Psalm 111:9 mentions an eternal covenant—how does this align with the New Testament’s concept of a new covenant superseding the old one?

I. Introduction to the Eternal Covenant in Psalm 111:9

Psalm 111:9 declares, “He has sent redemption to His people; He has ordained His covenant forever; holy and awesome is His name.” This raises an important question: If the psalmist celebrates an eternal covenant from God, how does that align with the New Testament’s teaching on a “new covenant” that supersedes the old? An examination of both the Old and New Testaments reveals a coherent picture: The “eternal covenant” language does not negate the new covenant inaugurated by Christ, but rather points to the unchanging promises of God’s redemptive plan.

II. Old Testament Context of Psalm 111:9

Psalm 111 is a hymn of praise recounting the mighty works of God on behalf of His covenant people. Verse 9 emphasizes two components:

• God’s redemption for His people.

• The permanence of the covenant He established.

Within the wider Old Testament context, “covenant” (Hebrew: בְּרִית, berith) signifies a divinely instituted promise binding God to His people. Examples include:

1. Noahic Covenant (Genesis 9:8–17): A promise never to destroy the world again by flood.

2. Abrahamic Covenant (Genesis 15; 17): A promise of descendants, land, and blessing.

3. Mosaic Covenant (Exodus 19–24): The giving of the Law at Sinai, laying out the terms of relationship with God.

4. Davidic Covenant (2 Samuel 7): A promise that a descendant of David would reign forever.

Psalm 111:9 extols God’s faithfulness, connecting God’s redemptive acts with an everlasting covenant. Ancient Hebrew manuscripts, including fragments found among the Dead Sea Scrolls, support the textual stability of the psalm, underscoring the trustworthiness of its claim.

III. Concept of “Eternal” in Hebrew Thought

The Hebrew term often translated “forever” or “eternal” can refer to a covenant of unending significance, stretching beyond one historical period. It speaks to divine promises that find their ultimate fulfillment in God’s plan. While specific covenantal practices can change—the Mosaic regulations, for instance, were distinct for Israel’s theocracy—God’s overarching intention and the redemption He provides do not change (cf. Malachi 3:6).

IV. Introduction of the New Covenant

In the New Testament, Jesus Christ institutes a “new covenant” with His blood (Luke 22:20)—a decisive event prophesied in the Old Testament (e.g., Jeremiah 31:31–34). This new covenant does not nullify God’s earlier promises. Rather, it brings them to their culmination—fulfilling the types and foreshadowings of the old covenants and completing God’s redemption through the once-for-all sacrifice of Christ (Hebrews 9:15–28).

V. How the New Covenant Supersedes While Upholding the Old

1. Fulfillment of Sacrificial Law

The old covenant sacrifices of animals pointed to the final perfect sacrifice in Jesus Christ (Hebrews 10:1–4). By fulfilling these sacrificial requirements, Jesus’ work on the cross inaugurated a covenant that permanently accomplishes what the Mosaic sacrifices could only symbolize.

2. Transformation of the Heart

Under the old covenant, the Law was written on tablets of stone (Deuteronomy 5). Jeremiah prophesied that under the new covenant, God would write the Law on the hearts of His people (Jeremiah 31:33). This internal transformation—the indwelling of the Holy Spirit—indicates that the covenant still reflects God’s moral character, yet it is applied in a more profound and individual way.

3. Universality of the Promise

The new covenant expands participation to include every nation, tribe, and tongue (Matthew 28:19; Galatians 3:28–29). This was always part of God’s eternal plan through Abraham’s seed (Genesis 22:18), now fully unveiled through the redemptive work of Christ.

VI. Unbroken Continuity: The Eternal Nature of God’s Plan

Psalm 111:9’s mention of an “eternal covenant” aligns naturally with the new covenant because God’s promises never fail. While terminology such as “old” and “new” might suggest contradiction, Scripture reveals that the new covenant is the apex of the eternal redemption plan. Passages like Hebrews 13:20, referring to the “blood of an everlasting covenant,” underscore that God’s overarching plan is eternal even though the covenantal medium given to Israel under Moses was superseded by a better way under Christ (Hebrews 8:6).

VII. Scriptural Harmonization

• Hebrews 8:13 says: “In speaking of a new covenant, He has made the first one obsolete; and what is obsolete and aging will soon disappear.” The divinely ordained system of offerings and temple worship finds fulfillment in Christ. The eternal covenant is not the temple-based practice but the mercy and covenantal redemption promised by God, which remains unbroken.

• Galatians 3:17 points out that the Mosaic Law, which came centuries after Abraham, did not cancel the promise made to Abraham—a promise that ultimately points to Christ.

• Romans 11:29 affirms, “For God’s gifts and His call are irrevocable,” indicating that God’s redemptive purpose for humanity stands firm throughout all covenants.

VIII. Implications for Believers

1. Confidence in God’s Unchanging Character

Because God has ordained His covenant forever, believers can trust in His faithfulness. The shift from the Mosaic system to the new covenant does not signal a change in God’s nature, only the outworking of His eternal plan in human history.

2. Assurance of Salvation

By Christ’s resurrection, the new covenant guarantees eternal life to those who believe (John 3:16). This is the culmination of the promise contained in the eternal covenant language of Psalm 111:9.

3. Renewed Devotion

Understanding that God’s covenant is both “eternal” and “new” inspires believers to deeper worship, just as Psalm 111 prompts a response of adoration for God’s mighty deeds.

IX. Conclusion

Psalm 111:9 highlights the permanent, unbreakable quality of God’s redemptive commitment, which remains steadfast across the ages. Though the form of the covenant changed from the Mosaic system to the new covenant in Christ, the underlying plan is eternal and fulfilled in Jesus. Far from being contradictory, the “eternal covenant” in Psalm 111:9 and the “new covenant” of the New Testament are harmoniously woven together in Scripture, revealing a unified message of salvation and redemption.

The continuity between God’s faithfulness to His people in ancient times and the full revelation of the gospel in the New Testament underscores a single, unchanging purpose: to redeem humanity and to invite all people to know Him. This unbreakable thread in Scripture ensures that Psalm 111:9’s proclamation of an everlasting covenant finds its glorious realization in Jesus, the mediator of the new and eternal covenant.