The Bible Book by Book | Page 6

the seventh month and during it the soil was unfilled just as on the
Sabbatical year. All alienated land went back to the original owner and the Hebrew
bondmen became free if they desired.
6. The Lord's Day. It is the first day of the week and commemorates the resurrection of
Jesus and the finished work of redemption as the Sabbath commemorated the finished
work of creation.
Note. Find other scripture references to each of these occasions and become familiar with
the name, date and import of each.
* * * * *


Chapter IV.
Sacred Institutions of Worship and Seven Great Covenants.
The Sacred Institutions of Worship.
1. The Alter. Make a careful study finding: (1) The first mention of it. (2) The different
persons who are recorded as erecting altars, Gen. 1-Ex. 20. (3) The materials of
construction, Ex. 20:24-25. (4) The purpose for which they were erected, including that
of Joshua, Josh. 22:10, 22-29.
2. The Tabernacle, Ex. chs. 25-29. Study: (1) The instructions to build it, including the
offerings and articles to be given. (2) Its furniture. (3) Its erection. (4) Its purpose, Ex.
29;42-45; Heb. Chs. 9-10. (5) Its history, when first set up, how long used, etc.
3. The Temple. (1) _Solomon's Temple_. Study David's desire to build and his
preparation for it. 2 Sam. 7:1-2; 2 Chron. 28, 29; its material, erection and dedication, 1
Kings 5-8; 2 Chron. 2:6; its destruction by Nebuchadnezzar's general, 587 B. C. (2)
Zerubbabel Temple. Study the decree of Cyrus, return of the Jews, rebuilding and
dedication, Ezra Chs. 1-6; its destruction by Pompey 63 B. C. and by Herod the Great 37
B. C. (3) _Herod's Temple_. It was begun 20 or 21 B. C., John 2:20; Matt. 24:1-2; Matt.
13:1-2; Lu. 21:56, and destroyed under Titus, A. D. 70.
4. The Synagogue. Greek work meaning an assemblage. There were synagogues
wherever there were faithful Jews, about 1500 in Palestine and perhaps 480 in Jerusalem.
The officers were (1) Ruler. Lu. 8:49; 13:14; Mk 5:15, etc; (2) Elders, Lu. 7:3; Mk. 5:22,
etc; (3) Minister, Lu. 4:20. The service was one of prayer and reading and expounding the

scriptures. It was through the worship at the synagogue that the apostles everywhere had
opportunity to teach Christianity.
5. The Church. The word means an assemblage and is most commonly used of a local
congregation of Christian workers. It is sometimes called the church of Christ, Church of
God, Saints, etc. Churches were established in cities and in homes. It is not proper to call
all the Christians of a particular denomination a church. Nor can we call all of any
denomination in a given territory a church. It would be wrong to say the Baptist church of
the south. In the New Testament we can get a rather clear idea of it as an institution by a
study of a few principal churches and leaders of the Christian movement after the
ascension of Christ.
The Seven Great Covenants. There are two kinds of covenants. (1) Declarative or
unconditional, example, Gen. 9-11, "I will." (2) Mutual or conditional, example, "If thou
wilt." All scripture is a development of or is summed up in seven covenants.
1. The Adamic Covenant, Gen. 3:14-19. Outline the elements of the covenant, showing
the persons affected and the results or conditions involved.
2. The Noahic Covenant, Gen. 8:20-9:27. Outline the elements of the covenant, and the
results affected.
3. The Abrahamic Covenant. Gen. 12:1-3; Acts 7:3. other details, Gen. 13:14-17; 15:1-18;
17:1-8. Outline, giving the elements, blessings proposed, temporal and spiritual or eternal.
This is sometimes called several covenants but it seems best to consider it one that is
enlarged upon from time to time.
4. The Mosaic Covenant, Ex. 19-30. Given in two parts: (1) Law of Duty (10
commandments), (2) Law of Mercy, Priesthood and Sacrifices Lev. 4:27:31; Heb. 9:1-7.
(3) To whom given, Ex. 19:3 and to all, Rom. 2,12; 3:19, etc. (4) Its purpose: (a)
Negative, Rom. 3:19-20, Gal. 2:16-21. etc; (b) Positive, Rom. 3:19, 7:7-13. (5) Christ's
relation to the Mosaic Covenant: (a) was under it, Gal. 4;4; Matt. 3:13, etc; (b) Kept it,
Jno. 8:46; 15:10; (c) Bore its curse for sinners, Gal. 3:10-13; 4:45; 2 Cor. 5:21, etc; (d)
Took the place of and ended the Priesthood and sacrifices, Heb. 9:11-15; 10:1-12, etc; (e)
New covenant provided for believers in Christ, Rom.8:1; Gal. 3:13-17.
5. The Deuteronomic Covenant, Deut. 30:1-9. Outline its elements, giving things
promised and prophesied.
6. The Davidic Covenant, 2 Sam. 7:5-19. (1) Elements of the covenant and summary in
the Old Testament. (2) In the New Testament.
7. The New Covenant. (1) Formed, Heb. 8:6-13. (2) In prophecy. Jer. 31:31-34. (3) It is
founded on the sacrifice of Christ. Matt. 26: