REALLIFE STUDY GROUP

“Covenant: The Great Exchange!”

 

ICEBREAKER: What is your favorite thing to do when it is too hot outside?

 

OUTLINE:  STEPS TO MAKING A BLOOD COVENANT

 

The term "cutting the covenant" comes from the Hebrew word "BERITH", or the Greek word "DIATHEKE", which means to make a covenant by cutting to make the blood flow. This act is usually referred to as "cutting the covenant" and is performed in a sacred ceremony because of the tremendous significance of the event. Let's look at the steps that are normally involved in cutting the covenant.

 

1.   There is an exchange of coats

       The coat signifies the identity and authority of the person, group, or tribe entering this covenant

       The coats are exchanged with each participant in this ceremony

       This exchange is saying "Everything I am, everything I represent now belongs to you. All my possessions, all that I am, my very self, I give to you. I am no longer my own, I now belong to you.

2.   The exchange of weapon belts

       On these belts are the bow, knife, sword, or any other weapons. This exchange signifies that all my strength now belongs to you. Your enemies are now my enemies and your enemies are now my enemies. Your friends are now my friends and my friends are now your friends. I will serve you if you ever need me and you will serve me if I ever need you.

3.   The walk of blood

       An animal is now sacrificed by splitting it down the backbone. It is usually a bull, a goat, or a lamb. The halves are laid open with a pool of blood between them.

       We walk in a figure 8 between the halves and meet in the middle in the pool of blood. We meet face to face and there pronounce the the blessings and the curses of the covenant. The curses are usually pronounced against anyone who would break this covenant. It was usually said like this, "the one who breaks this covenant will die just like this animal has died". A pledge was also given that went like this, "Just as this animal gave its life so I will give my life if necessary."

4.   The accounting of all belongings

       While standing in the blood, we give an accounting of all of our possessions and declare that they become available to our covenant partner if they ever have need of them.

5.   The exchange of names

       Each participant takes the others name to himself. The persons name represents his individuality. This exchange of names demonstrates a death to being an "individual". Remember that covenant is the union of two individuals or of two groups. In covenant you are no longer concerned only with yourself, your concern now includes your blood covenant brother. You care for your blood brother the same as you care for yourself because the two of you are now one. When the names are exchanged the primary sound of each participant’s name is incorporated within the other participant's primary name sound. Say for instance somebody named Ken Jones was making covenant with Bill Brown. The new names would be Ken Brown Jones and Bill Jones Brown.

6.   The cutting of the covenant

       While still standing in the blood face-to-face a knife is used to make an incision in either the palms or the wrists of each participant. This was done to allow the blood to flow freely. The Bible teaches us that life is in the blood. The two participants now either shake hands or put their bleeding wrists together so that the blood intermingles. This act symbolizes the two bloods, or two lives, have been joined into one blood or one life. In some cultures, the blood from both participants is drizzled into a cup of wine and stirred together and then the two participants drink from the common cup so that each one's blood enters into the other. This mingling of blood creating this new union of "oneness" is why this called a "blood covenant". It is the strong bond of relationship known to humanity.

7.   The "mark" of the covenant

       While still in this position and blood is dripping from the wounds some dark substance such as charcoal would be rubbed into the wound on each arm so that when the wound was healed a dark scar would be clearly visible to everyone who saw it. By doing this everywhere these blood covenant partners went they would clearly be identified as being in covenant with someone else.

8.   The covenant meal usually consisted of bread and wine

       We break one loaf of bread and we each place a piece of that bread into our covenant partners mouth. When we do that we are demonstrating that a part of each of us has gone into the other. We then drink wine from a common cup indicating that our blood has gone into each other. Since life is in the blood, we are demonstrating that we have taken each others life into ourselves.

 

TEXT: 1 SAMUEL 17

 

STUDY GROUP QUESTIONS:

1.     What does it mean to you to be in or have a covenant relationship with someone and how is it different from other relationships?

2.     If you were given a coat that identified who you are, what you do and what kind of past you have had, what would it look like?

3.     Identify some covenant relationships in the Bible and several in your life.

4.     Why do women more and more seem to be having such a difficult time taking a man’s last name when they get married today?

5.     In a covenant relationship we exchange enemies when we exchange weapons. Who or what are the greatest enemies of God in our society today?

6.     Describe something in your life you would like to exchange with God right now.