God’s divine covenants ratified by blood

Abstract

From the creation of humankind, Yahweh was involved with his people and continuously built a relationship with them. As an indication of how serious he was, Yahweh entered into a multi-covenant process with his people. Whereas some covenants were (seemingly) bloodless, others were ratified by blood. Four of these covenants that Yahweh established with his people during the Old Testament times are discussed in this article, being part of a compendium of covenants that Yahweh made with his people. It is then suggested that all these covenants in fact formed part of one comprehensive covenant that Yahweh has established with his people. The continuation of that broad or complete covenant in the New Testament is Jesus, who shed his blood for his followers on the cross. Jesus’ blood acted as the sign of the consecutive (’new’) covenant, symbolised by the cup that he shared with his disciples at the Last Supper that we are still sharing with each other at the Holy Communion today. He himself then became the sacrifice whose blood was shed to seal the covenant.
Intradisciplinary and/or interdisciplinary implications: This is an historical and Bible-based article utilising canonical criticism as methodology, linking with Philosophy and Practical Theology. It involves both the Old Testament and the New Testament. By drawing a line of continuity between the two Testaments, it becomes clear that Yahweh’s first covenant with his people continued in a consecutive ‘new’ covenant with Jesus as the main focus.