The Blood Covenant

Introduction

Ephesians 2:11–12 KJV 1900

Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:

(KJV)

11 Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;

12 That . . .

At that time you were without Christ - i.e, you were without the Anointing!

at that time ye were without Christ [i.e., without the anointing],

being aliens from the common-wealth of Israel, and 

It is entirely possible and, in fact, it is true, that most Christians today are ignorant about what a blood-covenant really is! It simply is not part of our culture! It is a foreign concept to us. We are, as Paul says here, strangers from the covenants of promise. The covenant relationship is one of sacredness and power! Jesus Christ is my blood brother - in every sense of the word.

strangers from the covenants of promise, 

having no hope, and without God in the world:

- The Amplified Bible

11 Therefore, remember that at one time you were Gentiles (heathens) in the flesh, called Uncircumcision by those who called themselves Circumcision, [itself a mere mark] in the flesh made by human hands.

12 [Remember] that you were at that time separated (living apart) from Christ [excluded from all part in Him], utterly estranged and outlawed from the rights of Israel as a nation, and strangers with no share in the sacred compacts of the [Messianic] promise [with no knowledge of or right in God’s agreements, His covenants]. And you had no hope (no promise); you were in the world without God.

It is entirely possible and, in fact, it is true, that most Christians today are ignorant about what a blood-covenant really is! It simply is not part of our culture! It is a foreign concept to us. We are, as Paul says here, strangers from the covenants of promise. The covenant relationship is one of sacredness and power! Jesus Christ is my blood brother - in every sense of the word.

Strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world! Wow! Covenants today are called contracts and with the right attorney any contract can be broken. Not so with the blood covenant - the only way to break a blood covenant is by death! Blood-covenants were, and are, a serious matter!

The New Covenant cannot be broken because it is between Almighty God (The Father) and the Man Jesus (The Son). It is possible for me to get out of fellowship with the covenant - but it is not possible for me to break it! This is the reason there is no curse attached to this covenant - neither the Father nor the Son can break it! It is a covenant of blood between the Almighty God and a born-again, Holy Spirit baptized, glorified, immortal man! He is still a man - there is a Man in the Godhead! We are well represented!

The Blood Covenant (E. W. Kenyon)

The root Hebrew word which we translate covenant meant “to cut,” suggesting an incision where blood flows. In practically every place where the word is used in Scripture, it means “to cut the Covenant.”

Reasons for Cutting the Covenant

If a strong tribe lives by the side of a weaker tribe and there is danger of the weaker tribe being destroyed, the weaker tribe will seek to “cut the covenant” with the stronger tribe that they may be preserved.

Two business men entering into a partnership might cut the covenant to insure that neither would take advantage of the other.

If two men loved each other as devotedly as David and Jonathan, or as Damon and Pythias, they would cut the covenant for that love’s sake.

The Method of Cutting the Covenant

Two men wish to cut the covenant they come together with their friends and a priest. First, they exchange gifts. By this exchange of gifts they indicate that all that one has the other owns if necessary. After the exchange of gifts, they bring a cup of wine, the priest makes an incision in the arm of one man and the blood drips into the wine. An incision is made in the other man’s arm and his blood drips into the same cup [this is what happened between Jonathan and David ()]. Then the wine is stirred and the bloods are mixed. Then the cup is handed to one man and he drinks part of it, then hands it to the other man and he drinks the rest of it. When they have drunk it, ofttimes they will put their wrists together so that their bloods mingle, or they will touch their tongues to each other’s wounds. Now, they have become blood brothers.

I Samuel 18

Where did all this start? The first record of blood being shed was in .

Genesis 3:7 KJV 1900

And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.

)]. Then the wine is stirred and the bloods are mixed. (3) Then the cup is handed to one man and he drinks part of it, then hands it to the other man and he drinks the rest of it. When they have drunk it, ofttimes they will put their wrists together so that their bloods mingle, or they will touch their tongues to each other’s wounds. Now, they have become blood brothers.

Genesis 3:21 KJV 1900

Unto Adam also and to his wife did the Lord God make coats of skins, and clothed them.

This was the first attempt by man to meet his own needs without God - and he sewed himself a fig-leaf suit! God killed an animal and the first provision covenant, in blood, was made!

Back to E. W. Kenyon’s book . . .

The Covenant in Africa

One illustration of Stanley’s might help us to grasp the significance.

The next step was an exchange of gifts.