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"Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers..."

Text: Hebrews 8:9

A LANDMARK (MOSAIC) COVENANT

The pact that God made with Israel may indeed be called a “landmark covenant”. The heart of that covenant would be the “Ten Commandments” (Cf. Exodus 20:1-17). The Book of Deuteronomy contains many explanations of the application of The Decalogue. The following text is a sad commentary of the response of Israel to the Mosaic Covenant.

“Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers
in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of
the land of Egypt; because they did not continue in My covenant,
and I disregarded them, says the Lord.”
Hebrews 8:9

1. The establishing of the covenant

a) With whom?

The covenant was established “with their fathers” (a reference to the heads of the tribal families).

b) When?

This was established when God met with them at Mt. Sinai (Cf. Exodus 19-25). The text above accentuated the historical moment of God leading them out of Egypt.

c) How?

The context of the giving of the Covenant was fraught with deep personal and historical meaning. This is well-evidenced in the phrase, “In the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt.” God was personally and deeply involved in the Exodus!

2. The blatant disregard for the Covenant

a) Israel began with a deep reverence for the Lord when He spoke to them (Exodus 20:18-19; Deuteronomy 5:23-33).

b) Before too long, the nation had turned away from to the Lord to worship idols. Generation after generation forsook the Lord and showed total disregard for the Lord and His Covenant (Cf. Jeremiah 2-7). They “did not continue” in the Covenant that God had kindly given to them.

3. “I disregarded them”

a) God had every right to abrogate the first covenant.

b) He disregarded them and both Israel and Judah went into captivity!