Covenants of the Bible - Wed Night Class
Teachers
Lesson Summary
The class taught by Larry Johnson explored the concept of covenants throughout Scripture, distinguishing them from everyday contracts. He described several categories of covenants—those motivated by love, fear, relative position, unilateral promises, conditional performance, and unconditional grace—explaining how each shapes relationships between parties. By reviewing biblical examples, he illustrated the breadth and depth of covenantal agreements. Larry highlighted specific Old Testament covenants: the intimate bond between David and Jonathan (1 Samuel 18), Abraham’s unilateral covenant signaled by a smoking fire pot and flaming torch (Genesis 15), the peace covenant between Abraham and Abimelech (Genesis 21), Isaac’s treaty with Abimelech (Genesis 26), and Jacob’s covenant with Laban (Genesis 31). He explained the Hebrew term “cut a covenant,” noting its link to sacrificial rites and the idea that covenants are meant to be lifelong, family‑like commitments. The lesson emphasized that while contracts are temporary and limited, biblical covenants establish enduring, relational loyalty that reflects God’s unchanging promises. The session concluded by encouraging participants to view their personal and communal relationships through the lens of covenant, fostering deeper trust, faithfulness, and reliance on God’s promises as they continue the 11‑week series.
Key Scriptures
As soon as he had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul. And Saul took him that day and would not let him return to his father's house. Then Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as his own soul. And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was on him and gave it to David, and his armor, and even his sword, and his bow, and his belt.
And when the sun had gone down, and it was dark, behold, a smoking fire pot and a flaming torch passed between those pieces. On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abraham, saying, "To your offspring I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates."