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.