The Definition of a TESTAMENT or COVENANT  

In our previous study we stated the fact that in fulfilling the law Jesus Christ reinterpreted the Laws He came to fulfill and allowed the ones He did not touch to be transported into the New Testament.   The understanding of what a Testament is has everything to do in showing us what part of the spiritual   life of the people of Israel God wanted to see carried over into the New Testament worship.

A Testament means a covenant, an agreement, a contract or a will between two or more people with a mediator. The Old Testament then must have been enacted at an event with all the factors present. Yes in Exodus 24:1-8 God and the people of Israel entered a covenant with Moses as the mediator.

The Ten Commandments became the first set of Laws and increased steadily to about six hundred and twelve.  Before Moses died he finished writing the laws and placed the ‘book of the covenant’ into the Ark of the Covenant which was guarded by the Levites Deuteronomy 31:24-26.  The book of the covenant became the constitution of the Nation of Israel based on which every king or president as we say in our modern world governed the Nation of Israel.    

With this understanding we can comfortably say that the books after Deuteronomy i.e. Judges to Malachi are not the Old Covenant but recorded events of kings, Prophets and Judges who lived and headed their administration if they were kings or Judges, fulfilled their ministries if they were prophets all under the Old Testament constitution.  

King David was born during the era of the Old Testament constitution. As  part of his calling and assignment he instituted the Tabernacle of David (which involved the use of musical instruments and body expressions in praise and worship) and also wrote the book of Psalms. As we can see, the Tabernacle of David and the book of Psalms are not primarily part of the Old Testament.  

When God hinted on the coming of a better New Covenant He indicated a change in the laws of the Old Testament to be written on the hearts of men and women and to be embodied in the person of Jesus Christ Jeremiah. 31: 31-34.  An aspect of the life of the Jews which God indicated will be carried over into the New Testament era was the Tabernacle of David including the precepts in the Book of Psalms.

In Amos 9:11 we read God was going to restore and rebuild the Tabernacle of David. The question is, what time was the scripture referring to. In Acts 15:16 reference is made to Amos 9:11 that the time for its fulfillment is in the New Testament church.  

Author: George Annan is the Director of Redemption News Int. Ministries (Re.New.In.Me.). A Bible Teacher by calling and the author of EXPERIENCE GOD'S GLORY - The Ultimate Blessing for the True Worshipper Contact: re.new.in.me.@redemptionnews.org This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it