berit[h]
by Cadet
Michael Ramsay
Covenant is obviously an important concept
in Salvation Army with full membership requiring a signing of
the Soldier's Covenant. It is also a very important idea in
the Old Testament. The word testament, itself, can be
translated as covenant! berit[h] is the most common term
translated as 'covenant' in the Hebrew Bible: it appears 286
times thus proving it an extremely important word.[1]
The origin of this word is not entirely conclusive. It is a
form of the word brh, which refers to the meal that
accompanies the covenantal ceremony [2].brh,
however, is not the usual verb to indicate eating so this
origin is not the most likely [3].
berith is identical to the Akkadian word birit which means
"between" or "among" so that is a possible origin.[4]
Most probably though, berith comes from the Akkadian word
biritu, which means "to fetter". This term designates the
establishment or breach of a contract.[5]
As this root, biritu, suggests the original Hebrew meaning of
the word would imply more of an "imposition" of terms rather
than an "agreement or settlement between two parties"[6].
Covenants are commanded (Ps. 111:9; Jgs. 2:20) and can be seen
as the same as a law or commandment (cf.; e.g., Dt. 4:13;
33:9; Isa. 24:5; Ps. 50:16; 103:18).[7]
The "covenant at Sinai in Ex. 24 is in its essence an
imposition of laws and obligations upon the people (vv. 3-8)"[8].
There are a number of classifications of the various types of
OT covenants that can be made: secular (where God is not one
of the parties involved), covenants in which God IS bound, and
covenants in which Israel is bound.
Covenants where God is not one of the parties involved can be
further classified as suzerainty, where a superior binds an
inferior to terms the superior sets (I Sam 11:1; Hos. 12:1;
Job 41:4, 5:23.)[9];
parity, where each party is bound by oath (Gen 21:25-32,
26:27-31, 31:44-50; Josh. 9:3-27; I Kings 5:12, 20:34)[10];
patron, where a superior binds himself for the benefit of an
inferior (Isa.: 28:15); promissory, which guarantees future
performance of stipulated obligations (II Kings 11:4-12,17; II
Kings 23:3; Jeremiah 34:8; Ezra 10:3; Nehemiah 5:11-13, 9:38,
10:28-29)[11].
Covenants where God, himself, is bound include the covenant
with Noah (Gen. 17, Num. 25:12), the Abrahamic covenant (Gen.
15, 17:1-14), and the Davidic covenant (II Sam. 23:5, Pss.
89:3, 28-29; 110:4).[12]
The covenants where Israel is bound include the Mosaic
covenant (cf.; e.g., the ten commandments, Deut 27-28), the
covenant of Joshua (Jos. 24), the reform of Josiah (II Kings
23), and the covenant of Ezra (Neh. 9-10).[13]
To sum up, covenants can be made voluntarily or involuntarily,
with or without obligation, and between equals, or superiors
and inferiors; berith's origin is uncertain but it is probably
derived from biritu, which means "to fetter".
So, who cares? Well, the Salvationist, I suppose, or more
importantly the person contemplating a 'covenant' relationship
with God. When you sign your covenant, you are fettered,
shackled, and bound. This chain cannot easily be broken. If it
is, there are repercussions. So for potential Salvationists,
they should ask, "Is this the star to which God has asked me
to hitch my wagon?" and for the Salvationist who tends to take
the terms of the covenant lightly, remember that it is
difficult to move when the one you are yoked together with one
who is going in the other direction...BUT when you are
following in a proper covenant, His yoke is easy! And really
what could you accomplish on your own that wouldn't be
accomplished much more easily and effectively if you were
shackled to the LORD!
Michael Ramsay
Herald of the Good News
The Salvation Army's Renew Network
www.renewnetwork.net
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Footnotes
[1] G.E. Mendenhall. "Covenant." In The Interpreter's
Dictionary of the Bible, edited by George Arthur Buttrick.
(Nashville, Tennessee: Abingdon Press, 1962), 715.
[2] M. Weinfeld. "berith." In Theological Dictionary of the
Old Testament, edited by G. Johannes Botterweck. (Stuttgart,
W.Germany: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1975), 253.
[3] M. Weinfeld, P. 254.
[4] M. Weinfeld, P. 254.
[5] G.E. Mendenhall, P. 715.
[6] M. Weinfeld, P. 255
[7] M. Weinfeld, P. 255
[8] M. Weinfeld, P. 255
[9] G.E. Mendenhall, P. 716.
[10] G.E. Mendenhall, P. 717.
[11] G.E. Mendenhall, P. 717.
[12] G.E. Mendenhall, P. 718.
[13] G.E. Mendenhall, P. 721.
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