COVENANT. TREATIES. AGREEMENTS IN THE ANCIENT NEAR EAST.
Happy Sunday Gateway and GM. My name is Ndu Eke. Before we participate in this meal, please give me your attention as I share a true ancient story with us. Ancient Israel and her ANE neighbors –ASSYRIA, MESSOPOTAMIA), frequently used COVENANTS, TREATIES & OATHS as binding ordinance between parties. So, a powerful nation/community/king (Suzerain -soo·zr·uhn ) will cut a covenant with a less powerful one (vassal – va·sl). They followed a ceremonial ritual. Animals were killed and cut in half and arranged opposite each other. The powerful king or his rep and the vassal would take turns to walk between the cut animals saying the stipulations of the treaty/covenant. They would say…. If I fail to keep my part of the covenant stipulations, let me become like these animals. If I fail, I die, if you fail, you die. Serious stuff RIGHT?
So, in Genesis 15:7-21 ESV, God cuts a covenant with Abram to assure him that he would inherit the PL. In this covenant, God specified the animals to be used. Then God puts the (vassal – va·sl) Abraham to sleep and only God represented by the SMOKING POT WITH BLAZING TORCH would ratify the covenant by passing between the pieces of slaughtered animals and birds, repeating the stipulations of the covenant. God was in essence saying…if I fail, I die…. If you Abraham and your descendants fail, I will still die.
Why this story?
There is no record that God failed in this covenant with Israel. He gave them the land. We know who has continued to fail – Abraham’s descendants & everyone else failed… God still kept his promise and died on the cross…. We are dealing with the only god who fulfils his treaty. If I fail, i die, if you fail, i still will die to redeem you to myself.
FASTFOWARD TO JESUS AND TURN WITH ME TO LUKE 22:19-20 NET
19 Then he took bread, and after giving thanks he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 20 And in the same way he took the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.
Jesus institutes the new covenant and ratifies it by shedding his blood and dying on the cross….
As we remember him now, let me draw your attention to this. We too enter into and continue in this bond of fellowship with the son of God Jesus the Messiah. Our god is a promise keeper. He has kept many of his promised. He will keep all of them!
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The document is a Communion talk given at Gateway City Church USA on February 9, 2025, by Ndu Eke. It discusses the concept of covenants, treaties, and agreements in the Ancient Near East, particularly the suzerain-vassal relationships where covenants were sealed with sacrificial rituals. The talk references Genesis 15:7-21, where God makes a covenant with Abraham, symbolizing His commitment by passing through the sacrificial pieces alone. This act signified that God would bear the consequences of any failure, which ultimately foreshadowed Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross.
I connect this to Luke 22:19-20, where Jesus establishes the new covenant through His body and blood, reaffirming God’s faithfulness to His promises. The message emphasizes that God is a promise-keeper who fulfills His covenants, urging believers to remember and continue in their fellowship with Christ.
The strong visual imagery used in the document is a descriptive language to illustrate the ancient covenant rituals.
Key Visual Elements in the Text:
Covenant Ceremony Imagery
The description of animals being cut in half and arranged opposite each other creates a gruesome yet powerful visual of ancient treaty-making.
The imagery of walking between the divided animals reinforces the seriousness of the covenant, where failure meant death.
Genesis 15 – Smoking Pot and Blazing Torch.
The smoking pot with a blazing torch symbolizes God’s presence passing through the sacrifice.
This dramatic visual of light and smoke represents divine commitment, reinforcing the sacred nature of the covenant.
Crucifixion Connection
The transition to Jesus’ sacrifice visually links the ancient practice to the cross. The image of Jesus’ body and blood in Luke 22:19-20 creates a direct parallel between the old and new covenants, emphasizing continuity.
Effectiveness of Visual Language
The text successfully paints a vivid mental picture, helping listeners understand the gravity of covenant relationships. The contrast between ancient sacrifices, divine presence, and Christ’s crucifixion strengthens the message of God’s unwavering faithfulness.
