Covenants

This study will not analyze Jewish traditions or other ancient customs

This is not to say that those insights are not important, rather I would like to first establish a Biblical foundation

Possible repercussions of your beliefs about Biblical covenants

Have you ever wondered why some churches baptize infants, others baptize children, and still others baptize adults?
Have you ever wondered why some churches teach giving a tenth of your money as a tithe to the church while others rely on voluntary giving?
Have you ever wondered why some worship on a Sunday, while others worship on a Saturday or even a different day?
Have you ever wondered why some churches have priests, alters, vestments, incense, and candles while other churches don’t?
Have you ever wondered why some churches are fine with divorce while other churches are not?
Have you ever wondered why some churches support Israel while others don’t?
How do the Old and New Testaments relate to each other

Are they indistinguishable?
Are they completely separate?
Are they interconnected?

How we understand covenants in the Bible is one of the main roots of these differences

We need to study the Bible so that we can distinguish between opinion and truth

My view of covenants has changed at least twice in major ways in the past, so if you disagree with myself or anyone's perspective, please speak up and differ
Poll:

How many covenants are there in the Bible?
How many of them apply to us today?

What does covenant mean? (See HALOT and BDAG as starting points for more details)

The Hebrew word can have the following meanings:

Agreement
Covenant
Contract

The Greek word

During the Hellenistic period it meant "last will and testament"

However, the LXX seems to not use it in the same way as extrabiblical sources because of the belief that God cannot die

If it had meant "last will and testament" then God would have to die for it to become operative

On the other hand, they did retain the idea that it is the declaration of one person's initiative rather than the result of an agreement between two parties

This means that the LXX used the word in a way that doesn't exactly parallel non Jewish literature but rather means 'decree' or 'assurances' or 'declaration of purpose' or 'set of regulations'

During Greco-Roman times the word meant 'compact' or 'contract'

As far as I know the Bible is the only 'sacred' scriptures to speak of a God that makes covenants with mankind

It is incredible that God would freely choose to have a relationship with us
It is even more amazing that He would make covenants with us

That's like a man making (and keeping) a promise to a mosquito

One of the most important phrases in a wedding is "I will"

The phrase is frequently used by God in connection with a covenant throughout the Bible
Malachi 2:14

Marriage is a covenant

The way Biblical covenants work

Humans are sinful and sometimes break the requirements of a covenant
God is perfect and never breaks His end of the promises

We will be looking at the Major Biblical covenants

Major

Since every marriage is a covenant, there are many covenants that we will not be looking at
1 Samuel 20:16

We will not be looking at strictly human covenants

Hosea 6:7

This is the only verse that mentions a covenant with Adam and no details are given is Scripture

Some translations think it should be men rather than Adam or even 'at Adam' (a city in the Jordan Valley)

Biblical

As you will soon see, some people believe in certain covenants which are not mentioned in Scripture

At best, they are theological covenants as opposed to Biblical ones

How many covenants are there in the Bible?

Established answers include 1ish, 2, 3 (redemption, works, grace), 4 (5 - Noahic), 5, 6 (5 + Adamic), 7 (6 + Future), or 8

If/when we say more than 1, we must ask which one(s) affect New Testament believers

Some say 1 (Reformed Theology)

It is called the covenant of Grace
It came from Luther and Calvin
This covenant contains all of God's dealings with mankind
It is a phrase not found in the Bible

Nor is the word trinity
The question is whether the idea is

It emphasizes God's grace, the interconnection of the Testaments to the point of no distinction

It requires that the words 'Israel' and 'Church' be the same since God only has one covenant which cannot distinguish between the two
It also equates Sunday with Sabbath, infant baptism with circumcision, Holy Communion with the Passover, etc.

People in this camp actually believe in a prior (second) covenant (of Works) that God had with Adam before the Fall, but since it is irrelevant to us now, they basically only believe in one covenant

Some say 2

This is the most common answer
What evidence do we have that there are 2 covenants?

The Bible speaks of the "Old covenant" and the "New covenant" implying two covenants
What are the two covenants?

Who did God make them to initially?

Moses and extended through Jews; Disciples and extended through believers

It is often wrongly based upon the headings "Old Testament", and "New Testament"

It is true that the word 'testament' is a synonym of the word 'covenant'
However, these headings are as scriptural as the division of chapters and verses in the Bible

This view sees the New as replacing the Old Covenant and often leads to Replacement Theology (The Church replaced Israel)
The Old Covenant deals with Israel
The New Covenant deals with the Church

I say at least 5 to 7 major Biblical covenants

Those who believe that there are less must prove that some of these covenants are not really covenants
Those who believe that there are more must provide Scripture(s) that we have overlooked
Feel free to agree or disagree with the validity of any of the following presented covenants
The covenants are often referred to by the name of the person the covenant initially involved in Christian circles

The major Covenants:

Noahic (Genesis 8:20 - 9:17)

Established immediately after the flood
The only covenant to be made to the entire human race as well as animals (Genesis 9:9-10)
Promises

No more global floods
Maintenance of the seasons as long as the earth remained
These promises are God's way of not only promising not to destroy us, but also to sustain us

In return

He requires us to respect life (origin of Biblical "sanctity of life"): (Genesis 9:4-7)

Multiply human life
Humans are over animals
Eat any living animal and any green plant
Blood must not be consumed
Do not murder
Murder (whether the perpetrator is human or animal) requires capital punishment

The covenant is not conditional (which is why life still remains on earth)
Is this covenant still in effect?

It was passed on to offspring as well (Genesis 9:9)
There is nothing to indicate that it has ended
Genesis 8:21-22

Never again destroy all living
As long as the earth remains

If it were not permanent, we would not be alive
Isaiah 54:9-10
We need to make sure that we take all of the covenant as relevant, not just the promises

Genesis 9:4 is reiterated in Acts 15:20

All humans and animals are currently under this covenant which will last till there are new heavens and a new earth

Abrahamic (Genesis 12-17)

We start to see God's plan of redemption
Genesis 15:12-18

Abraham was asleep during the making of the covenant

What is the significance of this fact?

What would be implied if you made a contract with someone who was asleep during the process?

This makes the covenant conditional on God alone and therefore eternal

In it He gives Abraham the land that Israel would one day inherit

Abraham was far from perfect, but was marked out by faith (Hebrews 11:8-10)
1 Chronicles 16:16

God repeated and renewed the covenant with Abraham's son (Isaac) and his grandson (Jacob/Israel) whose 12 sons became the 12 tribes (also in Exodus 2:24)
God even incorporated their names into His own as the God of "Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob") (Exodus 3:6)
It is eternal (a thousand generations, everlasting)

Was this covenant for both Ishmael and Isaac?

Genesis 17:18-21
This is why God made it with Isaac and Jacob to specify who the covenant was with (not Ishmael, not Esau)

The covenant is full of "I will" promises (count them in Genesis 12-17)
The promises were both national and international promises

Abraham would have a fruitful son (a miracle) (Genesis 15:3-4) (Genesis 17:5-6)
Blessings on him and his descendants
Innumerable descendants (Genesis 15:5, 17:5)
The covenant would last forever (Genesis 17:7)
Israelites would forever own the land of Israel (Genesis 17:8)

In return

Males must be circumcised (Genesis 17:9-14)
In order for Abraham's descendants to qualify for the promises, they must carry the identification mark of circumcision which links them to this covenant (Genesis 17:14)

Genesis 17:13

While the covenant was primarily for Israel, it also included all who joined them

Galatians 3:14

It also extends to non-jews who have the same faith as Abraham

Romans 4:15-17 The Abrahamic covenant:

Is guaranteed
Depends on faith
Promises are now able to be accomplished fully
Guarantees that Jesus will forever be our King
's international fulfillment does not exclude the national; he is the father of both the one Jewish nation as well as the many Gentile nations

This covenant will never end (Hebrews 6:13-20)

Psalm 105:8-10
Our confidence in the messianic covenant is founded on our confidence that the Abrahamic covenant is still active
The Abrahamic covenant has not been abolished since it can never end
The international fulfillment does not exclude the national; he is the father of both the one Jewish nation as well as the many Gentile nations
Galatians 3:17

Do new covenant people need to be circumcised?

1 Corinthians 7:18-19

We don't have to although we can

Acts 16:3

Colossians 2:9-11

Romans 2:28-29

Mosaic (Exodus 19-34)

Background

Made at Sinai with the children of Israel who had left the land God had given them for 430 years and were on their way back to the promised land
God said that He would make the covenant (Exodus 19:3-6)
Immediately, before He had told them what it was, they accepted (Exodus 19:8)

They hadn't yet heard what was required of them which shows their trust in God

God starts telling them the covenant, but the people are afraid after God tells them the "Ten commandments/words" and want God to just tell Moses the rest (Exodus 20:18-21)
This covenant was done in writing (Exodus 24:7)

What was in the Book of the Covenant?

Exodus 19:5-23:33

Israel will be God's treasured possession, a kingdom of priests, a holy nation
God owns the earth
No other God's before me
Don't make carved images or any likeness
Don't bow down of serve them
Don't take the name of God in vain
Remember and keep Sabbath holy resting on it as well as all those around you
Honor parents
Don't murder
Don't commit adultery
Don't steal
Don't bear false witness against neighbour
Don't covet anything your neighbour has
Don't make Gods
Make alters and sacrifice to me
Don't make alters that require tools to make
Don't make alters up high
Set Hebrew slaves free on seventh year
If slaves don't want to leave they can stay
Don't sell slaves to other nations
Polygamists should treat all wives equally
Murderers should be killed
Accidental killers can flee to safety
Parent hitters should die
Kidnappers should die
Parent cursers should die
If you injure someone pay for their down time and medical attention
If you hit a pregnant woman there is a fine determined by husband and judge
If hitting a pregnant woman results in harm the hitter should receive equal harm
Ox's that kill a person should be killed
Owners of ox's that kill a person a second time should die unless the family of the deceased prefers a financial payment
If you dig a pit and cover it and another's farm animal falls into it they shall be paid for the loss of the animal
If a man steals another's animal to eat or sell he must give back 4-5 of the same animal
Killing a thief in the act is not punishable
If a thief is caught in the act and captured alive he must pay
If a thief is caught with possessions he must pay doubly
Arsonists must pay for all damages
If a person acting like a bank takes a client's possessions for themselves they must pay doubly
If a man sleeps with a virgin he must pay for her and marry her
If a man sleeps with a virgin and the father doesn't want them married the man must pay the family
Sorceresses must die
Bestiality is punishable by death
Sacrificing to idols is punishable by death
God will kill those who mistreat Gentiles (non Jews)
Don't charge interest to other Israelites
If you take a coat as collateral return it the same day
Don't revile God
Don't curse your rulers
Don't delay giving to God
Your firstborn sons and animals are God's
Don't eat animals torn by beasts
Don't give false reports
Don't pervert justice
Don't be partial to the poor
Rescue mistreated animals
Don't kill innocent people
Don't take bribes
Don't oppress Gentiles (non Jews)
Give fields a year of rest every seven years
Don't mention other gods
Have three feasts a year

Feast of unleavened bread
Feast of harvest
Feast of ingathering

Men should go before God three times a year
Give God firstfruits
God will guard Israel's path
Obey God
Don't rebel against God
Serve God
God will take away sickness and miscarriage and bareness and short lifespans if you serve Him
Don't make covenants with other gods
Don't let idolaters live with you

A counter argument is that the ten 'commandments' are all that the covenant contains

Exodus 34:28
On the other hand Exodus 24:7 suggests that there was a book of the covenant which contained much more than the ten commandments
Regardless the ten commandments are clearly part of the old covenant
So the ten commandments are associated with the Mosaic covenant as well as the law (Exodus 24:12)
A sneak preview:

How many times have you heard Christians say that we must obey the ten commandments and yet claim that we are not under the Mosaic law and that the old covenant God made with Moses has been replaced with the new and better covenant?

It seems to me to be totally illogical and self contradictory

Why was it done this way?

Moses had to retell it to the people and remember it for years without change
It was detailed so we needed to remember a lot of information which books excel at

After the people agreed, Moses sprinkled blood on them (24:8)
Two stone tablets which signified the Mosaic covenant were placed in a special container named after the covenant: the Ark of the Covenant (1 Kings 8:9)
This covenant was only made with Israel

Gentiles could join in though

Isaiah 56:6

Characteristics of the covenant

The Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:1-17) are a part of this covenant, but not the entirety of it

They are very foundational to it

Deuteronomy 4:13
Exodus 34:10, 27-28

The skipped verses very closely resemble the first giving of the covenant so rather than seeing this as a second Mosaic covenant I see it as a renewal of the covenant

It did not modify the previous covenants
It was the closest Israel ever got to a national constitution

It gave them legislation which they were to use

The covenant was not going to end when they disobeyed, but some of the aspects within the covenant were based on Israel's obedience

2 Chronicles 5:10

The Ark of the Covenant only contained the two tablets (ten commandments)

1 Kings 8:9

Hebrews 9:3-4

Numbers 17:10
Exodus 16:33-34
The word 'in' in Hebrews can mean "in", "among", "with", "by", among other meanings as well so there is no contradiction

Also it is possible that the rod and manna were stollen when the ark was captured

The lid of the ark of the covenant was called the mercy seat (look at connection in LXX to propitiation if interested)

According to Leviticus 19 it was where the High Priest would sprinkle blood for the forgiveness of sins once a year on the Day of Atonement

Aaronic (maybe major)

Numbers 18:19

In context this is God talking to Aaron (Numbers 18:8)

Leviticus 2:13

God wanted salt to be a part of all grain offerings

This is alluded to in Nehemiah 13:29
Perhaps it was made first with Levi?

Malachi 2:4-5

Phinehasic (maybe major)

Numbers 25:11-12

God gave him a perpetual priesthood

Davidic (2 Samuel 7)

2 Chronicles 13:5

God said David would always have a descendant who was king of Israel

This covenant of salt was associated with priests

Was David a priest?

Support

1 Samuel 21:7 (see also Matthew 12:4) (He ate bread only for priests)
2 Samuel 6:12-14 (He sacrificed and wore an ephod)

Opposition

Matthew 1:2,6 (David was a descendant of Judah, not Levi)

Questions:

Was Jesus a priest? (He physically came from the same tribe as David)
Was Saul a prophet? (1 Samuel 10:11)

In my personal opinion, God used David to perform certain priestly roles, but I do not think that it was his heritage or primary identity (Hebrews 7:14-16)

It promised a perpetual dynasty to succeed King David (2 Samuel 7:12-16), the "man after God's own heart"
Jeremiah 33:20-22, 25-26

This is the covenant that God talks to Solomon about

1 Kings 11:11

Jesus is that eternal descendant and king (Luke 1:32-33)

Messianic (Jeremiah 31)

Prophesied (makes it a big deal because God built up anticipation for this covenant)

Hebrews 7:22

This is better than previous covenants
Hebrews 10:28-31

Its greatness makes its rejection all the more terrible

Hebrews 12:24-26

Isaiah 42:6-7

This is a prophecy about Jesus who would be given as a covenant to Israel but also as a light for Gentiles (Luke 2:32)
Isaiah 49:5-8
Isaiah 55:20-21
Malachi 3:1

Jeremiah 31:31

It would be promised to both Israel (10 tribes in the north) and Judah (2 tribes in the south)

Jeremiah 31:32-34

Notice that it is far from lawless

The new covenant laws are harder to forget if anything since they are in our minds rather than just on a scroll

It would differ from the Mosaic Covenant
It would be internal

John 14:26

Not only would God be faithful to His obligations but would also help them keep theirs

It would be individual
It would deal with sin

What was new about this concept? Hadn't God always forgiven his people when they repented and came under the blood of a sacrifice?

Hebrews 10:1-5,10-19

Jeremiah 32:40-42

God would not stop doing good to them (in the Mosaic covenant He said He would if they did certain bad things
God would put His fear in people

It would be forever

Ezekiel 16:59-60

This covenant has promises for Israel

Ezekiel 37:24-28

Matthew 26:27-29

Jesus is the covenant made with 12 Jews, but for many for the forgiveness of sins (Romans 1:16 Jews first but also for Greeks)

Although available to all, it is only effective when individual people are grafted in
Romans 9:4-5

The covenants belong to Israel

Romans 11:26-27
1 Corinthians was not made up of exclusively Jews (1 Corinthians 1:1-2)

1 Corinthians 11:23-25

The covenant is for all who call upon the name of Jesus

Ephesians 2:12-13

Mark 14:22-26
Luke 22:20
Unlike the Mosaic covenant which had a list of instructions, this covenant has none except for the promise that Jesus would not have wine for a while

2 Corinthians 3:5

This covenant does not contain words, rather it contains the person and spirit of God

We remember this covenant regularly with communion

In His death, resurrection, and ascension, Jesus did all that was needed to make the promised covenant a reality

Sins can now be forgiven (Hebrews 10:1-2)
The Spirit is poured out from Heaven (Acts 10:45)
Now the Good News can be proclaimed worldwide (Mark 16:15)

It is forever

Hebrews 13:20-21

This new covenant has a new priest (Jesus), so it also gets a new law (Hebrews 7:11-12)

Future covenant?

Hosea 2:16-20
Revelation 11:19

Old covenant vs New covenant

If the Messianic covenant is the 'new' covenant (Luke 22:20), then which one is the 'old' covenant?

2 Corinthians 3:14-15

The old covenant is associated with Moses

Galatians 4:21-31

The old covenant is associated with Mount Sinai

Here also we see that we are not under the old covenant, but rather under the new

Ephesians 2:12-15

The old covenant is associated with laws, commandments, and ordinances

Hebrews 8:6-9:4

The old covenant is associated with when Israel came out of Egypt, and worship rules, and tablets
What are some of the better promises in vs 6?

Hebrews 9:13-20

The old covenant is associated with animal sacrifices

A careful study of all the relevant texts leads to a clear and simple answer: the Mosaic Covenant alone is the "old covenant"

Hebrews gives a very strong affirmation of the Abrahamic covenant in the New Testament and hangs our current hope on it, so 'old' cannot refer to the first 4 collectively (Hebrews 6:13-19)

Hebrews 8:13 (again)

The new covenant replaces the old slowly

Some believe it vanished in 70AD since God took away the temple which was necessary for keeping the old covenant
Others believe that it is still vanishing

They would argue that the Israelites had been without a temple before (2 Kings 24:13, 25:9) and therefore it does not prove the total end of the old covenant

Can we exist under both covenants simultaneously? Are they compatible like the others are?

We will find out in a little bit

He calls the 'old' covenant the 'first' covenant, and the 'new' covenant the 'second' covenant (Hebrews 10:9-10)

Is this due to its significance or its chronology?

The Greek word can be used to describe 'order' or 'importance'

Matthew 26:17
Mark 6:21 [leading men]
What do you think is the case in Matthew 19:30?

The Mosaic covenant was temporary but had purpose

It was necessary to prepare the Israelites for the Messiah after which it would be ended (Galatians 3:19)
We can still learn a lot from it (Hebrews 10:3)
What were some of the benefits of the law that was the requirements of the Mosaic covenant? Why did God set up this covenant only to replace it later?

In my opinion:

It preserved the line of David leading to the Messiah (No international marriages)
It kept the Israelites safe (far fewer percentage of Jews died in the Black Plague than any other nations) (washing hands after touching a dead person)
It foreshadowed and gave extra symbolism/understanding to what was to come (the sacrificial system)
It showed the world our need for a Saviour

Romans 5:13 and Romans 7:7 say that there was sin before the law was given, but that by giving it, we are shown we fall short

What about the in-between bits?

Is everything God ever said to Moses part of the old covenant?

In my opinion it is only the part directly connected to the story of God establishing the covenant
Others see it as everything God ever told Moses

What about what the prophets said (Isaiah, Jeremiah, Amos, etc.)?

I do not think it is strictly a part of the covenant, but rather it is in light of the covenant

I am under the new covenant but if God told me to share the gospel with my neighbour today I would not add that to the covenant but rather see the covenant as the framework I am under and which God is talking in light of
When I married my wife we made a covenant with each other. When we speak with each other we are not adding to the covenant but rather working and talking in the context of an already established covenant

What about the writings of Paul and other apostles?

They are not the covenant since that was set up by Jesus but they are the words of God and are within the framework of the new covenant and so should be followed

How people distinguish between parts of the Bible

Some divide the old covenant or at least the Mosaic Laws into:

Moral
Civil
Ceremonial

Some divide the Bible by covenants where every verse is part of a covenant
Some divide the Bible by the context of covenants but believe that the covenant was an event that happened and there are in-between bits written in light of the relationship God had at the time with people based on those covenants

What covenants does God currently have with us Gentiles?

Noahic

No blood
Capital punishment
Multiply

Physically only if married
Spiritually for all

Abrahamic

We must spiritually circumcise our flesh

Mosaic

Aaronic

Davidic

Messianic

Remember from the start of this topic:

Have you ever wondered why some churches baptize infants, others baptize children, and still others baptize adults?
Have you ever wondered why some churches teach giving a tenth of your money as a tithe to the church while others rely on voluntary giving?
Have you ever wondered why some worship on a Sunday, while others worship on a Saturday or even a different day?
Have you ever wondered why some churches have priests, alters, vestments, incense, and candles while other churches don’t?
Have you ever wondered why some churches are fine with divorce while other churches are not?
Have you ever wondered why some churches support Israel while others don’t?

Covenant with death

Isaiah 28:15-18

Israelites who were not following God were making a covenant of death

Did they actually 'pray' to death and make a covenant with it?
Or was it more like Eve when she believed the serpent who said "You will not surely die…" (Genesis 3:4)

And God says that when Jesus comes in judgement their covenant will be broken and they will die

Should we make covenants?

Job 31:1

This seems like a good covenant

Joshua 9:3-6

This seems like a bad covenant
Joshua 9:14

James 5:12

This seems to be wise advice although I think there are exceptional cases where this wisdom can be overruled such as when making a marriage covenant

We are not a lawless people

Under the 'new' covenant we can do two dangerous things

We completely abandon all laws

We ignore Christ's clear rules

We adhere to many/all Mosaic laws

We become legalist since we are imposing them extra-biblically upon ourselves
We are inconsistent

We assume blessing for keeping the commands (Malachi 3:10)
We omit curses for not keeping the commands (Malachi 3:9)

We are under Christ's law

What about the portion of the 'old' covenant known as the ten commandments?

Have you ever looked for the ten commandments in the new testament?
Christ's law affirms 9 of them (Matthew 19:18-19, Romans 13:9, 1 John 5:21, Matthew 12:36) and gives murder and adultery, for instance, a much stricter application to inward attitude as well as outward action (Matthew 5:21-22, 5:28)

The 'skipped' commandment is Sabbath (Romans 14:5) (Colossians 2:16)

As for 'tithing', God only accepts what people want to give (2 Corinthians 9:7)

Tithing is never commanded in the new covenant

How does Christ's law work?

The love given by the Holy Spirit is freely shown by new covenant believers (Romans 5:5)
This causes new covenant believers to fulfil the law without needing to be told (Romans 13:10)
This explains John 14:15

Galatians 4:24-26 gives an insightful allegory
So to restate the question, can we exist under both covenants simultaneously? Are they compatible like the others are?

The Mosaic covenant is fulfilled in the Messianic covenant (Matthew 5:17)

We no longer need the Mosaic covenant to be in relationship with God as His People (Ephesians 2:12-13)
The Church is not the same as Israel since only one of the covenants is the 'old' covenant (Romans 9 is a great read when you get the chance)

We are glad that we are not under the Mosaic covenant just like we are glad that Jesus died for us. However, we should understand that it hurt God deeply when that covenant ended just as it hurt Jesus when He died. We should also remember what caused the covenant to end just as we remember why Jesus died.

Ezekiel 16 verse:

1-10
15
17
21-22
25
27-29
32-34
59-63

From Ezekiel we see that God ended the Mosaic covenant with us for our sake just as Jesus died for our sake.

When can a covenant end?

Death

Support:

The answer can be found by looking at a general type of Biblical covenant (the Marriage Covenant)

Marriage is called a covenant by God (Malachi 2:14)
Marriage ends at death (Matthew 22:30)
Therefore covenants end at the death of one of the participants

The Mosaic Covenant ended when Christ died

We failed at keeping the Mosaic Covenant
Christ wanted to show us grace by freeing us from it
How could He remove a 'forever' covenant? (Hebrews 9:15)

By dying; what love!

Again notice that in 1 Corinthians 11:26 we proclaim the "Lord's death", not His resurrection

This is because we are remembering that the fact that we are free from the Mosaic covenant hinges on the fact that Christ died

We are to proclaim the death of Jesus which marked the end of the Mosaic covenant

Not only did Jesus die, but we too have died (Romans 7:1-4)

Now that everyone involved in the covenant has died (Romans 6:8), the Mosaic covenant has ended and God gave us a new covenant which includes provisions for keeping it (the Holy Spirit)

The Noahic Covenant includes the provision of seasons as long as its days are (Genesis 8:22)

The earth will one day die and in my opinion be 'reborn' (Revelation 21:1)

Interesting facts about the covenants:

All the covenants are founded upon faith

Hebrews 11 is the 'faith' chapter of the Bible

This chapter is in the context of covenants (covenants are talked about in both the preceding and following chapters)
It includes illustrations of the faith of each of the people (among others) through whom God initiated each of the covenants

Some use Hosea 6:7 to support the idea that the Noahic covenant started with Adam, but was not recorded/official until Noah

Others believe that the Adamic and Noahic covenants are different

Some use Jeremiah 31:34 to suggest a future covenant that has not yet been made, while others claim that it is talking about the Messianic covenant when it reaches its fullness

Is the new covenant or a future covenant the context of Hebrews 8:8-12?

Hebrews seems to indicate that Jeremiah was speaking about the Messianic covenant which means that we have more to anticipate in this covenant just as the disciples had more to anticipate when they waited for the prophesied Holy Spirit even though the covenant had already been made with them.
Other covenants were also incrementally established:

God established a covenant with Abraham before:

He ever had a son
He was a blessing to the nations in its present fullness

God established a covenant with Moses before he gave them the complete law
God established a covenant with David that was not accomplished till Jesus was born

Major Biblical Covenants