COVENANTING PERFORMED IN FORMER AGES WITH APPROBATION FROM ABOVE.
That the Lord gave special token of his approbation of the exercise of
Covenanting, it belongs to this place to show. His approval of the duty
was seen when he unfolded the promises of the Everlasting Covenant to
his people, while they endeavoured to perform it; and his approval
thereof is continually seen in his fulfilment to them of these promises.
The special manifestations of his regard, made to them while attending
to the service before him, belonged to one or other, or both, of those
exhibitions of his acceptance of them in the discharge of the duty. They
afford peculiar illustrations, brought out by Him in a wondrous
providence, of the important truths concerning his Covenant, which all
his other dispensations to his people also present.
First. He approved of engagements made in Personal Covenanting.
The vow of Jacob at Bethel, at the distance of several years, was
followed by a command from God to erect there the altar, which in that
he had virtually promised to build. The vow of Hannah was acknowledged
by the gift of a son, whom the Lord honoured to be a signal blessing to
Israel. The vow of David,--"To find out a place for the Lord, an
habitation for the mighty God of Jacob," received the approval,--"It was
well that it was in thine heart," though the duty was made to devolve
upon his son. These are examples of Covenant engagements made by
individuals, to be performed by themselves, or by others, according to
the will of God, and which he afforded grace to parties chosen by
himself to fulfil.
Secondly. He approved of engagements made in Social Covenanting.
The Covenant made with Noah was dictated by the Lord himself. The
patriarch and his family acceded to it. He and they, along with the
living creatures concerning which he had received instructions, entered
the ark according as God had commanded; and the Lord shut him in.[743]
That Covenant was renewed with the patriarch by the express words of
God; a promise kindred to that delivered to man in a state of innocence,
but which, containing also the grant of animal food, and thereby
affording an intimation of the exercise of feeding by faith on the flesh
of the Redeemer, included a gracious grant which the other promise could
not contain, was added at the renovation; and the bow in the cloud was
declared a token that the Lord would not forget the transaction, but
while that emblem should continue, even to all ages should fulfil the
promise made by Him, and accepted in faith by his servants.
The Covenant with Abraham was graciously proposed by the Lord himself.
And the faith of the patriarch, called into exercise at the ratification
of it, was encouraged by the appointment of a special sacrifice, and the
wondrous phenomenon of the smoking furnace and the burning lamp.[744]
That covenant was ratified a second time, while the Lord appointed the
ordinance of circumcision as a sign and seal of it, to be extended to
the descendants of the patriarch, not merely as the progenitor of the
Israelites, but as the father of many nations. The extension of the
privilege to Ishmael, the descendants of whom observed the rite, and to
the other males of Abraham's household, was a pledge that all the
Gentile nations should in due time become interested, not merely in the
outward advantages, but also in the spiritual privileges of God's
covenant, and was a pleasing illustration of the manner in which the
Lord, by a special appointment, is pleased to testify even through many
ages, to the good of many, to the pleasure which he takes in his
servants performing duty in the strength of grace afforded by
himself.[745] When the Covenant was about to be ratified for the third
time, the Lord called his servant to a signal exercise of faith. The
giving of an enlarged view of the promise followed upon the provision of
a sacrifice, as a substitute for the once-devoted son; and united with
the oath of God, given for confirmation, in leading to the renovation of
the Covenant, as a sign of the Lord's approval of the vigorous exercise
of that faith through which its conditions are accepted. And the new
pre-intimation of a Saviour to come, that was made in the ram caught in
the thicket, gave to all who believed in God--and still more, the
actual offering of the Lamb of God, gives to all now who follow their
faith in Covenanting, to use in confidence the patriarch's
words,--"Jehovah-jireh," _the Lord will provide_.[746]
The Covenant made with Israel, like the others made thereafter with the
Church of God, was a renovation of that established with Abraham. Like
that, it was proposed by the Lord himself, and besides, was in token of
his enduring favour ratified by his oath.[747]
The Covenant with Jacob was entered into after that the Lord, by
anticipating and encouraging the faith of his servant, graciously
presented before him the vision of the Ladder, as an emblem of the
glorious Saviour bringing men to communion with God, and in the
accomplishment of his work directing the energies of unfallen angels
sent forth by him to minister to the heirs of salvation.[748]
The Covenant of Sinai was confirmed in a manner the most encouraging,
as well as condescending and glorious. By fire, the Lord intimated not
merely his power to punish, but also his gracious presence. By the voice
of speech, though the people were afraid, he afforded in kindness an
indisputable evidence of the truth of his gracious intercourse with
them.[749] And when it was renewed, the Lord added to the tokens which
he had given of his regard for his people drawing near to serve him,
while he passed by before his servant Moses, and proclaimed, "The Lord,
the Lord God, merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in
goodness and truth."[750]
That the Lord approved of Israel making a vow at Hormah, appeared from
the fact that He granted to them the object of it.[751]
The Covenant made on the plains of Moab was confirmed by the oath of
God; and the encouragement of it, that the Lord would be unto Israel a
God, afforded additional evidence that their net of laying hold upon it
was well-pleasing to him.[752]
The Covenant made at Shechem was shown to be approved of God, not merely
by his command to Israel to enter into it, but by the strength which he
gave to them to serve Him, and consequently to keep that covenant all
the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders that overlived
Joshua.[753]
Of the Covenant between God and Israel, entered into through the
instrumentality of David,[754] the Lord testified his approbation, in
fulfilling to the house of Judah its promise of a race of kings in
David's line, which should be consummated in Him who, being David's Son
and David's Lord, should reign for ever.
The tokens of the Lord's acceptance of Israel Covenanting with him in
the reign of Asa were, that He, whom they had sought with their whole
desire, was found of them, and that he gave them rest round about.[755]
Israel Covenanting with God, in the reign of Nehemiah, were visited with
special tokens of Divine favour. The Lord gave them one heart to perform
the service, and bestowed his blessing afterwards upon them. "The hand
of God was to give them one heart to do the commandment of the king and
of the princes, by the word of the Lord."[756] "Then the priests the
Levites arose and blessed the people: and their voice was heard, and
their prayer came up to his holy dwelling-place, even unto heaven."[757]
As to Israel under Joshua and the elders that overlived him, so to the
people Covenanting under Josiah, the Lord showed his favour, by enabling
them to keep covenant with him. "And all his days they departed not from
following the Lord, the God of their fathers."[758]
Though there is less explicitly said to intimate that the Covenanting of
Israel under Ezra was approved of God, than what is recorded in
commendation of other like exercises, yet their work was acceptable to
Him.[759] Were there nothing else to show this, the prayerful frame of
mind, corresponding to a former promise, in which they engaged in it,
were sufficient.[760]
The Covenant between God and his Church, in the days of Nehemiah, was
made and followed with signal marks of Divine favour. The transaction
had been predicted. "For though thy people Israel be as the sand of the
sea, yet a remnant of them shall return: the consumption decreed shall
overflow with righteousness."[761] "The consumption" here spoken of, was
the destruction of the Assyrian empire. The returning referred to, was
the restoration of Israel from Babylon. And the overflowing with
righteousness adverted to, would appear to have been the exercises of
engaging in Covenanting under Ezra and under Nehemiah, and the
consequences thereof. And manifold were the benefits that followed from
these engagements. Copies of the law of God were increased: the people
were accordingly much more abundantly instructed than they had been
before; and they no more returned to idolatry.
And what is said by an apostle, in reference to the Churches of
Macedonia engaging in the exercise, we have no reason to suppose to be
inapplicable to the other Churches in the apostolic age, that performed
the duty,--that they did so "by the will of God."
Hence, in conclusion. Though the Canon of Scripture be now closed, we
have encouragement to make vows, the engagements of which are lawful. A
material difference that obtains between the former and the present
dispensation of Divine grace is, that what was vouchsafed under the
former, was fitted to afford the principles according to which, all
under the latter should judge of the attainments from the hand of God,
made by them in every given exercise. Did he, in former times,
manifestly approve the performance of the duty? he will substantially do
so now. Did he favour his people taking hold on his covenant then? he
will do so still.
FOOTNOTES:
[743] Gen. vi. 17, 18. vii. 16.
[744] Gen. xv. 9-18.
[745] Gen. xvii. 7-14.
[746] Gen. xxii. 1-18.
[747] Gen. xxvi. 3-5; and Ps. cv. 9.
[748] Gen. xxviii. 11-22.
[749] Exod. xix. xx.
[750] Exod. xxxiv. 6; see also ver. 10.
[751] Num. xxi. 2, 3.
[752] Deut. xxix. 13.
[753] Jos. xxiv. 25, 31.
[754] 2 Sam. vii. 11-22; 1 Chron. xxviii. 8.
[755] 2 Chron. xv. 15.
[756] 2 Chron. xxx. 12.
[757] 2 Chron. xxx. 27.
[758] 2 Chron. xxxiv. 33.
[759] Ezra x.
[760] Jer. l. 4, 5.
[761] Is. x. 22.