Article Review
God’s covenant between Abraham and David are often speculated as conditional or unconditional. Given that there was a form of agreement between God and Abraham or David, the promise of land was considered conditional. God speculated that Abrahamic or Davidic lineage would be blessed through getting future land depending on the loyalty of the people to God. This paper will examine both Davidic and Abrahamic covenants made by God and the land grants that go hand in hand with these covenants.
The covenant between God and Abraham is outlined in Genesis 15 and 17 in that the term ‘covenant’ appears on these two chapters. Despite the fact that both chapters represent agreements between God and Abraham, the two chapters record two different incidences. In Genesis 15: 9-21, Abraham made an animal sacrifice to God as a way of showing allegiance to God. Abraham made the animal sacrifice to God so that Abraham and his descendants would inherit the land of Canaan. This shows that Abraham’s first covenant with God was conditional in that he had to make an animal sacrifice to God as part of sealing the covenant where Abraham’s descendant would inherit the land in Canaan. On the other hand, Genesis 17 records Moses covenant that was symbolized through circumcision. Given that God ordered Moses to circumcise himself regardless of his old age, God tested Abraham’s loyalty through making him circumcise himself. The article speculates that cutting off the foreskin symbolized that those who did not honor God’s covenant would be ‘cut off’ from his kingdom. This shows that God’s covenant with Abraham was conditional.
On the other hand, the covenant between God and David was regarding his son, Solomon. Though David is known for lusting on a woman who was married, God made a covenant with him. In the covenant, God outline that David’s son, Solomon, would build the House of God. Also, God blessed David through Samuel who had halted David’s idea of building a temple for God. In addition, God promised David that he would be acknowledged as one of the “greatest and successful kings”. God also promised to bless Davidic lineage as part of their covenant. This shows that David’s covenant would be both conditional and unconditional in that God blessed him without expecting anything from him. However, God did not want David to build the temple but Solomon. Thus, one can conclude that the covenant between David and God was conditional.
Bibliography
Pratt, Richard. "God of Covenant." thirdmill.org: Biblical Education. For the World. For Free.. http://thirdmill.org
