“And the foreigners who join themselves to the LORD, to minister to him, to love the name of the LORD, and to be his servants, every one who keeps the sabbath, and does not profane it, and holds fast my covenant — these I will bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer; their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be accepted on my altar; for my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples” (Isaiah 56:6-7, RSV).

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Jeremiah states that the new covenant is to be made with “the house of Israel” (Jeremiah 31:33). Does this mean, then, that only the literal seed of Abraham, Jews by blood and birth, are to receive the covenant promises?

No! In fact, that was not even true in Old Testament times. That the Hebrew nation, as a whole, had been given the covenant promises is, of course, correct. Yet, it was not done in exclusion to anyone else. On the contrary, all, Jew or Gentile, were invited to partake of the promises, but they had to agree to enter into that covenant. It is certainly no different today.

Read the above texts in Isaiah. What conditions do they place on those who want to serve the Lord? Is there really any difference in what God asked them and what He asks of us today? Explain your answer.

Though the new covenant is called “better” (see Wednesday’s study), there really is no difference in the basic elements that make up both the old and new covenant. It is the same God, who offers salvation the same way, by grace (Exodus 34:6, Romans 3:24); it is the same God who seeks a people who will by faith claim His promises of forgiveness (Jeremiah 31:34, Hebrews 8:12); it is the same God who seeks to write the law into the hearts of those who will follow Him in a faith relationship (Jeremiah 31:33, Hebrews 8:10), whether they be Jew or Gentile.

In the New Testament, the Jews, responding to the election of grace, received Jesus Christ and His gospel. For a time they were the heart of the church, the “remnant, chosen by grace” (Romans 11:5, RSV) in contrast to those who were “hardened” (Romans 11:7, RSV). At the same time, the Gentiles, who formerly did not believe, accepted the gospel and were grafted into God’s true people, made up of believers, no matter to which people or race they belonged (Romans 11:13-24). So the Gentiles “at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise” (Ephesians 2:12, RSV) were brought near in the blood of Christ. Christ is mediating the “new covenant” (Hebrews 9:15, RSV) for all believers, regardless of nationality or race.

<–Monday Wednesday–>

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This quarter “The Week at a Glance” shows God’s covenant is spoken of mostly. God has made his promises (covenant) with many people in the Bible and continues to give us promises for today, hence for a theme hymn I find that I wish to keep standing on the Promises that God has given to us all –
Hymn 518 – Standing on the Promises as 
My Hope Is Built on Nothing Less – Hymn 522.

The covenant of grace God has with humanity is sung in 
Hymn 657 – O God From Whom Mankind.

The new heart that each person wishes to receive is asked and given in 
Hymn 323 – O for a Heart to Praise My God! As we see in Monday’s study time.

On Tuesday, the study concludes with the Gentiles being “brought near in the blood of Christ”. There truly is 
Power in the Blood – Hymn 294

Wednesday commences with forgiveness as in 
Hymn 299 – Forgive Our Sins As We Forgive, followed by surrendering all – 
Hymn 309 – I Surrender All. In Hebrew 4:2 we read that the people failed to grasp the covenant in faith. Please sing 
Hymn 517 – My Faith Looks Up to Thee, or 
Hymn 533 – O for a Faith and 
Hymn 523 – My Faith Has Found a Resting Place. It is then that we can encourage others 
O Brother, Be Faithful – Hymn 602. We rely on “our High Priest in the heavenly sanctuary ministering on our behalf (Hebrews 7:25)” as in 
Hymn 179 – The Wonders of Redeeming Love. This last hymn continues on into Thursday’s study where we see salvation clearly in Jesus: 
Hymn 646 – To the Name That Brings Salvation and 
Hymn 339 – God Is My Strong Salvation. Once again we find there is 
Power in the Blood – Hymn 294.

What a wonderful Redeemer we have: 
Hymn 343 – I Will Sing of My Redeemer (Friday).

To learn unknown hymns, you will find the accompaniment music for each one at: https://sdahymnals.com/Hymnal/

Another great resource is for when there is a hymn you wish to sing, but can’t find it in your hymnal. Go to https://www.sdahymnal.org and in the search bar type a special word in that is in the hymn. I am sure you will be amazed at the help you will be given.

2 Timothy 2:15 KJV – “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

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Key Thought: The new covenant is a greater, more complete, and better revelation of the plan of redemption. It is based on a faith that manifests itself in obedience to a law written in our hearts.
June 5, 2021

1. Have a volunteer read Jeremiah 31:31-34.

1. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the most important point is in this passage.
2. What parallels exist between the old and new covenants?
3. Personal Application:: How was the second covenant better? Could there be a danger in taking grace for granted? Why or why not? Share your thoughts.
4. Case Study: One of your relatives states, “What does it mean to have the law written within our hearts? Does that mean it is the law of love Jesus was talking about replacing the Ten Commandments?” How would you respond to your friend?

2. Have a volunteer read Hosea 2:18-20.

1. Ask class members to share a thought on what the most important point in this text is.
2. What imagery is used here ny God about the nature of the covenant?
3. Personal Application: Because we know more revealed through Jesus, shouldn’t we be even more faithful than Israel was? Share your thoughts.
4. Case Study: One of your friends states, “I want a new heart. I want the law written in my heart – but I don’t know how to get it.” How would you respond to your friend?

3. Have a volunteer read Isaiah 56:6,7.

1. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the main idea of this text is.
2. What were the conditions Isaiah placed on those who wanted to serve the Lord?
3. Personal Application: What is the advantage of having the law in our hearts rather than on tables of stone? Which one is easier to forget? Which one is easier to obey? Share your thoughts.
4. Case Study: One of your relatives states: “Why does God keep entering into covenant relationships with mankind? We keep breaking them. We keep sinning and rebelling. Why doesn’t God just give up on us?“ How would you respond to your relative?

4. Have a volunteer read Hebrews 8:7,8 ; 10:4..

1. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the main idea of this text is.
2. What was wrong with the Old Covenant? Did God make a bad agreement?
3. Personal Application: What relationship does the New Covenant have to do with the Heavenly Sanctuary?” Share your thoughts.
4. Case Study: Think of one person who needs to hear a message from this week’s lesson. Tell the class what you plan to do this week to share with them.

(Truth that is not lived, that is not imparted, loses its life-giving power, its healing virtue. Its blessings can be retained only as it is shared.”Ministry of Healing, p. 148).

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My mom and dad were decent people and my childhood, compared to some, a walk in the park. Nevertheless there were issues. Nothing so big it couldn’t be talked through, but that was the rub—we didn’t. It just wasn’t part of our family culture to repair conflict. We escalated, boiled over, yelled, stormed, stomped out, and then buried it. Marriage counselors say every escalation alerts us to “a conversation we need to have.” My parents and I, particularly my dad and I, needed to have some conversations.

The lack of resolution and repair gave birth to a seed of bitterness in my heart. I distinctly remember Dad walking through the door after work to greet each of us with a puckered-up, somewhat-wet kiss. I’d wipe it off, disgusted. The resentment had an enduring, inflexible quality, like a piece of furniture so heavy it becomes a permanent fixture. I left for college at 18, coming home only briefly for vacations. Dad and I were like aquatic trees, distant above the surface, but tangled together at the roots under the murky water.

Then I experienced a change of heart. Some of it may have been the time away from home; it’s easier to forgive from a distance. But a large part of my change of heart was spiritual. I came to understand God’s forgiveness toward me, and the sheer relief of that lifted burden made protective anger unnecessary. My own shame and guilt uprooted took with them any guilt and shame I would impose on another. Forgiving Dad happened effortlessly and nearly unconsciously. No more wiped-off kisses. No more distance. Only tender love.

Some say don’t forgive unless the person apologizes. I disagree. Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, they know not what they do.” The outflow of my forgiveness for others uses the same door as the inflow of God’s forgiveness for me. The door opens, and grace comes and goes freely. Now, that doesn’t eliminate accountability. Justice and forgiveness can exist side by side. But that’s a discussion for another time. Let’s just soak for a few minutes in the fact that God’s grace can dissolve long-standing heart-tensions.

Jesus told us to forgive if we have anything against anyone. Are there people in your life you haven’t forgiven? Is it because you’ve confused forgiveness with trust and reconciliation? Or have you seen forgiveness as incompatible with accountability? Remove these stumbling blocks and see forgiveness as a simple choice to release resentment toward the other. And then, forgive.

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At the time when the southern kingdom of Judah was about to end and the people taken into Babylonian captivity, God announced through His prophet Jeremiah the “new covenant.” This is the first time this notion is expressed in the Bible. However, when the 10-tribe northern kingdom of Israel was about to be destroyed (some one hundred fifty years before the time of Jeremiah), the idea of another covenant was mentioned again, this time by Hosea (Hosea 2:18-20).

Read Hosea 2:18-20. Notice the parallel between what the Lord says there to His people with what He said in Jeremiah 31:31-34. What common imagery is used, and, again, what does it say about the basic meaning and nature of the covenant?

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At moments in history when God’s plans for His covenant people were hampered by their rebellion and unbelief, He sent prophets to proclaim that the covenant history with His faithful had not come to an end. No matter how unfaithful the people might have been, no matter the apostasy, rebellion, and disobedience among them, the Lord still proclaims His willingness to enter into a covenant relationship with all who are willing to repent, to obey, and to claim His promises.

Look up the following texts. Though they do not specifically mention a new covenant, what elements are found in them that reflect the principles behind the new covenant?

Ezekiel 11:19

Ezekiel 18:31

Ezekiel 36:26

The Lord will provide “a heart to know that I am the LORD” (Jeremiah 24:7, RSV). He will “take the stony heart out of their flesh and give them a heart of flesh” (Ezekiel 11:19, RSV), and will give “a new heart” and “a new spirit” ( Ezekiel 36.26-27). This work of God is the foundation of the new covenant.

<–Sunday Tuesday–>

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