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Episodes

Wednesday Jul 09, 2025
Glimpses Into The Bible Part 9
Wednesday Jul 09, 2025
Wednesday Jul 09, 2025
New Covenant
G'day and welcome to Partake! We are now on day 9 of our series "Glimpses", looking at the story of the Bible in 30 days, from the time of creation through to the time of the fullness of redemption! Let's read together
Jeremiah 31v31-34
"The day is coming," says the Lord, "when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and Judah. This covenant will not be like the one I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand and brought them out of the land of Egypt. They broke that covenant, though I loved them as a husband loves his wife," says the Lord. "But this is the new covenant I will make with the people of Israel on that day," says the Lord. "I will put my instructions deep within them, and I will write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. And they will not need to teach their neighbours, nor will they need to teach their relatives, saying, ‘You should know the Lord.' For everyone, from the least to the greatest, will know me already," says the Lord. "And I will forgive their wickedness, and I will never again remember their sins."
Ezekiel 36:24-38
For I will gather you up from all the nations and bring you home again to your land. "Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. Your filth will be washed away, and you will no longer worship idols. And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart. And I will put my Spirit in you so that you will follow my decrees and be careful to obey my regulations. "And you will live in Israel, the land I gave your ancestors long ago. You will be my people, and I will be your God. I will cleanse you of your filthy behaviour. I will give you good crops of grain, and I will send no more famines on the land. I will give you great harvests from your fruit trees and fields, and never again will the surrounding nations be able to scoff at your land for its famines. Then you will remember your past sins and despise yourselves for all the detestable things you did. But remember, says the Sovereign Lord, I am not doing this because you deserve it. O my people of Israel, you should be utterly ashamed of all you have done! "This is what the Sovereign Lord says: When I cleanse you from your sins, I will repopulate your cities, and the ruins will be rebuilt. The fields that used to lie empty and desolate in plain view of everyone will again be farmed. And when I bring you back, people will say, ‘This former wasteland is now like the Garden of Eden! The abandoned and ruined cities now have strong walls and are filled with people! 'Then the surrounding nations that survive will know that I, the Lord, have rebuilt the ruins and replanted the wasteland. For I, the Lord, have spoken, and I will do what I say. "This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am ready to hear Israel's prayers and to increase their numbers like a flock. They will be as numerous as the sacred flocks that fill Jerusalem's streets at the time of her festivals. The ruined cities will be crowded with people once more, and everyone will know that I am the Lord. "
The Context
This covenant, which is called the "New Covenant", is the eighth covenant between God and humanity, and the fourth theocratic covenant. Israel as a nation had split into two parts - Israel and Judah. The Israel to whom God had covenanted with Abraham, Moses and David was no longer a united country. After frequent rebellions, Israel was no more as a kingdom and its tribes and people deported as slaves to the surrounding nations. But true to His word to David, about having a kingdom that would be an everlasting kingdom, there was still the tiny kingdom of Judah. Jeremiah was an out spoken prophet in Judah from the period 627-580 BC. It was a time of great wickedness including human sacrifice, witchcraft and of worship to other Gods. The kingdom of Judah as a whole, as well as the now dispersed kingdom of Israel, had forgotten the Law under the Covenant with Moses. The Law had been forgotten but when the book of the Law was rediscovered and reforms started to be put in place under the leadership of King Josiah. You can read about that in 2 Chronicles 34.
How Can It Be?
Its against this backdrop that what is called the New Covenant is decreed. Remember the question I left you with in when we discussed the Davidic Covenant. I asked how can a people like Israel, who in their relationship with God, were often disobedient, unfaithful and seeking other ‘gods', be the basis for a kingdom which will last forever as promised in the Davidic Covenant? It is through this New Covenant that it is possible! This New Covenant as we shall see is that it is only through God's own work it is possible and not by the efforts of humanity.
A Reminder
The Lord reminds the people of their past: that it was because of His guiding hand they were a nation at all. He was reminding them that He was a living God who desired an intimate and dynamic relationship with His people - unlike the dead gods of iron, gold, silver and wood of the surrounding nations! It was all God's doing that they came out from Egyptian slavery under the leadership of Moses! He reminds them that they had made covenant with HIM and that His love towards them was an intimate love! Yet they abandoned this living God in favour of idolatry, disobedience and rebellion.
New Covenant Features
Four features of this New Covenant are:
Regeneration - God will write His law on the hearts of people (Jeremiah 31v33)! This indicates that rather than obeying God through coercion, that His followers will choose to follow God and be renewed!
Restoration - God will be their God, and they will be God's people. (Jeremiah 31v33) The people of Israel and Judah had wandered away. They had forgotten they were to be a special treasure to God and a shining light of God's glory to the nations of the world. They were in exile and dispersed but one day God will gather them back and restore them into relationship.
Indwelt - Until now God the Holy Spirit had only been on one person at any one time, such as He was with King David. But now another new thing: God will live inside people and they will be led by Him (Jeremiah 31v 34)! WOW! Is this a sign from the Davidic Covenant that God will be a Father to those who follow Him? Forgiveness - Sins will be forgiven and removed eternally (Jeremiah 31v34)! Under the Mosaic Covenant, there was what was called the atoning sacrifice, performed so as to ask God's forgiveness for the sins of people. But not all sins, for this sacrifice only covered those sins committed by ignorance, coercion or unwillingness. It did not cover sins done deliberately. But now, when the New Covenant is ushered in, ALL sins will be forgiven! The covenant with Moses could only point the way forward to this time when it would occur!
Grace Rules Supreme
Regeneration, Restoration, Indwelling and Forgiveness give us our greatest glimpse yet of a God of grace! This New Covenant would be all God's doing and not on what any person could do! WOW! This New Covenant earmarks the way forward for Israel and Judah to be restored to the land as one united country. Ezekiel also speaks of this New Covenant in Ezekiel 36:24-38 but without mentioning it by that name. Ezekiel speaks as one carried off into exile as young man to Babylon.
During which time Jerusalem and the Temple (remember that from the Davidic Covenant) were desecrated and destroyed. In his vision Ezekiel, as does Jeremiah, speaks of a God who will cleanse, restore and operate within the life of humanity! This New Covenant is contrasted with the Old Covenant or the Mosaic covenant (Jeremiah 31v32) because this New Covenant finalizes what the Mosaic Covenant could only point to: the follower of God living in a righteous life conforming to God's holy character. How is the New Covenant ushered in? That's where we start to look next. Thank you!
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Tuesday Jul 08, 2025
Glimpses Into The Bible Part 8
Tuesday Jul 08, 2025
Tuesday Jul 08, 2025
Davidic Covenant
G'day and welcome to Partake! We are now on day 8 of our series "Glimpses", looking at the story of the Bible in 30 days, from the time of creation through to the time of the fullness of redemption! Let's read together
2 Samuel 7:1-17
When King David was settled in his palace and the Lord had given him rest from all the surrounding enemies, the king summoned Nathan the prophet. "Look," David said, "I am living in a beautiful cedar palace, but the Ark of God is out there in a tent!" Nathan replied to the king, "Go ahead and do whatever you have in mind, for the Lord is with you." But that same night the Lord said to Nathan, "Go and tell my servant David, ‘This is what the Lord has declared: Are you the one to build a house for me to live in? I have never lived in a house, from the day I brought the Israelites out of Egypt until this very day. I have always moved from one place to another with a tent and a Tabernacle as my dwelling. Yet no matter where I have gone with the Israelites, I have never once complained to Israel's tribal leaders, the shepherds of my people Israel. I have never asked them, "Why haven't you built me a beautiful cedar house?"' "Now go and say to my servant David, ‘This is what the Lord of Heaven's Armies has declared: I took you from tending sheep in the pasture and selected you to be the leader of my people Israel. I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have destroyed all your enemies before your eyes. Now I will make your name as famous as anyone who has ever lived on the earth! And I will provide a homeland for my people Israel, planting them in a secure place where they will never be disturbed. Evil nations won't oppress them as they've done in the past, starting from the time I appointed judges to rule my people Israel. And I will give you rest from all your enemies. "Furthermore, the Lord declares that he will make a house for you-a dynasty of kings! For when you die and are buried with your ancestors, I will raise up one of your descendants, your own offspring, and I will make his kingdom strong. He is the one who will build a house-a temple-for my name. And I will secure his royal throne forever. I will be his father, and he will be my son. If he sins, I will correct and discipline him with the rod, like any father would do. But my favor will not be taken from him as I took it from Saul, whom I removed from your sight. Your house and your kingdom will continue before me for all time, and your throne will be secure forever.'" So Nathan went back to David and told him everything the Lord had said in this vision.
This covenant is the seventh covenant and the fourth theocratic covenant (accepting that the Palestinian covenant is indeed a covenant!) The word covenant is not mentioned in this passage, but other passages of Scripture refer back to it, and explicitly call it a covenant (2 Samuel 23:5 David says, "...For He has made an everlasting covenant with me." Psalm 89:3-4; 1 Kings 8:23; 2 Chronicles 13:5).
The Shepherd King
The shepherd imagery here is powerful! The Lord reminds David that he was a shepherd boy before he rose to the heights in Israel and became its king. This shows that God wants David to be a shepherd leader as king. A king who protects, nourishes, guides and leads his people just as a shepherd does with sheep. .
Covenantal Promises
The Davidic Covenant promises four things:
- A land forever (2 Samuel 7:10);
- A dynasty, name or house without end (2 Samuel 7:11, 16)
- An everlasting kingdom (2 Samuel 7:13, 16)
- A father-son relationship between God and David's descendent (2 Samuel 7v13-14)
Some of the blessings which God promises to David are also echoes from the Abrahamic, Mosaic and Palestinian Covenants! Some may or may not! Can you tell which ones do echo and which ones don't? The line of continuity runs through the covenants!
A land forever - this is the promise of security for the nation of Israel and how important the land promises are to them! Here God promises rest for Israel in this their land of promise! He is reminding David of Israel's history when the judges ruled Israel. Reminding David of the cycle of disobedience, repentance and obedience, when Israel were taken into exile and under siege to the surrounding nations!
A name & house without end - the name of David would be great throughout time and throughout the world! Why? Because of his great kingship and the family line that would come from him! Does that echo anything with you regarding Abraham? Not only for eternity, but for their immediate future to come! David wanted to build a temple befitting worship to the living God! But God has other ideas! David would not be allowed to build it, but rather one of David's sons would build a house of worship for God - a temple of magnificence and beauty to reflect a living God of beauty! Wow!
An everlasting Kingdom - long after the death of David, his kingdom will continue. This also looks back to Genesis 17:6 where God has said that kings would descend from Abraham! The kingdom of David would last forever, in stark contrast to that of his predecessor Saul, whose reign was cut short.
Father and son relationship - This building upon the promise to Moses, of Israel being God's special treasure! God desires intimacy with humanity, through the nation of Israel and now, uniquely to David and his descendents, God has promised they would have a father and son relationship. This relationship includes personal discipline against sinful and unfaithful behaviour. We know that God and David also had a father and son relationship and that David had the Holy Spirit upon him to enable him to lead the nation. Frequently in the Psalms David prayed that the Holy Spirit not be taken from him due to his sinful behaviour.
How can it be?
This covenant with David, as we have seen, continues the line of covenants within the Old Testament, and the line of continuity you can easily see. With each successive covenant, the seed is growing. Much like grass grows out from its root so too is the intimacy between God and humanity. There are glimpses or hints of a messiah or saviour to come who would indeed make David's kingdom everlasting! Yet these promises of the Davidic covenant give us yet more questions! How can an Israel, who in their relationship with God, were often disobedient, unfaithful and seeking other ‘gods', be the basis for a king who will reign forever? That's up next! Where do you think we will be tomorrow?
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Monday Jul 07, 2025
Glimpses Into The Bible Part 7
Monday Jul 07, 2025
Monday Jul 07, 2025
Palestinian Covenant
G'day and welcome to Partake! We are now on day 7 of our series "Glimpses", looking at the story of the Bible in 30 days, from the time of creation through to the time of the fullness of redemption!
Let's read together Deuteronomy 29:12-18; You are standing here today to enter into the covenant of the Lord your God. The Lord is making this covenant, including the curses. By entering into the covenant today, he will establish you as his people and confirm that he is your God, just as he promised you and as he swore to your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. "But you are not the only ones with whom I am making this covenant with its curses. I am making this covenant both with you who stand here today in the presence of the Lord our God, and also with the future generations who are not standing here today. "You remember how we lived in the land of Egypt and how we traveled through the lands of enemy nations as we left. You have seen their detestable practices and their idols made of wood, stone, silver, and gold. I am making this covenant with you so that no one among you-no man, woman, clan, or tribe-will turn away from the Lord our God to worship these gods of other nations, and so that no root among you bears bitter and poisonous fruit.
Deuteronomy 30v15-18 "Now listen! Today I am giving you a choice between life and death, between prosperity and disaster. For I command you this day to love the Lord your God and to keep his commands, decrees, and regulations by walking in his ways. If you do this, you will live and multiply, and the Lord your God will bless you and the land you are about to enter and occupy. "But if your heart turns away and you refuse to listen, and if you are drawn away to serve and worship other gods, then I warn you now that you will certainly be destroyed. You will not live a long, good life in the land you are crossing the Jordan to occupy.
Covenant or not?
This, the Palestinian Covenant, is the third of the theocratic covenants (those which pertain to the rule of God). Some people say there is no such covenant and others say that there is. Some say that the covenant has not been fulfilled in its entirety yet and some say that is has. Others say that it is merely Moses reiterating and elaborating the Mosaic covenant given at Sinai. I put it here so you can make up your own mind.
Link to the Past
The first thing we can say is that you will note that it is tied to the covenant given to Abraham (Deuteronomy 29v13). This Palestinian Covenant adds details to the giving of the land to Israel as promised in the Abrahamic covenant. Since the Mosaic covenant given at Sinai, the nation had wandered in the desert for 40 years until that generation died out because they had refused God and been disobedient to Him. This covenant is a call for a new beginning as a nation under the rule of God!
Link to the Future
The nation of Israel is about to change hands from the proven leader, Moses, into the unproven hands of Joshua! As a nation, they were sitting on the plains of Moab, waiting to enter the land of Canaan, which was given to them by their God. As they waited, they would reflect that their God is a living God who was not made of wood, stone, silver or gold! He was alive and living amongst them! As they waited, no doubt they were reflecting upon the validity of the promises made to them via Moses at Sinai. They could easily reflect on the lessons learnt from the disobedience of the previous generation who had been disobedient to God, found to be unfaithful and were never to enter the land promised to them! It served as a reminder of how one generation obedience or disobedience would affect the next generation. Recognizing this as God doing as He said he would do under the Abrahamic and Mosaic covenants - punish Israel for unfaithfulness and disobedience. So this covenant, while being additional to the Mosaic covenant, serves also to remind this generation of Israelites of their special relationship with God. It is also abundantly clear that it is not just for the then current generation of Israel when it was given but for future generations of the nation of Israel to come after.
Covenant Features
This covenant has two main features to it.
- Legal features which are immediate and conditional
- Grace features which are without condition
The enjoyment of the immediate blessings is initiated by the conditional principle "if you diligently obey the voice of the LORD your God ... the Lord your God will set you high about all the nations of the earth" (Deut 28v1). Some say that this, the unconditional grace facet of this Palestinian Covenant is initialised but set for a fulfilment in the future! The covenant also gives a glimpse of a future messiah or saviour who would come from within the nation of Israel.
Be warned!
There is a final warning to the nation of Israel (both at the time of the covenant and future generations) which is also a challenge: obedience to the LORD God alone! The nation of Israel is warned that unfaithfulness and disobedience has multiple consequences! If they are unfaithful and disobedient, then as a nation they can expect to be scattered and exiled before eventually being restored to the land following sincere national repentance.
Overall
Overall this Covenant adds details to the giving of the land to Israel as promised in the Abrahamic covenant. It gives glimpses of a generous and holy God who is filled with majestic mercy and abundant grace who seeks obedience and faithfulness from His people so He can live intimately with His people. As a nation, they were to reflect this and be a light to all nations of the glory of their God, Jehovah! It shows the continuity from Eden to Adam to Abraham to Moses. Where are we off to next in this line of continuity? Where do you think? Thank you.
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Sunday Jul 06, 2025
Glimpses Into The Bible Part 6
Sunday Jul 06, 2025
Sunday Jul 06, 2025
Mosaic Covenant
G'day and welcome to Partake! We are now on day 6 of our series "Glimpses", looking at the story of the Bible in 30 days, from the time of creation through to the time of the fullness of redemption! Lets read together
Exodus 19v1-13: Exactly two months after the Israelites left Egypt, they arrived in the wilderness of Sinai. After breaking camp at Rephidim, they came to the wilderness of Sinai and set up camp there at the base of Mount Sinai. Then Moses climbed the mountain to appear before God. The Lord called to him from the mountain and said, "Give these instructions to the family of Jacob; announce it to the descendants of Israel: ‘You have seen what I did to the Egyptians. You know how I carried you on eagles' wings and brought you to myself.
Now if you will obey me and keep my covenant, you will be my own special treasure from among all the peoples on earth; for all the earth belongs to me. And you will be my kingdom of priests, my holy nation.' This is the message you must give to the people of Israel." So Moses returned from the mountain and called together the elders of the people and told them everything the Lord had commanded him. And all the people responded together, "We will do everything the Lord has commanded." So Moses brought the people's answer back to the Lord. Then the Lord said to Moses, "I will come to you in a thick cloud, Moses, so the people themselves can hear me when I speak with you. Then they will always trust you." Moses told the Lord what the people had said.
Then the Lord told Moses, "Go down and prepare the people for my arrival. Consecrate them today and tomorrow, and have them wash their clothing. Be sure they are ready on the third day, for on that day the Lord will come down on Mount Sinai as all the people watch. Mark off a boundary all around the mountain. Warn the people, ‘Be careful! Do not go up on the mountain or even touch its boundaries. Anyone who touches the mountain will certainly be put to death. No hand may touch the person or animal that crosses the boundary; instead, stone them or shoot them with arrows. They must be put to death.' However, when the ram's horn sounds a long blast, then the people may go up on the mountain.
Israel as a nation
The people of the nation of Israel were living as those promised by God in the covenant to Abraham "I will make you into a great nation" (Genesis 12v1). They have been on a long journey and has we have read, left Egypt under the leadership of Moses.
Mosaic Covenant Details!
This is the fifth covenant between God and humanity and also the second theocratic. The verses we read were only an introduction and the covenant goes on to the end of Exodus 24! The 10 Commandments are a very good summary and the book of Deuteronomy gives the greatest detail of it! This covenant commences with the stipulation in Exodus 19v5 "Now if you will obey me and keep my covenant, you will be my own special treasure from among all the peoples on earth; for all the earth belongs to me." . This covenant was to the nation of Israel in order that those who believed God's promise to Abraham could know how to live rightly before God! For Abraham was declared righteous by God, solely on the basis of his faith in God alone!
Covenant Areas
This Mosaic covenant covered three areas of life:
- The commandments were given so they would know how to correctly relate socially to God (Exodus 20v1-6)
- The judgments were given in order that they could relate socially to each other properly (Exodus 21v1 - 24v11)
- The decrees dictate their religious life so that God could be approached by humanity on His terms (Exodus 24v12 - 31v18).
Of course included in here were the 10 Commandments (Exodus 20) which breaks down into two categories. Firstly identifying the God of Israel as their God, what He has done for them in bringing them out of Egypt and that they were to worship Him alone! These are the Israelites duty to their God! Then, secondly, how they were to live rightly before Him - speaking of how they were to behave to themselves and others! This Mosaic covenant however, was never meant as a replacement for the Abrahamic Covenant! By no means no! It was rather to be seen as an addition to it! It was looking forward to that day when it would be fulfilled when the long promised saviour and messiah would come. All the Covenants point towards this momentous event.
A Special Nation
Under the terms of this covenant Israel would be a special nation if they were obedient to Him and served Him faithfully. The Mosaic Covenant was never a means towards salvation. This covenant speaks of the living God who wants to live with His people! This was a God not made of stone or wood but the great God who desired intimacy with His people and wanted to live amongst them. But of course it had to be on His terms alone or He would not be able to live amongst them. The great and majestic God showing mercy and grace to His people Israel, who were to be a shining light to all nations of the glory of God, until the long promised saviour or messiah came from them. So, we have been through the Edenic, Adamic, Noahic, Abrahamic and now the Mosaic Covenant - the story continues tomorrow! Where do you think we are going next? Thank you!
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Saturday Jul 05, 2025
Glimpses Into The Bible Part 5
Saturday Jul 05, 2025
Saturday Jul 05, 2025
Abrahamic Covenant
G'day and welcome to Partakers! We are now on day 5 of our series "Glimpses", looking at the story of the Bible in 30 days, from the time of creation through to the time of the fullness of redemption! Lets read together:
Genesis 12v1-9 The Lord had said to Abram, "Leave your native country, your relatives, and your father's family, and go to the land that I will show you. I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others. I will bless those who bless you and curse those who treat you with contempt. All the families on earth will be blessed through you." So Abram departed as the Lord had instructed, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he left Haran. He took his wife, Sarai, his nephew Lot, and all his wealth-his livestock and all the people he had taken into his household at Haran-and headed for the land of Canaan. When they arrived in Canaan, Abram traveled through the land as far as Shechem. There he set up camp beside the oak of Moreh. At that time, the area was inhabited by Canaanites. Then the Lord appeared to Abram and said, "I will give this land to your descendants." And Abram built an altar there and dedicated it to the Lord, who had appeared to him. After that, Abram traveled south and set up camp in the hill country, with Bethel to the west and Ai to the east. There he built another altar and dedicated it to the Lord, and he worshiped the Lord. Then Abram continued traveling south by stages toward the Negev.
A Theocratic Covenant
Whilst the Edenic, Adamic and Noahic Covenants were universal covenants, this fourth Covenant is the first covenant which is theocratic, or relating to the rule of God. It is dependent on God alone! A God, who through grace in the "I will..." statements promises to bestow blessings! This covenant with Abraham, or the Abrahamic Covenant, is also the basis for all theocratic covenants to come and provides blessings on three levels:
- Personal level to Abraham: "I will make your name great; and you will be a blessing" (Genesis 12v2)
- National level: "I will make you into a great nation" (Genesis 12v2)
- Universal level: "all peoples on the earth will be blessed through you." (Genesis 12v3)
Initially here in Genesis 12, this covenant can be seen in broad outline, but God later confirms it to Abraham in greater detail as we shall see. The Abrahamic covenant is a link to all of God's activities and programs until the end of time.
Personal Aspects
The personal aspects of the Covenant, particular to Abraham are:
- Abraham will be a father of a great nation (Genesis 12v1)
- Abraham will receive personal blessing (Genesis 12v2)
- Abraham will receive personal honour and reputation (Genesis 12v2)
- He, Abraham, will be a source of blessing to others. (Genesis 12v3)
Universal Aspects
The aspects of the Abrahamic Covenant, pertinent universally are:
- God will bless those who bless Abraham and the nation of Israel which comes from him (Genesis 12v3)
- curses on those who curse Abraham and Israel (Genesis 12v3)
- blessings on all the earth through Abraham (Genesis 12v1-3)
This was the first time God made this promise to Abraham, but not the only time as Abraham received it another 5 times as God gives great detail to it (Genesis 13:14-18, Genesis 15:4-5, 13-18, Genesis 17:1-8, Genesis 18:17-19 and Genesis 22:15-18.
All Change!
Abram, as Abraham was originally known, was weaned away from his native land by God, into a journey of the unknown! It was in this way that Abraham would develop his faith in God and use it like a muscle. In fact, when God reiterated the covenant in Genesis 17 to Abram, God changed his name from Abram meaning "glorious father", to Abraham, which means "father of many nations!" (Genesis 17v5)
Reminded and renewed!
So important was this covenant that God renewed it with:
- Isaac, the "only begotten son" of Abraham twice: Genesis 26:4 and Genesis 26:23-24
- Jacob twice as well Genesis 28:14-15 and Genesis 35:9-12
This covenant gives yet further glimpses of God's essential character of grace and mercy, as well as hinting at somebody who is to come as a messiah or saviour! Can you tell how and where these glimpses are? Tomorrow our story continues! Do you know where to next?
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Friday Jul 04, 2025
Glimpses Into The Bible Part 4
Friday Jul 04, 2025
Friday Jul 04, 2025
Noahic Covenant
G'day and welcome to Partake! We are now on day 4 of our series "Glimpses", looking at the story of the Bible in 30 days, from the time of creation through to the time of the fullness of redemption!
Reading from Genesis 9v1-17: Then God blessed Noah and his sons and told them, "Be fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth. All the animals of the earth, all the birds of the sky, all the small animals that scurry along the ground, and all the fish in the sea will look on you with fear and terror. I have placed them in your power. I have given them to you for food, just as I have given you grain and vegetables. But you must never eat any meat that still has the lifeblood in it. "And I will require the blood of anyone who takes another person's life. If a wild animal kills a person, it must die. And anyone who murders a fellow human must die. If anyone takes a human life, that person's life will also be taken by human hands. For God made human beings in his own image. Now be fruitful and multiply, and repopulate the earth." Then God told Noah and his sons, "I hereby confirm my covenant with you and your descendants, and with all the animals that were on the boat with you-the birds, the livestock, and all the wild animals-every living creature on earth.
Yes, I am confirming my covenant with you. Never again will floodwaters kill all living creatures; never again will a flood destroy the earth." Then God said, "I am giving you a sign of my covenant with you and with all living creatures, for all generations to come. I have placed my rainbow in the clouds. It is the sign of my covenant with you and with all the earth. When I send clouds over the earth, the rainbow will appear in the clouds, and I will remember my covenant with you and with all living creatures. Never again will the floodwaters destroy all life. When I see the rainbow in the clouds, I will remember the eternal covenant between God and every living creature on earth." Then God said to Noah, "Yes, this rainbow is the sign of the covenant I am confirming with all the creatures on earth."
This, the Noahic Covenant, is the third covenant between God and man given after the flood had wiped out earth's population, apart from Noah and his family. The increase of humanity's wickedness and disobedience against God, was so great that God repented of His decision to create humanity. Genesis 6v6 "So the Lord was sorry he had ever made them and put them on the earth. It broke his heart." As a result of humanity's sin, the whole earth was to be destroyed! But, one man and his family was found to be in fellowship with God - Noah! Because they are in fellowship with each other (Genesis 6v9), God gives Noah a plan of rescue! After the rain and flood, God makes another covenant with humanity and also all note, all living creatures of the earth - through Noah! Wow! The terms of the Noahic covenant are
- Populate the earth is reaffirmed (Genesis 9v1).
- Subjection of the animals to humans is reaffirmed (Genesis 9v2).
- Humans are allowed to eat animal flesh but are to refrain from drinking/eating the blood (Genesis 9vv3, 4)
- Human life's sanctity is established. (Genesis 9vv5, 6).
- God promises to never to destroy the earth again by flood (Genesis 9v11).
- The covenant is a binding Covenant for all time (9v12) and with all creatures on earth!
- The rainbow is given as a symbol of this covenant and its existence (Genesis 9v12-17)
- God will sustain all life on earth(Genesis 9v17)
Here again, God gives humanity the opportunity to live rightly with Him. Whereas before, there was the hint of the sacrifice, about which Martin Luther, commenting on this story, wrote: Here there is mentioned for the first time the burnt offering of Noah, which he made according to the example of his pious ancestors So even before Noah, there must have been some type of sacrifice made to God although we don't know what kind they were! Sacrifices, in order to somehow appease God, who had received painful hurt inflicted by human disobedience.
But this story, and the Covenant, while telling about God's rightful rule of Judge also shows his desire for intimacy with humanity. The Almighty God wants to have fellowship with humanity, but it has to be on God's terms. God has never broken His promise or covenant with humanity, but both times so far, humanity has contravened the covenant by actively disobeying God and therefore breaking the Covenant made - whether the Edenic or Adamic! God in saving Noah, shows also hints of a God of grace!
What God wants humanity to do, He will provide the means in which for them to do it! He is concerned for every aspect of humanity's life, from birth to death and the food they eat. As a symbol of this covenant, there are to be rainbows! This covenant as we have seen is a binding contract between humanity and God! But the story doesn't end there - it continues tomorrow with God revealing just a bit more of those things we have seen glimpses of: true fellowship between God and humanity being restored through grace and sacrifice.
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Thursday Jul 03, 2025
Glimpses Into The Bible Part 3
Thursday Jul 03, 2025
Thursday Jul 03, 2025
Adamic Covenant
G'day and welcome to Partakers! We are now on day 3 of our series "Glimpses", looking at the story of the Bible in 30 days, from the time of creation through to the time of the fullness of redemption!
Reading from Genesis 3v14-21 Then the Lord God said to the serpent, "Because you have done this, you are cursed more than all animals, domestic and wild. You will crawl on your belly, groveling in the dust as long as you live. And I will cause hostility between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He will strike your head, and you will strike his heel." Then he said to the woman, "I will sharpen the pain of your pregnancy, and in pain you will give birth. And you will desire to control your husband, but he will rule over you." And to the man he said, "Since you listened to your wife and ate from the tree whose fruit I commanded you not to eat, the ground is cursed because of you. All your life you will struggle to scratch a living from it. It will grow thorns and thistles for you, though you will eat of its grains. By the sweat of your brow will you have food to eat until you return to the ground from which you were made. For you were made from dust, and to dust you will return." Then the man-Adam-named his wife Eve, because she would be the mother of all who live. And the Lord God made clothing from animal skins for Adam and his wife.
Disaster and Curse!
After the blessing of the Edenic Covenant between God and humanity, disaster and curse strike! God walked with Adam and Eve and enjoyed fellowship together. However as we read in Genesis 3v1-13, humanity broke their part of the covenant made with God! What was once idyllic is now chaos! They failed to trust God at His word and actively disobeyed Him. Under the terms of the Edenic Covenant, they had to be punished. Where they once trusted God implicitly and explicitly, now was guilt to be found and this is evidenced in that they endeavoured to hide from God. Irenaeus, writes: When Adam fell, he lost the likeness, but the image remained fully intact. Humanity as humanity was still complete, but the good and holy being was spoiled. Augustine, another of the early Church Fathers developed this further: Human nature was certainly originally created blameless and without any fault; but the human nature by which each one of us is now born of Adam requires a physician, because it is not healthy. All the good things, which it has by its conception, life, senses, and mind, it has from God... But the weakness which darkens and disables these good natural qualities, as a result of which that nature needs enlightenment and healing, did not come from the blameless maker but from original sin, which was committed by free will. For this reason our guilty nature is liable to a just penalty.
Adamic Covenant
This second covenant between God and humanity, is also titled the covenant with all of mankind, as it lays down the terms and conditions which hold until sin's curse is lifted (Isaiah 11v6-10; Romans 8v18-23). As elucidated by Irenaeus and Augustine, because of Adam's sin, we are all born under the curse of sin. The terms and conditions of this covenant include:
- The snake, or Satan, although enjoying limited & temporal success (Genesis 3v15), will ultimately be judged (Genesis 3v15).
- The first hint or notion of a saviour or messiah is given in Genesis 3v15
- Childbirth now involves pain and the woman is made subject to her husband (Genesis 3v16)
- The ground is cursed and weeds will grow amongst the food (Genesis 3vv17 - 19)
- Physical changes occur and now people sweat when they work (Genesis 3v19)
- Because of their sin and disobedience, people die spiritually and inevitably physically. (Genesis 3v19).
So the Edenic Covenant was broken by humanity, and God puts in place a new covenant! But this Adamic covenant, with the hint of a promise attached that one day true fellowship between God and humanity will be restored in full and out of death, new life will come. So the story continues! Tomorrow we look at another step in the story.
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Wednesday Jul 02, 2025
Glimpses Into The Bible Part 2
Wednesday Jul 02, 2025
Wednesday Jul 02, 2025
Edenic Covenant
G'day and welcome to Partake! We are now on day 2 of our series "Glimpses", looking at the story of the Bible in 30 days, from the time of creation through to the time of the fullness of redemption!
Genesis 1v27-31 So God created human beings in his own image.In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. Then God blessed them and said, "Be fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth and govern it. Reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, and all the animals that scurry along the ground." Then God said, "Look! I have given you every seed-bearing plant throughout the earth and all the fruit trees for your food. And I have given every green plant as food for all the wild animals, the birds in the sky, and the small animals that scurry along the ground-everything that has life." And that is what happened. Then God looked over all he had made, and he saw that it was very good! And evening passed and morning came, marking the sixth day.
Genesis 2v15-17. The Lord God placed the man in the Garden of Eden to tend and watch over it. But the Lord God warned him, "You may freely eat the fruit of every tree in the garden- except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. If you eat its fruit, you are sure to die." Irenaeus, one of the Church Fathers, said this about humanity being made in the image of God: "The image was the human's natural resemblance to God, the power of reason and will. The likeness was a divine gift added to basic human nature. This likeness consisted of the moral qualities of God, whereas the image involved the natural attributes of God." Origen, another of the Church Fathers, goes further and commenting on Genesis 1v26-27, says "In v26, while the word ‘image' is repeated in v27, the word ‘likeness' is not. This indicates that in his first creation man received the dignity of the image of God, but fulfilment of the likeness is reserved for the final consummation, that is, the he himself should obtain it by his own effort, through the imitation of God. The possibility of perfection given to him at the beginning by the dignity of the image, and then in the end, through the fulfilment of his works, should bring to perfect consummation the likeness of God." God spoke with His creation and gave what is the first covenant between God and humanity. Humanity is commanded in this Edenic Covenant to:
- Populate the earth (Genesis 1v28)
- Subjugate the earth (Genesis 1v28)
- Exercise dominion over animals (Genesis 1v28)
- Tend and enjoy the garden of Eden (Genesis 1v29; 2v15)
- Refrain from eating the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (Genesis 2v16-17).
So in essence, humanity, being the pinnacle of God's creation, was to populate the planet, enjoy all of creation and to exercise concern and care over it: the environment, animals, plants etc. One thing they were not to do was to eat "the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil." Yet some time after they did do just that! When they ate the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, the Edenic Covenant was terminated, because they had broken their side of the Covenant. The consequence of this resulted in their spiritual and physical deaths. This failure, required God to make a new covenant with Adam and we will look at that next time!
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Tuesday Jul 01, 2025
Glimpses Into The Bible Part 1
Tuesday Jul 01, 2025
Tuesday Jul 01, 2025
Introduction
The Bible as you may or may not know is the story of God dealing with His creation. From the earth's beginnings there is a story portrayed in the Bible of the interaction between God and people. The Bible is broken into two sections: the Old Testament which contains 39 books and the New Testament which contains 27 books. The God of the Old Testament is the same God as that in the New Testament. It may surprise some people, but Jesus never actually makes an appearance in the Old Testament!
However, there is the concept of some sort of saviour or messianic figure throughout. As Christians, we believe that this Messiah or Saviour is Jesus Christ. In this series, we will glimpse at the story of God's interaction with people from the beginnings to the end - the entire history of the world - beginning to end.
I think one of the best ways to summarise the Old Testament in 7 quick studies, is to look at the covenants or promises that God made with certain people through history. Then we will go to look at the four Gospels or writings about Jesus Christ before doing the majority of this series, looking at the man Jesus Christ. How and why He is the man of all history! What were or are Covenants in a biblical sense?
Covenants were common in all kinds of life, and not just between God and humanity. For instance where a powerful nation had taken over a weaker nation, a covenant was in place to give benefits from the powerful nation to the weaker nation, such as protection as well as sanctions if the weaker nation rebelled. There were covenants between equal partners in deals similar to contracts of law today. The Covenants we shall look at from the Old Testament, regarding the relationship between God and humanity, had several things about them.
- God always took the initiative - sometimes by surprise as in with Abraham or in Noah's case, through his obedience.
- God has promised certain commitments and has given His solemn promise to fulfil His end of the bargain.
- God waits for a response from humanity. God does not coerce or force but waits for humanity to take the responsibility of replying and acquiescing to God's covenantal promises.
Through all these Covenants we see a God who is willing to interact with His creation and bless it. When first century Christians such as Paul, Peter and John checked all the events surrounding the life of Jesus, they searched their Scriptures (our Old Testament). It was as the Holy Spirit illuminated their minds, that they wrote down and passed on the whole gamut of Old Testament promise which was fulfilled in God's Messiah and the world's hope: Jesus Christ and Him alone. That is why it is important for us as twenty-first century Christian Disciples to read our Old Testament as well as the New Testament. For by reading the Old Testament, new light may be shed on our own understanding of the New Testament. So starting tomorrow, we look at the Edenic Covenant from Genesis 2v15-17!
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Thursday Oct 30, 2014
Glimpses 30
Thursday Oct 30, 2014
Thursday Oct 30, 2014
King Jesus Returns
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G'day and welcome to Partake! We are now on day 30 of our series "Glimpses", looking at the story of the Bible in 30 days - from the time of creation through to the time of the fullness of redemption! Today we conclude this series, looking at when, as King Jesus Himself promised, that He would "come again". For believers in Jesus Christ, living almost 2000 years after Jesus spoke these words in Revelation 22v7, "Behold, I am coming soon", this is their hope.When will King Jesus come?
Jesus frequently said during his earthly life, things like "I will come back and take you to be with me" (John 14v3). The angels after Jesus' ascension said to the disciples "Jesus will come back the same way He went to heaven" (Acts 1v11). When will this occur? No-one knows (Matthew 24v36) but we do know it will be unexpected (1 Thessalonians 5v1-3), that there will be events preceding His coming (Matthew 24) and occur after the gospel has been preached in the whole world (Matthew 24v14). What we also know is that believers are to be alert, ready, waiting, watching and working for God's kingdom (Matthew 24v42-44). His people, His church of all believers, are to be alert, self-controlled and encouraging each other (1 Thessalonians 5v6-8, 11)!Why will King Jesus return?
- He will come to judge the antichrist and his followers (Revelation 16v12-16, 19v11-16)! Jesus will come to bind Satan (Revelation 20v1-3).
- He will come to judge all of humanity (Matthew 25v31-46; Joel 3v11-17)
- Finally, Jesus Christ will come and set up an earthly kingdom for 1,000 years (Revelation 20v2-7).
Two Different Views
Unsurprisingly there are many different views about this event, but there are two main schools of thought. They are Amillenialism & Premillenialism. Amillenial View - Primarily a figurative/spiritual interpretation. This view sees the Old Testament promises to Israel are being fulfilled in the church. The Millennium is the reign of Christ in the Church - the new Israel. The Church is already experiencing tribulation. Premillenial View - Christ will return to set up His kingdom on earth for 1000 years (Revelation 19v1-7). God promises to Israel of restoration, a future king and temple will await fulfilment. God has a separate programme for the Church. His coming is when Jesus Christ returns to take His people to be with Him (1 Thessalonians 4v16). The dead in Christ are raised and the living are changed (1 Corinthians 15v51-54) His coming to Earth will be to the Mount of Olives (Zechariah 14v4; Acts 1v11) with power and glory (Matthew 24v30) and everyone will see Him.What does Church History say?
The view of the church for the first 200 years was that of a literal return of Jesus Christ, 1000 years after the coming of the Holy Spirit. Early church leaders such as Papias, Irenaeus and Justin Martyr taught this, and these men were not far removed from the Apostle John. Origen promoted the figurative (spiritual) method of interpretation and Augustine developed an Amillenial view, identifying the Church with the fulfilment of the Old Testament promises to Israel and this became official Roman Catholic doctrine. Many scholars later returned to the Premillenial (literal) view after the Reformation.Resurrection!
King Jesus will come suddenly, bringing destruction while people are saying ‘peace and safety' (1 Thessalonians 5v1-3). The bodily resurrection of the dead, both believers and unbelievers, is clearly taught in the Bible (John 5v28-29; Acts 24v15). Jesus' own resurrection is the guarantee of the resurrection of believers (1 Corinthians 15v20-22) At their resurrection, believers will have bodies changed into those like Jesus' glorious body (1 Corinthians 15v49; Philippians 3v21; 1 John 3v2), that wont be made of flesh and blood (1 Corinthians 15v50ff) and not just partly spiritual (Luke 24v39; 1 Corinthians 15v42, 53)! For those who are unbelievers, they will be resurrected (John 5v28-29) and cast into the lake of fire! What is the timing of these two resurrections? The first Resurrection will occur when Jesus Christ comes in the air to take his believers and followers (1 Corinthians 15v23; 1 Thessalonians 4v16). The second Resurrection, will be of the unsaved and unbelievers (Revelation 20v5, 11-13). Both believers and unbelievers will face judgement!Judgment Comes!
There is a certainty of judgment for all people and King Jesus will judge the whole world with justice and mercy (Acts 17v31). Every human who has ever lived is destined to die once and after that to face judgment (Hebrews 9v27). Who is the Judge? - God is the judge of all the earth (Hebrews 12v23) and God the Father has given all judgment to Jesus Christ, God the Son (John 5v22-27) Judgment of believers: Believers and followers of King Jesus will not be judged for their sin, because that has been judged (Isaiah 53v4-6; 1 Peter 2v24) when they started believing in Jesus as the Messiah and King! They will be judged for their works and have to give an account to God (Romans 14v10) of what they have done with what they were given (2 Corinthians 5v10). The quality of work will be tested (1 Corinthians 3v11-15) and motives will be exposed - either things were done for God's glory (1 Corinthians 4v4-5) or for their own glory. Rewards may be gained or lost (1 Corinthians 3v14-15) and includes various crowns! There is the incorruptible crown (1 Corinthians 9v25), the crown of glory (1 Peter 5v4) the crown of righteousness (2 Timothy 4v8) the crown of rejoicing (1 Thessalonians 2v19) and finally the crown of life (James 1v12) Judgment of unbelievers: These people will stand before The Great White Throne of Judgment (Revelation 20v11-15) and as they didn't respond to Jesus' call of salvation, they will be cast into the lake of fire with satan and his angels (Revelation 20v15; Matthew 25v41). This punishment is everlasting (Matthew 25v46).Heaven and Hell
Then there is talk of two places: heaven and hell. What are heaven and hell like? Both are physical places where every person will be in one or the other. It is either heaven or hell. King Jesus spoke of the reality of a literal hell more than anybody else!1. Hell
Characteristics- Everlasting fire and punishment (Matthew 25v41-46)
- Constant and outer darkness (Matthew 8v12)
- Everlasting destruction (2 Thessalonians 1v9)
- Lakes of fire (Revelation 19v20)
2. Heaven
As opposed to this place of Hell, there is Heaven! Characteristic of heaven will be: Joy (Luke 15v7-10), Rest (Revelation 14v13), Peace (Luke 16v19-25), Righteousness (2 Peter 3v12), Service (Revelation 7v15), Reward (Matthew 5v11-12), Inheritance (1 Peter 1v4), Glory (Romans 8v17-18)! Martin Luther exclaimed that heaven is "full of laughter!" This is prepared for all believers in Jesus Christ and therefore have their names recorded in the Book of Life (Malachi 3v16-18; Philippians 4v3) as they will be declared righteous (Matthew 5v20), obedient (Revelation 22v14) and holy (Revelation 19v8) Heaven is described as a House (John 14v2), a Kingdom (Matthew 25v34) a Paradise (2 Corinthians 12v2-4) and a Holy City (Revelation 21v2) There will be a new heaven and a new earth to replace the old heaven and old earth! This is the fullness of redemption, the whole story of the Bible that we have been looking at in this series. Do you know where you stand? Are you a believer or unbeliever?What now?
If you are not yet a believer, you can respond to King Jesus today and then you will not be without an excuse when it comes your time to face Him as your judge! He is ready and willing to take you as His own - right now. If you want to become a Christian believer right now, there are three simple steps to follow. Firstly, admit that you have done wrong against God and His ways. Secondly, believe and trust in Jesus. Call on Him, receive, trust, obey and worship Him, recognizing Him for who He is and what He has done. Lastly, confess Jesus as your Lord and Saviour. Once sin has been confessed, and Jesus is believed in and trusted as Saviour, then you are a Christian believer. Now you are ready as Peter writes in the Bible, "to grow in grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ" (2 Peter 3:18). Welcome to the family of God. Let us know if you have taken this step! Thank you!Right mouse click here to download as a MP3 audio file
