What sign did God give Abraham in (Ge 17:11ff)?

(Remember - covenant preceded the sign)

Circumcision

What was the sign meant to be?

A reminder of covenant

What do you learn about circumcision from (Ge 17:11)? see questions below

What were the circumstances?

Covenant repeated

God changed Abram & Sarai's names

God specified the covenant would be established with their descendents

God promised the covenant would be everlasting

What was circumcision to be? (Ge 17:11)

Sign of covenant between God and Abraham

Who was to be circumcised? (Ge 17:12, 13)

Every male 8 days old - no exceptions

Where was the circumcision to be performed? (Ge 17:11)

Flesh of foreskin (closest to paternity via which covenant is passed on)

What penalty for not performing? (Ge 17:14)

cut off (kill or ex-excommunicate)

How did Abraham respond? (Ge 17:23, 24)

Abe obeyed immediately

Do I obey like Abraham did - immediately and with a whole heart?

Remember:
To Delay = Disobey

What happened to the sign over time?

Sign became an end in itself, a ritual

What event in Abraham’s life, did God use to show him that covenant is withholding nothing from God (Ge 22:1,2)? (Study Jehovah Jireh)

Offer Isaac as a burnt offering

The son he loved!

What was his response (Ge 22:3)?
Immediate obedience

What had God promised Abraham in (Ge 12:2)?

Great Nation

What had God promised Abraham in (Ge 15:4)?
Heir from his body

Why was it necessary for God to clarify this?

Abe had sought an heir thru his servant

How did God make the promise more specific (Ge 17:19, 21)?

Gave him the Name "Isaac" and specified when he would be born - "next year"

God specified that the covenant would be established through Isaac

What did God reiterate in (Ge 21:12)?

Through Isaac his descendants would be named

What was Abraham's dilemma when God tested him (Ge 22:1-2)?

If he sacrificed his only son (whom he loved) how would the promise (of through Isaac his descendants would be named) be fulfilled ?

What truth did Abraham know and believe according to (Heb 11:17, 18, 19 commentary)?

Abraham believed in God's ability to resurrect from the dead

By faith when he was tested, Abraham considered God is able (dúnamai  = possesses inherent ability) to raise men from the dead and so he received Isaac back as a type

Faith obeys

He trusted that His Covenant Partner was able to keep His promise that a great nation would come from him and that the covenant would pass through Isaac

How does Abraham's declaration to the young men with him (Ge 22:5) demonstrate the reality of his faith?  His assurance that they would BOTH return!

What was Isaac's question and Abraham's answer regarding the burnt offering (Ge 22:8, 9)?
Isaac "Where is the Lamb?"

Abe "God would provide the lamb"

What did the Angel of the LORD do when Abraham was about to sacrifice Isaac (Ge 22:11, 12, 13)?
God stopped him

And told Abraham that He knew that he feared Him

God provided a ram

What did Abraham name the place (Ge 22:14)?

 Jehovah Jireh

The Lord will provide

What do we learn about covenant from Abraham's willingness to sacrifice Isaac?

Covenant is withholding nothing from our Covenant Partner, even that which we hold to be most dear

What do we learn about God from this episode in Abraham's life?

God is faithful to His covenant promises

God keeps covenant
 

What was God foreshadowing in Abraham offering up Isaac?

This event foreshadowed God's love for us when He offered up His only Son, the Son He loved.

God withheld nothing from us His covenant partners and willingly sacrificed His only Son as our substitute that we might be resurrected to walk in newness of life.

"Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends." (Jn 15:13)

Love lays down its life for the sake of the covenant partner

Do I  obey without reservation when God tests me?

Do I hesitate, negotiate, argue or resist and in so doing avoid obeying immediately?

How would you answer God's question...

"Do you love Me more than _____?"

Can you honestly say...

"Whatever you want God"?

Are you afraid of what He might do?

What event in Moses life did God use to show that covenant is withholding nothing from God? What did God seek to do to Moses in (Ex 4:24, 25, 26)?

God sought kill Moses

Zipporah circumcised child to avert Moses' death

He had failed to circumcise son and "broken covenant" (Ge 17:14)

What is God's attitude toward covenant and obedience related to covenant?

Serious

Covenant calls for immediate, whole hearted obedience and faithfulness

What exchange occurred in (1 Sa 18:4)  when Jonathan cut covenant with David?

Robe = exchange of identity, putting on the other person

Weapon = the responsibility of the covenant partner to protect the other

Belts = exchange of strength
 

Let's review how this covenant agreement was tested in 1 Samuel 18 and how Jonathan showed that covenant is withholding nothing from one's covenant partner

How did King Saul begin to treat David in (1Sa 18)? How many ways did he try to kill David?

Saul became angry at David because the people praised him for his victories (1 Sa 18:8, 9)

From then on Saul sought to kill David 
 

(1) Evil spirit from God came on Saul and he tried to spear David twice (1 Sa 18:11)

(2) Saul sent him into battle in order to prove himself a valiant man and worthy of his daughter Merab,  reasoning the Philistines would kill him (1 Sa 18:17)

(3) Saul offered his daughter Michal to David for the "dowry" price of 100 Philistine foreskins which would increase his chance of being killed (1Sa 18:25, 26, 27)

What became obvious to Saul? (1Sa 18:28, 29)

Lord was with David

Saul became even more afraid and

Became his enemy continually

Now let's observe how 3 covenant partners intervened to protect David's life in 1 Samuel 19

How did Jonathan's covenant with David get tested and how did he respond? (1Sa 19:1, 2)

Saul told him to kill David

Jonathan warned David to hide - A friend in need is a friend indeed!

How else did Jonathan intercede for his covenant partner? (1Sa 19:4, 5)

Jonathan interceded for David reminding Saul of David's deliverance
 

Saul relented (cf Jer 17:9) but because of David's success jealousy recurred & Saul tried to spear David again but he escaped (1Sa 19:6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
 

What do we learn about covenant from Jonathan's actions?

Covenant is withholding nothing = superior to family ties

How did David's marriage covenant partner protect him? (1Sa 19:11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16) (See covenant of marriage)

Michal warned that Saul's men were coming to kill him and he was able to escape

How did God, David's Covenant Partner, protect him in (1Sa 19:20,21, 23)?

Saul sent men 3x to kill David but Samuel was prophesying and the Spirit of God came on them & they prophesied as did Saul when he went

God protected David

Why did God protect David?

They were in covenant... Samuel had anointed David at God's request. God's purpose would not thwarted

What hint is there that Jonathan knows that David will be king? (1Sa 20:13, 14) (cf 1Sa 23:17, 18)

May the LORD be with you as He has been with my father

What was Jonathan's rightful inheritance and what does this teach about covenant?
Heir to the throne

Covenant is superior to personal ambition

How did Jonathan and David extend the covenant (1Sa 20:15, 16, 17)

Cut another covenant

Include their "house" (descendants)

Covenant forever
(cf 1 Sa 20:42)

Lovingkindness used 2x in the context of covenant

What does Jonathan teach us about covenant commitment?

Covenant is withholding nothing

It is superior to all relationships (Jonathan's loyalty was to David not his father Saul)

It is superior to one's personal ambitions (he knew David was to be king)
 

What event occurred at Engedi (1Sa 24:3, 4, 5, 6) that shows us David trusted his covenant keeping God?

Saul entered the cave where David was hiding where David's men urge him to kill Saul

(Lord was in control)

Why would David not touch the Lord's anointed?

David trusted his Covenant Defender to fulfill the promise (Click note)

What did Saul ask of David when he realized the Lord would make David king?  (1Sa 24:21)

Asks David to swear by the LORD that he would not cut off his descendants after me or destroy his line of descendants to which David agrees

What event occurred at the wilderness of Ziph (1Sa 26:7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)?

David goes into Saul's camp and again refuses to kill the Lord's anointed. He knows that God will take care of him. The Lord had caused Saul and men to sleep again protecting David.

Are you in a "wilderness", being tested? Will you accept God's timing, purposes & ways? What do you need to remember?

God is your covenant partner and is faithful to keep His covenant promises

How did David respond when the Amalekite brought message of Saul and Jonathan’s death and said he killed Saul? (2Sa 1:11,12 , 13, 14, 15, 16)

Tore clothes, wept

Killed the Amalekite

What happened to Saul's monarchy? (2Sa 2:8, 9, 10)  

It was divided..

David king of Judah

Ishbosheth Saul's son king of Israel

What was the condition of the divided kingdom? (2Sa 3:1)

War between house of David and Saul

David grew stronger
 

What happened when Ishbosheth was killed and his head was brought to David? (2Sa 4:8, 12)

David had them killed because they killed Saul’s son

What had David promised Saul (1Sa 24:21)?

Would not cut off Saul’s descendants
 

What had Jonathan and David covenanted in (1Sa 20:15, 16, 17)

Covenant would include house forever

How does David seek to honor his covenant with Jonathan (2Sa 9:1,2,3)?

He sought for anyone from house of Saul to show the kindness of God to in view of their covenant

What does David discover (2Sa 9:3)?

Jonathan's son

Mephibosheth
(“shameful thing”)
Both feet crippled

How did he become crippled?(2Sa 4:4)?
His nurse was fleeing after Saul’s death & he feel

How did David fulfill His covenant promise? (2Sa 9:5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)?

v5 Brought him from Lo-debar (no pasture)

v7 Told him do not fear - he would show kindness

2Sa 9:7,9 Restore Saul's land to him

2Sa 9:10 Provided servants

2Sa 9:7,10,11,13 - Ate at King's table regularly

David desired to show kindness for sake of Jonathan

How did David keep covenant in ( 2Sa 21:1ff)

When Gibeonites ask for 7 of Saul's sons as the price for Saul breaking covenant, David spared Mephibosheth (2Sa 21:7)
(Click here)

Think about it...:

Inheritance gone, living in Lo-debar (no pasture), brother assassinated,
constant fear that David would discover and kill him, lame in both feet.

David sought him out, knowing that his covenant with Jonathan meant withholding nothing, in this case the loving kindness of God to one crippled by a fall!

Do you think Mephibosheth understood grace?

Does the story sound familiar? Do you know anyone who was crippled by a "fall"? Do you know anyone Who sought out those who were no better than a "dead dog" because of an unconditional covenant that began with Abraham? Do you know anyone who has been shown loving kindness so that he now can sit at the banqueting table forever with the King of kings?

God withheld nothing in cutting covenant with fallen mankind.

What was Saul's disobedience? (1Sa 13:8, 9)

Did not wait for Samuel

Did not destroy Agag the Amalekites (who God said to utterly blot out) and also took spoil (1Sa 15:9, 10, 11)

How would you characterize Saul's heart?

Not wholehearted
Not faithful = not obedient

What is God's response to Saul's disobedience? (1Sa 15:27,28)

Lord tore kingdom  from Saul and gave it to David (see below)
 

What does he instruct Samuel to do (1Sa 16:13)

Anoint David king in Saul’s place

(see column labeled "David" for events in this intervening time)

How does Saul die?  (1Sa 31:4) (Note: In this same battle 3 of his 4 sons had been killed by the Philistines whose archers had also badly wounded Saul)

He fell on his sword

What is the message of Saul's life? 

To obey is better than sacrifice,
to heed than the fat of rams
1Samuel 15:22
 

From this tabular summary of the lives of Abraham, Moses, Jonathan, David and Saul we can see that covenant is withholding nothing from God. We begin to understand that whatever God wants in our life as believers who have entered into the New Covenant in Jesus' blood. The LORD has every right to anything we possess because we are in a solemn covenant with Him. From the lives of these men one can see that covenant demands faithfulness whatever the cost. Finally, in studying these OT lives one can understand that  no other relationship, no other responsibility, no other goal and absolutely nothing is more important than our covenant relationship with God.
 

ABRAHAM
 

Circumcision: Why the foreskin? The covenant cut is made close to the source of paternity by which the seed or descendents will come who will be included in that covenant..

Trumbull explains that...

The blood-covenant of friendship shall be consummated by your giving to me of your personal blood at the very source of paternity — "under your girdle"; thereby pledging yourself to me, and pledging, also, to me, those who shall come after you in the line of natural descent. When a Jewish child is circumcised, it is commonly said of him, that he is caused "to enter into the covenant of Abraham"; and, his god-father, or sponsor, is called Baal-bereeth, "Master of the covenant " (Trumbull, H C: The Blood Covenant. Impact Books)

Abraham proved that his faith was real by his obedience, circumcising himself and all male members immediately.

Beloved, the first time God prompts your heart and you refuse to obey, your revived life begins to dry up. To delay is to disobey. To maintain the fire of revival in your heart, you must be committed to absolute obedience. The closer you are to God, the faster you will obey. Is God prompting your heart to some step of obedience that you are putting off? Are you wholehearted toward God in all things? Have you truly sold all for the pearl of great price? Is your attitude toward God whatever He wants, He can have?

Genesis 22

Keep the context in mind. Abraham had walked with God for probably 40 years or more....

Age 75 (Genesis 12:4) (Sarai = 65).God told him He would make Abe a father of many nations. Age 86 (Ge 16:16) Abe went into Hagar producing Ishmael

Age 86  (Genesis 16:16) Abraham went into Hagar producing Ishmael, the product of the flesh not of the promise--and the flesh can never please God!

Age 99yo (Ge17:1, 17) In Ge 12:3 God preached the gospel to Abraham (Ga3:8), and not only would the Jews find salvation but so would the Gentiles. The seed that God promised was in fact Jesus Christ, (Ga 3:16) Here in Genesis 17 God appears to Abraham whose body was as good as dead and He tells him that He is his El Shaddai and ''I will establish My covenant. I am your all sufficient One. Quit seeking other ways. Rest in Me. Trust Me.'' Where can we run when we need help? We should run to the rock that is higher than us and find our strength in El Shaddai.

Genesis 21:34 says that "Abraham sojourned in the land of the Philistines for many days". How long Scripture does not say, but long enough for Isaac to grow into a lad who could carry the wood for sacrifice on his back, so surely in the range of 15 years old or older, which would make Abraham somewhere around 115 year old or older.

The point is that at the time of God's supreme test in Genesis 22, Abraham had walked with Jehovah for at least 40 years.

Related Resources:

Click hymn - The Lord Will Provide
Jehovah Jireh - God our Provider - study of this Name of God on this website

Jehovah Jireh - sermon by Alexander Maclaren "the prince of expository preachers"
Jehovah Jireh - article from the International Standard Encyclopedia of the Bible
Jehovah Jireh - sermon by C H Spurgeon
Abraham Called The Name of That Place Jehovah Jireh by Robert Hawker (1753-1827)

MOSES

In Exodus 4:24-26 God sought to kill Moses his appointed leader for failure to circumcise his son. What is the message for those in New Covenant? We need to be circumspect and ask: "Am I wholehearted in my commitment to my covenant partner?"; "Is there any known command of Scripture I am willfully disobeying?" "Am I procrastinating in some area of my life, thinking God doesn't really take my delayed or partial obedience (both equating with disobedience) seriously?" Maybe you've had a "burning bush experience" like Moses but you've let the flames of your first love be quenched by disobedience in some area of your life. Are you willing to confess it honestly? Jesus warned the once "on fire" church at Ephesus...

'Remember therefore from where you have fallen, and repent and do the deeds you did at first; or else I am coming to you, and will remove your lampstand out of its place-- unless you repent.' (Revelation 2:5-note)

DAVID

G Campbell Morgan has some wise words on David's "chance" to take Saul's life in 1 Samuel 24 writing...

In this chapter we have the account of how circumstances suddenly put Saul in the power of David. It would have been perfectly easy for him to take the life of his enemy, and so put an end to the bitter experiences through which that enemy was compelling him to pass. From the standpoint of worldly wisdom. he missed his opportunity, and so prolonged his own suffering. From the standpoint of the true wisdom, that which results from faith in God, he acted rightly. To have slain Saul would have been to have taken things into his own hands, and to do that Its always to bring disaster. It is ever better to wait for God than to 'attempt to hurry His purposes by actions dictated only by the appearance of fortuitous circumstances. It is perhaps one of the hardest lessons for the human heart to learn, and yet more harm than we think is done in the enterprises of the Divine Kingdom by the zeal which is without knowledge. The hour comes when we have such a chance of getting level with our foes, of wiping out old scores, of ending our suffering by some swift act in the dark. Let us be very much afraid of such hours. They almost always conceal perils far greater than those from which they seem to afford opportunity of escape. It is ever better to wait for God. He sees all. We see but a part. We are always safer waiting for Him. (Morgan, G. C. Life Applications from Every Chapter of the Bible) (Bolding added)

MEPHIBOSHETH

Other resources on Mephibosheth:

Mephibosheth and Me by David Reid
His Kindness to Mephibosheth (2 Samuel 9) by A W Pink
His Kindness to Mephibosheth (Continued) (2 Samuel 9) by A W Pink
Mephibosheth by Alexander Maclaren