I started a men’s group in the house that meets on Friday evenings. The group chose the topic of ‘covenant’ to study. The group consists of 5 guys, all of whom enjoy studying subjects in depth. We’ve met twice previously now, the first to identify a subject and the second to start that subject. We are tentatively scheduled to meet tonight if everyone’s schedule can accommodate.
The last time we met we identified a covenant as a social construct that defines the parameters of a particular type of relationship. We considered the difference between unilateral and bilateral covenants. We then spent some time contrasting a covenant with a contract. I had previously given them the analogy of a prostitute and a wife to help identify the differences between the two. We discussed duration, stipulations, breach, misrepresentation, oaths, symbolism/sacraments, and sanctions (both positive and negative).
The homework I offered them was to consider the covenant ceremony instituted in Genesis 15 with Abraham, as well as the covenant ceremony in Jeremiah 34.
Questions to consider are:
1) What is the significance of the animals cut in half?
2) What is the significance of the torch moving through the halves of the animal while Abram is in a trance?
3) Is this a unilateral or bilateral covenant?
4) Same questions repeated for Jeremiah 34.
The list of animals seems strange, but yet Abram seems familiar with the process. The general consensus is that the animals split in half symbolizes the consequence to one that violates the conditions of the covenant.
The torch and oven moving through the animals symbolizes God, who often appears in similar forms (burning bush, pillar of fire, etc).
The covenant is presumed unilateral which is illustrated by God alone passing through the animal pieces.
In Jeremiah, animals are likewise split in two (see verse 18) and God references that imagery when explaining what will happen to those that violated the terms of the covenant. This covenant seems bilateral in that conditions are expected to me met by the men that entered into the covenant.