The Covenant and the Kingdom of God

1
The Covenant and the Kingdomof God

• Covenant an agreement between two parties.
  Biblically, the covenant comes on Gods own
  terms. It is gracious in character because God is
  not obligated to create or speak.
• Those who enter into the covenant are called the
  people of God. (e.g. Ex. 66-7)

2
The Kingdom of God

• Is characterized by
• Gods people
• In Gods place
• Under Gods rule

3
The covenantal structure of the Old Testament

• Gods covenant with Adam and Eve (Gen. 216-17)
  was dependent on their obedience to the command
  of God.
• The first sin (Fall) was a declaration of
  independence from the kingdom of God.
• Adam and Eve are expelled from Gods place due to
  their violation of Gods rule.

4
God who calls and covenants

• The promise to Abram (later Abraham). God
  chooses and initiates promises to Abram. (Gen.
  12). Gods promises include
• Land (Gods Place)
• Seed or descendants (Gods People)
• Gods protection (under Gods rule)
• The choice of Abraham (election) indicates that
  the kingdom of God will proceed on Gods own
  terms.

5
God who calls and covenants

• In the Exodus, God rescues his people to display
  his own glory and create for himself a holy
  people.
• Gods gives his people a new calling through the
  covenant. (Ex. 191-8)
• Gods rule is made to be clear through the law
  (Ex. 20), but the law is not intended to save.
  God has already done this. Observing the law
  shows that the people of God submit to the rule
  of God.

6
God who keeps the covenant

• The Lord gave Israel all the land which he had
  sworn to give to their forefathers not one of
  all their enemies had withstood them, for the
  Lord had given all of their enemies into their
  hands. Not one of all the promises which the
  Lord had made to the house of Israel had failed
  all came to pass. (Joshua 2143-45)

7
God who establishes his kingdom

• 2 Samuel 7
• God covenants to make Davids throne an eternal
  one. Davids thoughts are earthly, Gods plans
  are cosmic in scope.
• Here, as in the prophets, God understands the
  kingdom of God as a symbol for the future reign
  of his Christ, the Messiah.

8
The prophets what happens when the people break
the covenant

• From the time of Solomon forward, the clear
  pattern which develops with respect to breaking
  the covenant is
• SIN The people break the covenant
• PUNISHMENT God removes his protection from his
  people and they become weak and servile.
• RESTORATION God forgives his people on condition
  of repentance, with a view toward a new people,
  in a new kingdom, with a new covenant.

9
The Prophets new dimensions of the covenant

• See Goldsworthy, p.80-1.
• God will restore and build his new people only
  from a remnant (or few).
• Gods love (hesed) is longsuffering and
  steadfast. It is a contrarian type of love, not
  unconditional. Gods love is gracious, despite
  the circumstances.