NOTE.—The great object and secret of the old covenant is revealed here. The people did not realize the weakness and sinfulness of their own hearts, or their need of divine grace and help to keep the law; and so, in their ignorance, they readily pledged obedience to it. But almost immediately they began to commit idolatry, and thus to break the law of God, or the very conditions laid down as their part of the covenant. In themselves the conditions were good; but in their own strength the people were unable to fulfil them. The great object of the old covenant therefore was to teach the people their weakness, and their inability to keep the law without the help of God. Like the law itself, over which the old covenant was made, this covenant was designed to shut them up to the provisions of the new or everlasting covenant, and lead them to Christ. Gal. 3:23, 24. And the lesson which Israel as a nation had to learn in this, each individual now must learn before he can be saved. There is no salvation for any one while trusting in self. Unaided, no one can keep the law. Only in Christ is there either remission of sins or power to keep from sinning. The breaking of the tables of the law signified that the terms of the covenant had been broken; the renewing of the tables (Ex. 34:1, 28), God’s patience and long-suffering with His people. 16. Wherein does the new covenant differ from and excel the old? “But now hath He obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also He is the mediator of _a better covenant_, which was established upon _better promises_.” Heb. 8:6. 17. What are the “better promises” upon which the new covenant was established? “This shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the Lord, _I will put My law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; ... I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more_.” Jer. 31:33, 34. See Heb. 8:8-12. NOTE.—These are simply the blessings of the gospel through Christ. They are promised upon condition of repentance, confession, faith, and acceptance of Christ, the Mediator of the new covenant, which means salvation and obedience. In the old covenant there was no provision for pardon and power to obey. It is true there was pardon _during the time of the old covenant_, but not by _virtue_ of it. Pardon then, as now, was through the provisions of the new covenant, the terms of which are older than the old covenant. 18. In what statement was Christ promised as a Saviour and Deliverer of the race as soon as sin entered? “And the Lord God said unto the serpent, ... I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and _her seed_; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise His heel.” Gen. 3:14, 15.