Covenant breakers (2)

The importance of covenants

The covenant between God and his people

Genesis 9:16 NASB95

“When the bow is in the cloud, then I will look upon it, to remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth.”

See also 2 Sa 23:5; Is 24:5; Is 55:3

God will remain faithful to his covenant

Judges 2:1 NASB95

Now the angel of the Lord came up from Gilgal to Bochim. And he said, “I brought you up out of Egypt and led you into the land which I have sworn to your fathers; and I said, ‘I will never break My covenant with you,

See also Ps 105:8; Is 54:10

Covenants between people

Covenants made in the sight of God were permanently binding

Nu 30:2; 1 Sa 23:16–18

See also Dt 23:21; Ec 5:4

Condemnation of those who break covenants

Hosea 6:7 NASB95

But like Adam they have transgressed the covenant; There they have dealt treacherously against Me.

See also Pr 2:17

Examples of covenants between people

Ge 21:27; Jos 24:24; 2 Sa 5:3; 1 Ki 5:12; 1 Ki 20:34; Je 34:8

Examples of breaking the covenant with God

Coveting the possessions of others

Ecclesiastes 4:4 NASB95

I have seen that every labor and every skill which is done is the result of rivalry between a man and his neighbor. This too is vanity and striving after wind.

See also Ex 20:17

Stealing

Exodus 20:15 NASB95

“You shall not steal.

See also Dt 23:24

Using dishonest weights or scales

Le 19:35–36; Pr 20:23

See also Dt 25:13–16; Ho 12:7–8; Am 8:5

Moving boundary stones

Proverbs 23:10 NASB95

Do not move the ancient boundary Or go into the fields of the fatherless,

See also Dt 19:14; Dt 27:17

Extortion

Habakkuk 2:6 NASB95

“Will not all of these take up a taunt-song against him, Even mockery and insinuations against him And say, ‘Woe to him who increases what is not his— For how long— And makes himself rich with loans?’

See also Is 10:1–2; Eze 22:12; Am 5:11

Breach of trust

Le 6:2; Eze 16:17

Not repaying loans

Psalm 37:21 NASB95

The wicked borrows and does not pay back, But the righteous is gracious and gives.

Not paying fair wages

See also Ge 31:6–9

Failing to care for aliens

Aliens living in Israel were regarded as having privileged status amongst Gentiles, and were treated as covenant people in some respects:

Ex 23:9; Dt 29:9–15; Dt 31:12; Jos 8:33–35