Significance of Israel's Covenant in God's Plan of Salvation
God's plan of salvation, as revealed in the biblical narrative, is deeply intertwined with the covenants He established with Israel. A covenant, in biblical terms, is a formal agreement or contract between two parties, often involving solemn promises and obligations [9]. In the Old Testament, the Hebrew word berith signifies "a cutting," referencing the ancient practice of cutting animals in two and passing between the parts to ratify a covenant [8, 9].
The covenant with Abraham is foundational, promising that through his "seed," God would bring salvation to Israel [1, 2]. This promise was renewed with Isaac and Jacob, emphasizing a lineage through whom God's redemptive purposes would unfold [2]. The covenant made with Israel at Sinai, also known as the Horeb covenant, established a divine constitution with promises conditioned on obedience [10]. This covenant included blessings for faithfulness and curses for disobedience [10]. God's unfailing love and faithfulness are central to this covenant relationship with Israel [14].
Salvation itself is understood as deliverance from evil or danger, and in the New Testament, it specifically refers to deliverance from the guilt and pollution of sin through Jesus Christ [3]. The Old Testament frequently predicts the salvation of Israel [4, 7], with passages like Psalm 53:6 expressing a longing for Israel's salvation to come from Zion [5]. Jeremiah 3:23 further emphasizes that salvation for Israel comes solely from the Lord [6].
The prophets also foretold a "new covenant" that would renew God's relationship with His people [2]. Jeremiah 31:31-34 speaks of this new covenant, which the author of Hebrews interprets as superior to the first covenant made at Sinai [11, 12]. The first covenant was not "faultless" and did not fully address human weaknesses, indicating it was not the ultimate fulfillment of God's plan [11]. This new covenant, realized through Jesus Christ's redemptive mission, includes striking promises [11, 12]. Christ is identified as the substance, mediator, and messenger of this covenant, which is confirmed and ratified by His blood [2].
While salvation was promised to Israel, the prophetic tradition also anticipated salvation for the Gentiles [4]. Isaiah predicted that the coming Kingdom of God would bring salvation to all nations, and that Israel's role was to bring glory to God by revealing His light to the nations [13]. The New Testament indicates that salvation came to the Gentiles as part of God's broader plan [4].
Sources
- Acts “From this man’s seed, God has brought salvation to Israel according to his promise, -- Acts 13:23”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Covenant, The — Christ, the substance of -- Isa 42:6; 49:8. Christ, the Mediator of -- Heb 8:6; 9:15; 12:24. Christ, the Messenger of -- Mal 3:1. Made with Abraham. -- Ge 15:7-18; 17:2-14; Lu 1:72-75; Ac 3:25; Ga 3:16. Isaac. -- Ge 17:19,21; 26:3,4. Jacob. -- Ge 28:13,14; 1Ch 16:16,17. Israel. -- Ex 6:4; Ac 3:25. David. -- 2Sa 23:5; Ps 89:3,4. Renewed under the gospel -- Jer 31:31-33; Ro 11:27; Heb 8:8-10,13. Fulfilled in Christ -- Lu 1:68-79. Confirmed in Christ -- Ga 3:17. Ratified by the blood of Christ -- Heb 9:11-14,16-23. Is a covenant of peace -- Isa 54:9,10; ”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Salvation — This word is used of the deliverance of the Israelites from the Egyptians (Ex. 14:13), and of deliverance generally from evil or danger. In the New Testament it is specially used with reference to the great deliverance from the guilt and the pollution of sin wrought out by Jesus Christ, "the great salvation" (Heb. 2:3). (See [546]REDEMPTION; [547]REGENERATION.)”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Salvation — Is of God -- Ps 3:8; 37:39; Jer 3:23. Is of the purpose of God -- 2Ti 1:9. Is of the appointment of God -- 1Th 5:9. God is willing to give -- 1Ti 2:4. Is by Christ -- Isa 63:9; Eph 5:23. Is by Christ alone -- Isa 45:21,22; 59:16; Ac 4:12. Announced after the fall -- Ge 3:15. Of Israel, predicted -- Isa 35:4; 45:17; Zec 9:16; Ro 11:26. Of the Gentiles, predicted -- Isa 45:22; 49:6; 52:10. Revealed in the gospel -- Eph 1:13; 2Ti 1:10. Came to the Gentiles through the fall of the Jews -- Ro 11:11. Christ The Captain of. -- Heb 2:10. The Author of. -- Heb 5:9”
- Psalms “Oh that the salvation of Israel would come out of Zion! When God brings back his people from captivity, then Jacob shall rejoice, and Israel shall be glad. -- Psalms 53:6”
- King James Version “[KJV] Jeremiah 3:23 — Truly in vain is salvation hoped for from the hills, and from the multitude of mountains: truly in the LORD our God is the salvation of Israel.”
- Isaiah “Israel will be saved by Yahweh with an everlasting salvation. You will not be disappointed nor confounded to ages everlasting. -- Isaiah 45:17”
- Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Covenant — The Heb. berith means primarily "a cutting," with reference to the custom of cutting or dividing animals in two and passing between the parts in ratifying a covenant. (Genesis 15; Jeremiah 34:18,19) In the New Testament the corresponding word is diathece (diatheke), which is frequently translated testament in the Authorized Version. In its biblical meaning two parties the word is used-- + Of a covenant between God and man; e.g. God covenanted with Noah, after the flood, that a like judgment should not be repeated. It is not precisely like a covenant between”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Covenant — A contract or agreement between two parties. In the Old Testament the Hebrew word berith is always thus translated. Berith is derived from a root which means "to cut," and hence a covenant is a "cutting," with reference to the cutting or dividing of animals into two parts, and the contracting parties passing between them, in making a covenant (Gen. 15; Jer. 34:18, 19). The corresponding word in the New Testament Greek is diatheke, which is, however, rendered "testament" generally in the Authorized Version. It ought to be rendered, just as the word berith o”
- Brown-Driver-Briggs “[BDB H1285] berith (part 3/6) — with Israel at Sinai = Horeb, with a covenant sacrifice Exod 19:5; 24:7-8, (E) 34:10, 27, 28 (J) 31:16; Lev 2:13 (P) 24:8; 26:9, 15, 25, 44, 45 (H) Deut 4:13; renewed in plains of Moab Deuteronomy 28:69; with blessings and curses 29:20; frequently referred to in other books 2Chr 34:32; Psa 25:10; 44:18; 50:5; 50:16; 74:20; 78:10; 78:37; 103:18; 106:45; 111:5; 111:9; Isa 56:4, 6; Jer 1:2-3, 6, 8, 10; 14:21; 22:9; 31:32; Ezek 16:8, 59, 60; 44:7; Dan 9:4; 11:28, 30, 32; Hosea 6:7; 8:1; Zech 9:11; 11:10; a divine constitution given to Israel with promises on conditi”
- Hebrews (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Hebrews 8:7: 8:7-13 The author quotes Jer 31:31-34, an Old Testament prophecy concerning the new covenant that includes a number of striking promises. Establishing the superiority of the new covenant lays a foundation for the argument in Heb 9:1–10:18 that the Son’s offering under the new covenant was superior to the offerings of the old covenant. 8:7 The first covenant, made at Sinai, was not faultless. It was not the end of God’s plan, because it didn’t solve human weaknesses (see 7:11-28; 8:9).”
- Jeremiah (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Jeremiah 31:31: 31:31 The day of the new covenant was realized when Jesus Christ accomplished his redemptive mission on earth (see Heb 8:8-12).”
- Luke (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Luke 2:32: 2:32 The prophet Isaiah predicted that the coming Kingdom of God would bring salvation to all the nations (Isa 42:6-7; 49:6). • the glory of your people Israel! This quote from Isa 46:13 says that God’s salvation will bring glory to Israel. Israel’s role in the Old Testament was to bring glory to God by revealing God’s light to the nations.”
- Proverbs (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Proverbs 16:6: 16:6 God’s unfailing love and faithfulness are foundational in his covenant relationship with Israel (see Exod 15:13; 34:6-7; Num 14:18-19; Deut 7:9-11).”