Tag Archives: covenant

Exercise: Setting something up vs. Maintaining it

 

Exercise: Establishing something and Maintaining it

Is there a difference between these things, if so, what is the difference?

  • Setting up (establishing) a rule that says “do not enter the room without knocking”
  • Maintaining the rule the says “do not enter the room without knocking”
  • Forming (Establishing) a friendship
  • Maintaining that person as a friend
  • Forming (Establishing) a reputation for fairness
  • Maintaining a reputation for fairness

Leading Idea: Setting Up and Maintaining

Leading Idea: Setting Up and Maintaining

Establishing (מֵקִים ), remembering (לִזְכֹּר) and remembering in the future (זָכַרְתִּי)
In Verses 9:8-17 God turns his attention from Noah to himself. “As for me…”  Within this passage he reflects on the act of setting up or establishing a covenant and remembering it – that is maintaining a covenant (keeping it over time), and the intention to keep it in the future (I will remember).

God also reflects on the ‘sign’ (אות) , or rainbow, as representing the covenant (as a sign of the covenant), as a way of showing us of his intentions (it stands as a sign between me and you), and as a way of reminding himself of his covenant. These exercises and discussion plans explore these subtle yet very powerful distinctions.