision or sign of the covenant. Thus, it should be
no surprise that God used something similar in communicating to His
people back then. He used what they were familiar with.
For example, the whole book of Deuteronomy is written in the form
of a covenant, because Moses invites God’s people to enter into a new
covenant relationship with their God. It expresses the covenant in
the following manner: (1) preamble (Deut. 1:1–5); (2) historical pro-
logue (Deut. 1:6–4:43); (3) stipulations or laws (Deut. 4:44–26:19);
(4) blessings and curses (Deuteronomy 27–30); (5) witnesses (Deut.
30:19); and finally, (6) special provision (Deut. 31:9–13).
Read Joshua 24. How is this covenant pattern revealed in that chapter,
as well?
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The same is true with the renewal of the covenant made by Joshua.
First, a preamble is mentioned in which God presents Himself as
“the Lord, the God of Israel” (Josh. 24:2, NIV). Then follows a long
historical prologue through which Joshua reminds the people of what
God has done for them in the past (Josh. 24:2–13). After this history,
the stipulations or laws are enumerated (Josh. 24:14, 15, 23), blessings
and curses are mentioned (Josh. 24:19, 20), witnesses identified (Josh.
24:22, 27), and special provision stated (Josh. 24:25, 26). Here, too, the
basic form of a covenant was used to communicate with the Israelites
and show them, not only God’s leading in their past, but what was
required of them to uphold their end of the covenant.
Read Joshua 24:15. What principle is here that we can apply to
ourselves today?
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