Law
The covenant of Law began when Moses received the Ten Commandments on mount Sinai. Under this covenant, Israel was to
1. abide by all the terms of Abraham's covenant of Promise
2. obey the Ten Commandments
3. all the Mosaic Law
The Law exposed the guilt of man and made him conscious of what was displeasing to God, but man's own sinful nature hindered obedience. A detailed system of blood sacrifices was instituted both for the sins of individuals and for the sins of the nation.
God promised many blessings to Israel if they would keep His covenant. Among these blessings were
1. freedom from sickness
2. protection from enemies
3. economic prosperity
4. the privilege of being God's own special people
5. to be the nation from which the Messiah would be born
. Israel did not always obey God's covenant and the Lord judged them for their disobedience just as He said he would, but He did not forsake them or brake the Covenant Himself. Judgment on this covenant was poured out on Jesus Christ, who fulfilled the role of the Passover Lamb when He was crucified on the cross. Christ's blood and Spirit opened the door for the new covenant of Grace.
Covenant Obligations:
Exodus 19:3-8 God makes the covenant of the Law with Israel. Israel is to become a holy nation of priests and a special treasure to God above all other peoples.
Exodus 24:3-8 After giving the Law to Israel, God seals the covenant of the Law in blood.
Exodus 20:1-17 God gives Israel the 10 Commandments.
Exodus 21:1-23:19 As a nation, Israel needed more than just religious and moral laws, they also need civil and criminal Laws. In chapters 21 through 23 God gives Israel laws concerning servants, violence, animal control, property rights and justice. In addition, much of the books of Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy contain laws.
Exodus 23:25-26 God promises that if Israel will keep His law, they will not suffer sickness.
Exodus 34:10-11 God promises to drive the enemies of Israel out of Canaan.
Deuteronomy 4:1 Moses encourages Israel to keep God's Law that they may live and possess the land of Canaan.
Deuteronomy 30:15 God promises to bless Israel if they obey His law.
Leviticus 18:26-28 God warns the Israelites that if they commit the same wickedness as the people in the land of Canaan, He will drive them out of the land just as He is driving out the Canaanites before them.
Deuteronomy 4:23-27 God promises that if Israel breaks their covenant with Him, He will destroy their nation and scatter them among all the nations.
Deuteronomy 29:24-28God again warns Israel that He will scatter them among all nations if they break His covenant.
Deuteronomy 30:1-6 God promises that should Israel break His covenant and He scatter them among the nations, He will not forsake them but will bring them back to their own land again.
2Kings 17:5-18 When the northern nation of Israel broke God's covenant, the Lord used the Assyrians to destroy them and take them into captivity.
2Chronicles 36:14-21 When Judah consistently broke God's covenant, the Lord used the Babylonians to destroy them and take them into captivity.
2Chronicles 36:22-23 After 70 years of captivity, God brought a remnant of the nation of Judah back to their homeland.
Man's failure ends in judgment:
Isaiah 53:1-12 A prophetic description of Christ's suffering on the cross, where the wrath of God was poured out as judgment on the covenant of the law and for the sins of all mankind.
Mark 15:21-41 The judgment on the covenant of the law, and indeed the sins of all mankind was poured out on Jesus when He died on the cross.
