The Sinai Covenant includes many references that give the impression that it will be in force forever. For example concerning keeping the Temple lampstand lit, we read, "This is to be a lasting ordinance among the Israelites for the generations to come" (Exodus 20:21). As I have already pointed out directives such as this one – apart from any other reason – cannot be done today since there is no temple. This is an example therefore that when God speaks of "forever" or "for the generations" to come, he means that as long as the covenant is in force, these things are to be followed. It is similar to the marriage vow, "Till death do we part." When my wife and I were married, we promised to be faithful to one another forever, but this "forever" is limited to each of us being alive. Should one of us pass away before the other, the vow we made to each other is no longer in force.
As a people we broke the Sinai Covenant. God's response to our unfaithfulness was to establish the New Covenant as described in Jeremiah 31. While the Sinai Covenant was in force, the people of Israel we obliged to keep its directive throughout our generations. But now we are under a New Covenant, not like the older one (Jeremiah 31:32).
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