Saturday, 24 September 2011

The Davidic covenant


The Davidic covenant was established when the prophet Nathan delivered to David a message form God after David was forbidden to build the Temple. The Davidic Covenant refers to God’s promises to David through Nathan the prophet and is found in 2 Samuel 7 and later summarized in 1 Chronicles 17:11-14 and 2 Chronicles 6:16. This is an unconditional covenant made between God and David through which God promises David and Israel that the Messiah (Jesus Christ) would come from the lineage of David and the tribe of Judah and would establish a kingdom that would endure forever (2 Samuel 7:10-13). The Davidic Covenant is unconditional because God does not place any conditions of obedience upon its fulfillment. The surety of the promises made rests solely on God’s faithfulness and does not depend at all on David or Israel’s obedience.
The Davidic Covenant centers on several key promises that are made to David. 1) God reaffirms the promise of the land that He made in the first two covenants with Israel (the Abrahamic and Mosaic Covenants). This promise is seen in 2 Samuel 7:10, “Moreover I will appoint a place for My people Israel, and will plant them, that they may dwell in a place of their own and move no more; nor shall the sons of wickedness oppress them anymore, as previously.” 2) God promises that David’s descendant or “seed” will succeed him as king of Israel and that David’s throne will be established forever. This promise is seen in 2 Samuel 7:12-13, "I will set up your seed after you, who will come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.” This is a reference to the coming Messiah, Jesus Christ.

Provisions of Davidic covenant
1 David is to have a child , yet to be born who shall succeed him and establish his kingdom.
2 this son (Solomon ) shall build the temple instead of david
3.the throne will not be taken away from him (Solomon)even though his sins justify chastisement
4 david’s house, throne and kingdome shall be established forever

The provisions of the covenant are summarized in 2 Samuel 7:16, “And your house and your kingdom shall be established forever before you. Your throne shall be established forever.” The promise that David’s “house,” “kingdom” and “throne” will be established forever is significant because it shows that the Messiah will come from the lineage of David and that He will establish a kingdom from which He will reign. The covenant is summarized by the words “house,” promising a dynasty in the lineage of David; “kingdom,” referring to a people who are governed by a king; “throne,” emphasizing the authority of the king’s rule; and “forever,” emphasizing the eternal and unconditional nature of this promise to David and Israel.

The Davidic covenant was unconditional because it was established forever.the Davidic covenant is and can only be fulfilled with a literal Israel, the descendents of Abraham , Isaac and Jacob would be citizens of a literal Israel
The throne was over the house of Israel, one of David’s descendents would rule over the physical children of Jacob. Who would have the physical land of Abraham David’s house throne and Kingdome were established forever .
David saw himself as a subject of his future descendent , jesus relates the dilemma to the Pharisees and asks the question

Jesus was a descendent from david thru mary his mother as recoded in luke 321-31. He spoke of his literal reign over the house of lsrael in a future earthly kingdom. Though jesus is rejected as messiah by the descendents of Jacob , he would be accepted as messiah by a future generation of Jacob’s descendents
In Zechariah 12:10 we see the nation of Israel ultimately accept the rejected messiah as their lord, but in order for this to happen their must be a literal Israel in existence
It is important to distinguish between the throne Jesus currently sits on as the throne of the father the future throne he will sit on as the throne of the Israel , The throne of Israel will be completed when Israel accepts Jesus as their Messiah in the future even in the future Kingdome the of David will rule over the whole earth

Saturday, 17 September 2011

The Palestinian Covenant


The Palestinian Covenant is recorded in Deuteronomy 29:1-29 and Deuteronomy 30:1-10 and was made between God and Israel right before Moses died and Israel entered the Promised Land. This covenant came after the Mosaic Covenant and after Israel had wandered in the wilderness for forty years until the generation that had refused to enter the Promised Land had passed away. God made this covenant with Israel while they were in Moab waiting to go into the Promised Land, and the covenant would serve this new generation of Israelites as a reminder of their special covenant relationship with God.

The Palestinian Covenant has many similarities to the Mosaic Covenant made at Mount Sinai but is a separate and distinct covenant as clearly seen in Deuteronomy 29:1. “These are the words of the covenant which the Lord commanded Moses to make with the children of Israel in the land of Moab, besides the covenant which He made with them in Horeb.” Before making this covenant with Israel, God reminded them that if they obeyed the Mosaic Law, He would bless the nation abundantly and warned them that disobedience to the Law would result in His cursing the nation (Deuteronomy 28:1-68).

Provisions of Palestinian covenant
1-The nation will plucked off the land of unfaithfulness (Deut 28:63-68, Deut 30:1-3)
2-There will be a future repentance of Israel (Deut. 28:63-68; 30:1-3)
3 -their messiah will return (Deut 30:3-6)
4- Israel will be restored to the land (Deut. 30:5)
5-Israel will be converted as a nation (Deut 30:4-8; Romans 11:26-27)
6-Israel enemies will be judged (Deut 30:7)
7 -The nation will then receive her full blessing ( Deut 30:9)

The provisions of the covenant are fulfilled in a literal Israel not in a spiritual Israel. Therefore in order for the covenant to be fulfilled Israel would be required to one day take control of the land of promise.
The conditional aspects of this agreement are a result of obedience. Israel is blessed if they obey and curse if they disobey. The promise of blessing and cursing has been fulfilled in the history of Israel twice.
First 722 BC, 605-587 BC they were scattered by the Assyrians and Babylonians .They were then gathered into the land after Cyrus of Persia.
The second time was in the period of 70-135 Ad by the Roman empire and they were gathered and are being gathered back in the land during the last 150 years.

Besides the promises that God would bless them if they obeyed His commandments and curse them if they disobeyed, the Palestinian Covenant also contains some special promises to Israel that many believe will not be completely fulfilled until the millennial reign of Christ.

Sunday, 31 July 2011

Abrahamic Covenant


Covenant
A covenant is c contract or agreement between two prates to complete a task in the old testament the Hebrew word Beriyth is translated covenant ,Beriyth is derived from the rood which means ‘to cut’ and hence a covenant is a cutting with reference to the cutting or dividing of animals into two parts.
There are two types of covenants: conditional and unconditional. A conditional or bilateral covenant is an agreement that is binding on both parties for its fulfillment. Both parties agree to fulfill certain conditions. If either party fails to meet their responsibilities, the covenant is broken and neither party has to fulfill the expectations of the covenant. An unconditional or unilateral covenant is an agreement between two parties, but only one of the two parties has to do something. Nothing is required of the other party.
There are 4 unconditional covenants in the bible that god established and will be fulfilled regardless of mans ability

1) the Abrahamic
2) the Palestinian/ Canaan
3) The Davidic
4) The new covenant

Within these convents are conditional blessing and curses but the ultimate fulfillment is promised by God himself.We will examine each of them individually over the days.

1-The Abrahamic Covenant
The abrahamic covenant was between God and man called Abraham. God made his declaration to Abraham in Genesis 12.1-3,6-7

There are three main features to the Abrahamic Covenant:

1. The promise of land (Genesis 12:1). God called Abraham from Ur of the Chaldees to a land that He would give him (Genesis 12:1). This promise is reiterated in Genesis 13:14–18 where it is confirmed by a shoe covenant; its dimensions are given in Genesis 15:18–21 (precluding any notion of this being fulfilled in heaven). The land aspect of the Abrahamic Covenant is also expanded in Deuteronomy 30:1–10, which is the Palestinian Covenant.

2. The promise of descendants (Genesis 12:2). God promised Abraham that He would make a great nation out of him. Abraham, who was 75 years old and childless (Genesis 12:4), was promised many descendants. This promise is amplified in Genesis 17:6 where God promised that nations and kings would descend from the aged patriarch. This promise (which is expanded in the Davidic Covenant of 2 Samuel 7:12–16) would eventuate in the Davidic throne with Messiah’s kingdom rule over the Hebrew people.

3. The promise of blessing and redemption (Genesis 12:3). God promised to bless Abraham and the families of the earth through him. This promise is amplified in the New Covenant (Jeremiah 31:31–34; cf. Hebrews 8:6–13) and has to do with “Israel’s spiritual blessing and redemption.” Jeremiah 31:34 anticipates the forgiveness of sin. The unconditional and eternal nature of the covenant is seen in that the covenant is reaffirmed to Isaac (Genesis 21:12; 26:3–4). The “I will” promises suggest the unconditional aspect of the covenant. The covenant is further confirmed to Jacob (Genesis 28:14–15). It is noteworthy that God reaffirmed these promises amid the sins of the patriarchs, which fact further emphasizes the unconditional nature of the Abrahamic Covenant.

Provisions of the Abrahamic covenant
1-Abraham would be a great nation
2-Abraham name would be great
3-Blessing to those who bless Abrahams descendents
4-Curses to those who curse Abraham’s descendents
5-Land of moriah promised to abrahm’s descendents
6-All families of earth blessed in abrahm
7-Abraham father of many nations
8-Everlasting covenant with Isaac , and his descendents
9-Covenant descendents will posses the gates of their enemies

These provision of the covenant would be the foundation of God’s future relationship with man. After the fall of man god foretold the coming of the ‘seed’ of the woman one who would crush the serpents head, This person would come thru the line of Abraham.Thru Abraham’s family line God would redeem mankind from the fall
Thru the covenant God established with Abraham would all the nations of the earth be blessed.The covenant come to Abraham because he believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness (Romans4 ) Abraham would be a father of all those who would trust God by faith . The covenant was an everlasting covenant meaning its fulfillment was unconditional.
The covenant contained physical provisions involving both a land and a people.The land of promise Moriah , was given by God to Abraham and his descendents thru Jacob.The physical land and Abrahams descendents would play a vital role in the completion of the covenant. Today the land of the promise is one of the most contentious issues that trouble the earth.Over half of the earth population has some sort of spiritual connection to the promise land of Abrahm

Sunday, 10 July 2011

Abraham


Abraham is considered to have a significant place in the bible. He is know as the father of faith, because of the unbreakable faith in God that he had in his life ,which is well portrayed to the readers in the bible .He was the eldest son of his father. The bible informs us of that fact that he had two brothers. The bible tells that Abraham’s father along with his people and family left their native land Ur to go to promised land of Canaan, however they end up stopping in the middle and end up living in a place called Haran, shortly after we come to know that Abraham’s father dies in this strange land never getting the chance of seeing the promise land .Abraham who is the eldest takes up the place of the in the family of responsibilities after his fathers death. It is In such a state of Abrahams life ,God comes to Abraham and tells him to leave everything fro the land God will show him ,The bible says that Abraham was 75 when god spoke to him, an age perhaps we would like to sit in our easy chairs with a hot cup of cooko ,with our feet on the cushion , experiencing the retired life , and waiting perhaps for the lord to take us home !


We come to know that Abram’s dealing with God are built around covenants,
‘Leave-----for a land that I will show you ‘ Abram is call to venture into the unknown .The way ahead will be revealed to him as he takes the path of obedience , His part is to trust and obey, what a crucial moment this is in his life it will determine his whole destiny , Indeed it will determine the destiny of the world
God does not hold back on what is being demanded. It is spelled out clearly. He must leave his land, to which by now he has become tied by a sense of belonging. He must leave his kinsfolk, those whom he knows so well and has relied on so often. He must leave his position in the family hierarchy, his father’s house, those who are most important to him. The thoughts are progressive.
But in return he is promised what every man dreams of. He is to enjoy a new land. He will become ‘a great nation’. He will experience God’s special protection. He is to become ‘a blessing’. Indeed the whole earth will be blessed through what he does, or rather what God does through him. The ideas are in parallel. He must leave a land to receive a land. He must leave kinsfolk in order to become part of a great nation. He must leave his close family so that all the world might become his family. This is God’s covenant. Obey, he is told, and you will receive abundantly and flowing over. And Abram believes and obeys


The bibles informs us , as Abram moved from place to place where ever he pitched his tend of rest , he with out fail also builted an alter to worship God , this shows how much he desired the fellowship of God almighty, and that he never forgets to worship God.

We come to read that there was a famine in the land of Canaan, were Abram was living , this must have been a real test to Abram’s faith the land that god has brought him to has failed and he must leave it as least for a time, but we never see Abram complaining to God for bringing him to such a land , as the Israelites complained to Moses in the desert for forty years , this tells us that Abram knew God, as “God almighty “ . and we see Abraham returning back to the land with grate riches from Egypt.

We must stay in the way of faith and perseverance, and try to imitating those who though faith and patience inherited the promises of God and in order to underline that great exhortation , Abraham the patriarch is a truly an example for us to follow no man in all the bible stands up than a greater example of faith and perseverance than Abraham the friend of God . we have many today to follow , but Abraham did not have anyone he could learn from , he himself was the first so was he call the father of the faithful

In our reading of the book of Genesis , we come to reed that not one of all the promises that God told Abraham was not immediately fulfilled, everything thing was held for a long time in obedience, something were not fulfilled in the life time of Abraham ,for one thing he never got possession of the land of Canaan , the only thing that Abraham owned in the land of Cannon was cave that he bought in order that he might burry his wife ,not only that he wondered up and down the land for 25 years after he hand forsaken all to follow the lord before God gave him any inheritance, but finally at the age of a 100 God gave him a Son.

Then we come to know about the most amazing thing the holey Bible were God tell Abrham to take his only son Isaac and sacrifice him on the mountain ,that made no sense at all to the purely human point of view, because they waited so long and everything seems to be depend up on Isaac living for the lord has said in Isaac shall your seed be called.

What did Abraham do to stand in faith, Abraham believed God and because he believed he also obeyed ,what was it that gave this man the will to believe two thing .1) he believed in all his Heart God as the Almighty.
2)Abraham believed in the covenant he had with God, with out question. Which became is anchor of faith in his life and his sole that became the firm foundation that on the basis of which he might have hope and certainty. Our life is like a journey at sea, you can not tell how the weather would be the next day ,with the ups and downs in our life , our faith would be tested again and again with thing that come in this life and in our life we need a firm anchorage , we need something that we can lay hold off that will never mover and that will never faille you and never forsake you . the only thing that you can anchor you sole upon is the firm and absolutely certain word of the almighty that cannot lie .
We now are now known to the one who sits in the right hand of god, and in placing our anchor of faith in him Christ Jesus and obedience to him the way Abraham did we will inherit the promises of God our Father .



In the journey of Abraham and Isaac to the mountain, where God had told Abraham to take his son and to offer his only begotten son as a sacrifice.
There are several significant moments in this journey.We read that the journey took three days, on another moment is ,when Isaac looks around and sees the wood and fire, he asks his father ,were is the lamp to offer sacrifice to the lord, Abraham replied to Isaac by saying that the lord will provide.

when Abraham raised his knife to kill his son , the angel of god told abrham ‘Do not lay a hand on the boy," he said. "Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son."

When Abraham look around he saw a ram , caught in the bushes ,Abraham caught hold of the lamb and sacrificed the ram in his son’s place , Thus the team ‘Jehovah-Jireh’ the lord that Provides came to be ,
It is said that it is on this very mountain that God offered his only begotten son our Savior Jesus Christ as a living and ultimate sacrifice for our sins and unification of our fellowship with our Lord God Almighty.

Sunday, 12 June 2011

In the Fathers Arms there is no Fear


As a hen gathers her young, our father gathers all his children from far and wide; his care is beyond words of man, much beyond than the heart can tell.
His love for his children is amazing that he has numbered us among the starts.
We are precious in his eyes, that the bible say that God values every sole of man, more valuable than all the treasures of the world, this assures us that the lord hears us with great interest.
It is said that, He turns his hear towards the depths of the earth, with the eagerness to hear, anyone calling out to him , the bible also tells us that who ever call upon the Lord , the lord will hear him, Such is the heart of our father in heaven, towards his children.
The bible without doubt, is full of The love, mercy and patience and instruction of God, for us, to build in faith, to grow in awareness of him, and to become more firm in him. We should never forget to see God in our lives,

Some times, people might after examining their present state of life, have a tendency to not see the greatness of God in there lives. In the heights of our lives we tend to only glance at the present shining glow , and end up taking life for granted ,
It is fun and exciting to be on the top of the mountain, but, when we remember the strives and hardness that we endured to reach there , we without doubt come to conclusion that it was God’s Grace , that brought us on the top of the mountain.

Our forefathers at times remind us that we should always remember our Roots , the ways we came from to what we are today ,Memories can be painful for some and joyfully for others , but it always helps us to evaluate our lives , and affirmably see the power of god in our lives . The bible says “Taste the lord and see that he is Good “. God almighty commanded the father’s of Israel to tell to their children , about God , and how god saved them from the Egyptians ; which they were to tell their children at all times. And this they were told to follow generation after generation.

People who tend to believe in their own might and strength , end up being utterly sad , and even go to state of shock when they realize that they become weak in old age or for a season,Some even have hard times accepting the reality they have come to face or to bee. So It is always good to believe in the might and strength of God ,in our lives.
As Saint Paul said “it is not me but Christ that lives in me “.
When you believe in God’s never-ending grace in us , even though we might be week , he is able to make us Strong.Because we would be relying in his might and strength and not in our own.

As a child totally depends on his mother, and thinks of no harm , when the child is in the mothers arms ,So must we must be affirmed in absolute faith , that we being God’s Children , have no lack of ,and have no need, when we are in the arms of our Father .for the bible says: God gives everything to his children what so ever they ask , according to the riches and Glory of His Kingdome.

The bible says in -:Isa 59:1 Behold, Jehovah's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear:
This verse should assure you that,God is more than sufficient for fulfilling all our needs.

Remember this : That the Father in Heaven , only has Children and no Grandchildren , that means that we all individually must come into a personal commitment with Him Who is Our Father , and Who is Worthy to be Praised !

Saturday, 28 May 2011

DAVID AND JONATHAN


"There is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother."--Prov. 18:24.
TRUE friendship is a rare flower on our sin-cursed earth, and when it is found and proved it should be greatly prized. It is an element of the original likeness of God. True friendship can never exist in a heart where selfishness reigns; for the moment self-interest is crossed, the false and fickle friendship begins to decline or proves treacherous.
The friendship between David and Jonathan was a covenantal relationship. In 1 Samuel 18:1-5, we read of David and Jonathan forming an agreement. In this agreement, Jonathan was to be second in command in David’s future reign, and David was to protect Jonathan’s family (1 Samuel 20:16-17, 42; 23:16-18).

David was the eighth and youngest son of Jesse from the kingly tribe of Judah. He was also a direct descendent of Ruth the Moabite. David began his life as a shepherd in Bethlehem.. Jonathan, the eldest son of King Saul, was the natural heir to his throne, and doubtless would have succeeded his father had Saul not incurred the divine displeasure and so forfeited that privilege for his posterity and cut short his own career. (1 Sam. 13:13.) Jonathan was a devoted son to his father and a devoted and energetic servant to God and to his people. The deep attachment of father and son is manifest from several facts: Jonathan could undertake his dangerous expedition against the Philistines only by keeping his project a secret from his father. (1 Sam. 14:1.) The effect of Saul's strange vow was emphasized by his affection for his son. (1 Sam. 14:39-44.) That dearest object he declared he would sacrifice, if need be, in fulfillment of his vow. But the people rescued him, declaring the Lord to be on the side of Jonathan. There was very marked and intimate confidence between the father and son. (1 Sam. 20:2.) "Behold my father will do nothing, either great or small, but that he will show it me." And Jonathan had great influence with his father (1 Sam. 19:6), and was very active in cooperation with him in the defense of the Lord's people against their foes and oppressors.
Jonathan loved the Lord and his people, and had strong faith in the power of God on their behalf. Like David before Goliath, with faith in God he with his amour bearer approached the garrison of the Philistines, saying, "It may be that the Lord will work for us; for there is no restraint to the Lord to save by many or by few."--1 Sam. 14:6.
And while Saul, filled with envy, malice, hatred and revenge against this one whom he regarded as his rival and the rival of his house, determined, and continually sought, to slay him, Jonathan, by every means in his power, protected and defended him, even at the risk of his own life. --1 Sam. 20:32,33.



Obviously, these two men were also very good friends. In their relationship we can see at least three qualities of true friendship. First, they sacrificed for one another. In 1 Samuel 18:4, we read that Jonathan gave David his clothes and military garb. The significance of this gift symbolized that Jonathan recognized that David would one day be king of Israel. Rather than being envious or jealous, Jonathan submitted to God’s will and sacrificed his own right to the throne. Second, in 1 Samuel 19:1-3, we read of Jonathan’s loyalty toward and defense of David. King Saul told his followers to kill David. Jonathan rebuked his father and recalled David’s faithfulness to him in killing Goliath. Finally, Jonathan and David were also free to express their emotions with one another. In 1 Samuel 20, we read of a plan concocted by Jonathan to reveal his father’s plans toward David. Jonathan was going to practice his archery. If he told his servant that the arrows he shot were to the side of the target, David was safe. If Jonathan told his servant that the arrows were beyond the target, David was to leave and not return. Jonathan told the servant that the arrows were beyond the target, meaning that David should flee. After releasing his servant, Jonathan found David and the two men cried together.
And when David was taking leave of Jonathan to fly for his life from the face of Saul, again they covenanted perpetual friendship. "And David arose out of his place ...and [approaching Jonathan] fell on his face to the ground, and bowed himself three times [in token of great respect for both the person and office of his friend]; and they kissed one another, and wept one with another until David exceeded." And Jonathan said, "Go in peace, and the Lord be with thee, as he hath been with my father. And [when thou comest into the kingdom] thou shalt not only while I live show me the kindness of the Lord, that I die not; but also thou shalt not cut off thy kindness from my house forever [as he foresaw David might be tempted to do when later the descendants of Jonathan might urge their claims to the throne]; no, not when the Lord hath cut off the enemies of David every one from the face of the earth..And Jonathan caused David to swear again, because he loved him; for he loved him as his own soul." --1 Sam. 20:13-17.

Only once again they met, a year or two later. It was under very similar circumstances, in the wilderness of Ziph. Saul was still hunting for his rival to slay him, and again Jonathan, learning of his situation, sought him out. "And Jonathan went to David into the wood, and strengthened his hand in God. And he said unto him, Fear not; for the hand of Saul, my father, shall not find thee; and thou shalt be king over Israel, and I shall be next unto thee; and that also my father knoweth. And [again] they two made a covenant before the Lord."--1 Sam. 23:16,17.
As Saul continues to pursue David, the pair renew their covenant, after which they do not meet again. Eventually Saul and David reconcile. Jonathan, however, is slain on Mt. Gilboa along with his two brothers Abinadab and Malchi-shua, and there Saul commits suicide. David learns of Saul and Jonathan's death and chants a lament, which in part says in : 2 Samuel 1:23-27
Saul and Jonathan, beloved and pleasant in their life, And in their death they were not parted; They were swifter than eagles, They were stronger than lions... "How have the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle! Jonathan is slain on your high places. "I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan; You have been very pleasant to me. Your love to me was more wonderful Than the love of women. "How have the mighty fallen, And the weapons of war perished!"

Sunday, 15 May 2011

A Prayer


No words can describe the greatness of the Lord, we serve.
His mercy is new, every morning,
He blows in us life, when we think, there is no hope.
He gives us a smile, just when we, thought our tears would not end.
There is no measure to his greatness; there is no limit to his grace.
He is the way, the life and the light,
Who never stops lighting our path ,
Who never stops poring life to our lives,
Refreshing, us more and more every day.
leading us to the path of eternity ,
Sufficient is his grace, and care, giving us the best when it is most needed.
as king David says that my cup runeth over ,
So let it be that my lips ,may praise thee oh Lord ,
May I never leave your sight,
May I never be harden that I can not see you.
As we, your children are the apples of your eye,
Let, you be, like the breath of our lives.