#15 The Preamble to Israel’s Constitution Exodus 19
The 19th chapter of Exodus serves as a preamble to the commandments given by God to Israel through Moses in the following chapter. It informs us as to the purpose of the commandments, as well as to the perspective we should have toward them. There are many opinions as to how the Christian of today should relate to these commandments. Some would suggest that the Law is really a curse, and not a source of blessing. Some would tell us that the Law has absolutely no relevance or application to the Christian, since we are “not under Law, but under grace” (Romans 6:14).
I suggest to you that our text in Exodus chapter 19 strongly implies that the commandments which are about to be given through Moses are to be taken seriously by every believer, in every age.
This chapter divides into three major sections. In verses 1‑6 we have the preface to the chapter, highlighted by the words of God to Israel, spoken to Moses in verses 4‑6. Verses 7‑15 constitute the second division, which pertains to the preparations required of the Israelites before God’s appearance to them on Mt. Sinai. The third section is made up of verses 16‑25, which describe the appearance of God in splendor and majesty on Mt. Sinai. All of this is to set the scene for the deliverance of the Ten Commandments in chapter 20.
I am convinced that we will not appreciate the significance of the commandments in chapter 20 apart from a careful consideration of the “preamble” which is recorded in chapter 19. Our application of the Law will directly flow from our attitude toward the Law, and the purpose of chapter 19 is to shape our attitude toward the laws which follow.
(19:1-25) DIVISION OVERVIEW— Law, The— Covenant, Mosaic: the Bible now begins to cover the law of God, the great Mosaic Covenant. The law of God lays the groundwork for all that follows in the Old Testament. For this reason, the law needs to be looked at as a whole before it is studied in detail. The following discussion gives an overall view of this most important subject: The Law of God, the Great Mosaic Covenant. However before beginning, note that the following overview covers the entire Mosaic Covenant (Exodus 19-24). The Mosaic Covenant is being split into three Divisions because of the importance of the Ten Commandments and the need to handle them in a separate division. The three Divisions are:
VI. THE LAW AND THE PROMISES OF GOD (THE MOSAIC COVENANT) (PART 1): GOD’S GREAT CALL—THE CALL TO TOTAL COMMITMENT, 19:1-25
VII. THE LAW AND THE PROMISES OF GOD (THE MOSAIC COVENANT) (PART 2): THE TEN COMMANDMENTS—NECESSARY LAWS TO GOVERN MAN AND SOCIETY, 20:1-26
VIII. THE LAW AND THE PROMISES OF GOD (THE MOSAIC COVENANT) (PART 3): THE CIVIL AND RELIGIOUS LAWS OF ISRAEL—HELPFUL PRINCIPLES TO GOVERN MAN AND SOCIETY, 21:1-24:18
1. The Mosaic covenant is sometimes called “the law,” “the law of God,” or “the law of Moses.” In addition, the covenant is sometimes divided into three different systems or types of laws:
Þ The moral law: referring to the ten commandments.
Þ The ceremonial law: referring to the commandments governing the religious and sacrificial system.
Þ The civil law: referring to the laws governing the daily lives of people (the Israelites).
2. The covenant of the law spells out the duty of God’s people: obedience. God has always demanded only one thing of believers: obedience. Both Old and New Testament believers are given the same charge: obey God. Norman L. Geisler says this:
“Duty follows deliverance. Complete redemption involved more than getting Israel out of Egypt. It also involved getting ‘Egypt’ (i.e., the world) out of them. Not unlike believers of today, the Israelites often lusted for the things of Egypt (Exodus 16:3) instead of fulfilling their duty. Their duty was to follow God’s law in order to receive God’s blessing.” 2
3. The covenant was conditional (Exodus 19:5-6). The Israelites had to obey God in order to receive the blessings and promises of the covenant. What was to be Israel’s response in the coming centuries? Failure. The rest of the Old Testament is primarily...
· a record of Israel’s gross disobedience to God.
· a record of the prophets’ denunciation of Israel’s sin.
· a record of the warning of coming judgment upon all the disobedient of this earth, upon both the Jew and the Gentile.
· a record of a people failing to become what God wanted them to become.
· a record of a people failing to do what God wanted them to do.
4. Both the Old Testament and the New Testament tell us why God gave the law. There were at least nine purposes.
a. The law was given to mark believers, to mark them as the true followers of God, as being God’s holy and treasured people.
“Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel” (Exodus 19:5-6).
“He showeth his word unto Jacob, his statutes and his judgments unto Israel. He hath not dealt so with any nation: and as for his judgments, they have not known them. Praise ye the LORD” (Psalm 147:19-20).
“My brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh: Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises; Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen” (Romans 9:3b-5).
b. The law was given to mark believers as the priests, the true witnesses and servants of God upon earth.
“Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel” (Exodus 19:5-6).
“But ye shall be named the Priests of the LORD: men shall call you the Ministers of our God: ye shall eat the riches of the Gentiles, and in their glory shall ye boast yourselves” (Isaiah 61:6).
c. The law was given to show man that he is sinful, that he is far short of God’s glory, that he is not perfect.
“Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound” (Romans 5:20).
“What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet” (Romans 7:7).
d. The law was given to show man that he can never be justified by the law, never be perfected by the law, never keep the law perfectly. In fact, he comes ever so short of keeping the law, ever so short of perfection.
“Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin” (Romans 3:20).
e. The law was given to show man that he needs a Savior, a Savior who can deliver him from the curse and penalty of the law.
“For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith. And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them. Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree” (Galatians 3:10-13).
“But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father” (Galatians 4:4-6; cp. Galatians 1:4).
f. The law was given to show man that he needs a mediator to approach God. God appointed Moses to be the mediator between Himself and Israel, but Moses was only a type of the promised Mediator and Prophet, the Lord Jesus Christ...
· who was to be raised up by God Himself
· who was to be the very Prophet of God Himself
· who was to be the Savior and Messiah of the world
· who was to be the High Priest of God Himself
g. The law was given to be a guide (a schoolmaster or guardian), a guide who would lead people to Christ.
“Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith” (Galatians 3:24).
h. The law was given to arouse people to seek both life and the promised land.
“Now therefore hearken, O Israel, unto the statutes and unto the judgments, which I teach you, for to do them, that ye may live, and go in and possess the land which the LORD God of your fathers giveth you. Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you” (Deut. 4:1-2).
“Ye shall observe to do therefore as the LORD your God hath commanded you: ye shall not turn aside to the right hand or to the left. Ye shall walk in all the ways which the LORD your God hath commanded you, that ye may live, and that it may be well with you, and that ye may prolong your days in the land which ye shall possess” (Deut. 5:32-33).
i. The law was given to show man how to live a peaceful and productive life upon earth, how to be at peace with God and man and to live a life that overflows with the blessings of God. Note the commandments, how each...
· leads either to peace with God or peace with man
· leads to a productive and fruitful life upon earth
Commandment 1: Never believe in false gods.
Commandment 2: Never make nor worship false gods.
Commandment 3: Never misuse God’s name; never use vulgarity.
Commandment 4: Keep the Sabbath day holy.
Commandment 5: Honor your father and mother.
Commandment 6: Never kill.
Commandment 7: Never commit adultery or immorality.
Commandment 8: Never steal.
Commandment 9: Never lie or speak falsely against anyone.
Commandment 10: Never covet anything that belongs to a neighbor—his house, wife, servant, workers, animals, or anything else.
5. Scripture tells us seven things that the law (the Mosaic covenant) cannot and does not do.
a. The law does not replace nor void the great promises of God, the great promises of the Abrahamic covenant...
· the promise of the promised land (heaven)
· the promise of the promised seed, meaning both the promise of a great nation of believers and the promise of the Savior and Messiah of the world.
Note how clearly this is stated by Scripture: the law does not replace nor void the great promises given to Abraham and his seed (believers of all generations):
“For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect: Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression. Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all” (Romans 4:13-16).
“Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith” (Galatians 3:13-14).
b. The law could not be a permanent covenant; it was only a temporary covenant until Christ came.
“Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator” (Galatians 3:19).
“But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe” (Galatians 3:22).
c. The law cannot save a person because no person can keep the law.
“But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith” (Galatians 3:11).
“Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin” (Romans 3:20).
d. The law cannot make a person perfect.
“For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God” (Hebrews 7:19, cp. Hebrews 7:11-18).
e. The law cannot justify a person from sin.
“Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses” (Acts 13:38-39).
f. The law cannot make us righteous, cannot impute righteousness to man.
“Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference” (Romans 3:20-22).
“For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him” (2 Cor. 5:21).
g. The law cannot give life to man.
“Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law” (Galatians 3:21).
6. The law is compared to several things throughout Scripture.
a. The law is compared to a mirror because it reveals a person’s sins.
“But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed” (James 1:22-25).
b. The law is compared to a yoke, to the bondage of a yoke, because a person cannot keep the law, not perfectly.
“For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh” (Romans 8:3).
“Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage” (Galatians 5:1).
c. The law is compared to a school guardian because it leads us to Christ, leads us to see our great need for a Savior.
“But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise. Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all; But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father. Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world: But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ” (Galatians 3:23-4:7).
d. The law is compared to letters written on stones in contrast to the law of love written on our hearts by God’s Spirit.
“But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away” (2 Cor. 3:7).
e. The law is compared to a shadow in contrast to the reality and fulfillment we have in Christ.
“For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect” (Hebrews 10:1).
“Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it. Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ” (Col. 2:14-17).
7. The relationship of Jesus Christ to the law is of critical importance.
a. Jesus Christ obeyed the law; He never transgressed the law, not even once. He was without sin.
“For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings” (Hebrews 2:10
“For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin” (Hebrews 4:15).
“And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him” (Hebrews 5:9).
“For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens” (Hebrews 7:26).
b. Jesus Christ declared that He came to fulfill the law, not to destroy it.
“Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil” (Matthew 5:17).
Christ said He was neither contradicting nor destroying the law nor standing against it. He was fulfilling and completing the law, embracing, keeping, and obeying the commandments with all His heart and life. There are several ways in which Jesus Christ fulfilled the law.
Þ Before Christ, the law described how God wanted man to live. The law was the ideal, the words that told man what he was to do. But Christ fulfilled and completed the law; that is, God gave man more than just mere words to describe how He wants man to live. He gave man the Life, the Person who perfectly pictures and demonstrates the law before the world’s very eyes. Jesus Christ is the Picture, the Living Example, the Pattern, the Demonstration of life as it is to be lived. He is the Perfect Picture of God’s Will and Word, the Ideal Man, the Representative Man, the Pattern for all men.
Þ Before Christ, the law was only words and rules. It could only inject the idea of behavior into the mind of a person. It had no spirit, no life, no power to enable a person to do the law. But Christ fulfilled and completed the law. He was Spirit and Life, so He was able to put spirit and life to the words and rules of the law. He was able to live the life described by the words and rules. As such, He was able to inject both the idea and the power to behave into a person’s mind and life. It is now His life that sets the standard and the rule for the believer; it is His Spirit and life that gives the believer power to obey.
Þ Before Christ, the law stated only the rule and the principle of behavior. It did not explain the rule nor the spirit behind the rule. Neither did the law give the full meaning of the rule. The law always had to have an interpreter. But Christ fulfilled and completed the law. He explained the rule and the spirit behind the rule. He interpreted the law. He gave the law its real and full meaning.
Þ Before Christ, the law demanded perfect righteousness; it demanded a perfect life. But man failed at certain points. Man just could not obey the law perfectly; he fell short of perfect righteousness. But Christ fulfilled and completed the law. He kept the law in every detail. He secured the perfect righteousness demanded by the law. He fulfilled all the requirements, all the types, and all the ceremonies of the law—perfectly. As such, He became the Perfect Man, the Ideal Man, the Representative Man for all men. As the Ideal Man, He simply embraced all men; He embodied the righteousness that man must now have.
Þ Before Christ, the law demanded punishment for disobedience. If a man broke the law, he was to be punished. But Christ fulfilled and completed the law. In fact, He went to the farthest point possible in fulfilling the law. He paid the maximum price and showed the ultimate love. He bore the punishment of the law for every man’s disobedience; He took the punishment of the law upon Himself. As the Ideal Man, He not only embodies the righteousness that must cover all men, He also frees all men from the penalty of the law. And He makes them sons of God. (Cp. Romans 8:15-17; Galatians 3:13-14; Galatians 4:1-7.)
THE LAW AND THE PROMISES OF GOD (THE MOSAIC COVENANT) (PART 1): GOD’S GREAT CALL—THE CALL TO TOTAL COMMITMENT, 19:1-25
(19:1-25) Introduction: picture the Israelites at the foot of Mt. Sinai, over three million people camped at the foot of the mountain. Remember, it had been only three months since the miraculous deliverance from Egypt, only three months since God had delivered His people from four hundred years of Egyptian slavery. In the minds of the Israelites, the Promised Land was only a few more days away. Once they arrived, they could then get on with their lives.
But in the words of Norman Geisler:
“Duty follows deliverance. Complete redemption involved more than getting Israel out of Egypt. It also involved getting ‘Egypt’ (i.e., the world) out of them.” 4
How was God going to get “Egypt” (the spirit of the world) out of His people? Two things were necessary. First, God had to give them His law. God had to...
· describe how they were to live
· tell them what to do and what not to do
· spell out exactly how life was meant to be lived
Second, God had to give them His very own presence—a special manifestation—to help them obey His commandments, to guide them as they journeyed throughout life to the promised land of God.
Simply stated, God had to issue a call to His people, a call to enter a covenant with Him. That covenant was the law of God, the great commandments of God that are known as the Mosaic Covenant. F.B. Huey says this:
“Chapters 19-24 of Exodus (along with Genesis 3) have frequently been called the most important chapters of the Old Testament. In these chapters is found the account of the covenant that God made with Israel at Mount Sinai. The covenant was conditioned upon Israel’s obedience to laws which were given to the people at Sinai. The rest of the Old Testament contains the story of how Israel responded to the demands of this covenant relationship. Unfortunately, it is largely a story of disobedience, unheeded warnings of the prophets, and punishment. The history of Israel in Old Testament times has been called a ‘history of failure’—failure to be the people that God wanted them to be.” 5
Believers must know this one fact: the call of God is demanding. God’s call is...
· to a life of obedience
· to a life of trust
· to a life of self-denial
· to a life of faith and assurance
· to a life of commitment
This is the great lesson of this passage of Scripture. It is the lesson of: The Law and the Promises of God (The Mosaic Covenant) (Part 1): God’s Great Call—A Call to Total Commitment, Exodus 19:1-25.
1. The setting and basis for the covenant (v.1-4).
2. The call to obedience (v.5-9).
3. The call to sanctification (v.10).
4. The call to reverence and to fear God’s holy presence (v.11-15).
5. The call to approach God only through His appointed mediator (v.16-25).
(19:1-4) Law, The— Covenant— Israel: there was the setting for the covenant. Note these facts about the setting.
1. The covenant was given in the third month after Israel’s deliverance from Egyptian slavery (Exodus 19:1). It was given three months after the very day of their deliverance. This means that the covenant with God was made just seven weeks or about fifty days after God had delivered them from the world of Egyptian slavery to serve Him.
2. The place where Israel set up camp was at the base of Mount Sinai, the mountain that is called the mountain of God. The Israelites actually camped at Mt. Sinai for almost a year. All the events from this point on through Numbers 10:10 took place before Israel left Mt. Sinai and continued their march to the promised land (Numbers 10:11-13).
3. The persons involved in the covenant or agreement were threefold (Exodus 19:3).
Þ There was the LORD. The LORD gave the covenant to His people through Moses, His appointed mediator.
Þ There was Moses. Moses was God’s appointed spokesman, God’s appointed mediator between Himself and the people.
Þ There were the people. The people were to hear the message of God and approach God through His appointed mediator, Moses, and they were to agree to the covenant.
Note how God referred to the people: He called them “the house of Jacob,” reminding them of their low, humble beginnings, and then He called them the “children of Israel.” Why this sudden switch in titles? Remember Jacob’s all night wrestling experience with God? Jacob had wrestled in prayer with God all night, until finally, sometime in the early morning hours, he surrendered and made a permanent commitment to serve God with all his heart. It was at that time that God changed Jacob’s name to Israel, which means he who strives and prevails with God. God was no doubt arousing His people to think of this great event in Jacob’s life. God was challenging His people to be the “children of Israel,” the nation of people who would surrender and commit themselves to serve God with all their hearts, the people who would truly strive and prevail with God.
4. The basis for the covenant was God’s great deliverance of His people. God had delivered His people from enslavement, gloriously saved and redeemed them from the evil world of the Egyptians. And God was now leading them to the promised land.
Note the graphic picture describing God’s glorious deliverance: He had freed and led His people as though He had carried them on eagles’ wings. It is said that eagles do carry their young on their wings. This is explained by Scripture itself:
“As an eagle stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over her young, spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them, beareth them on her wings: So the LORD alone did lead him [Israel], and there was no strange god with him” (Deut. 32:11-12).
The picture being painted is that of an eagle soaring upon the currents of the wind, bearing its young upon its wings, the picture of...
· protection and security
· speed and swiftness
· provision and supply
· care and affection
God had done all this and so much more for His dear people, all since He had delivered them from their enslavement. He had saved them time and again...
· by forcing the Egyptians to free them from their enslavement.
· by miraculously leading them through the Red Sea and drowning the Egyptian army that was pursuing them.
· by leading them with the cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night.
· by providing water for them out in the middle of the desert.
· by supplying their need for food day by day through the manna and the quails.
· by protecting them from the Amalekites who viciously attacked them, seeking to wipe them from the face of the earth.
God’s people lacked nothing as they journeyed through the wilderness of the desert. The LORD was guiding and meeting all their needs day by day. It was as though they were being carried along on the wings of an eagle.
The point is this: it had been fifty days since God had saved and redeemed Israel from the evil world of Egypt. For fifty long days God had been guiding and delivering His people through trial after trial. Now, it was time for God’s people to make a commitment to Him...
· a life-long agreement
· a life-long covenant
This is, as stated above, the great subject of this portion of Scripture...
· the great covenant which God wanted signed and sealed with His people.
· the great covenant under which God wanted His people to live.
· the great covenant that was to establish Israel as a nation ruled by God.
Verses 4‑6 are the heart of the section, and some would go so far as to say they are the heart of the Old Testament revelation of God pertaining to His covenant with Israel. The first three verses set the stage for the pronouncement which God is about to make. Perhaps it is the third month “to the very day” (v. 1, cf. Exod. 12:41) that Israel is said to have arrived in the wilderness of Sinai. It may be that the Holy Spirit is reminding us by these words that Israel was right on schedule. They were precisely where God wanted them, when God wanted them there. It was here that the reunion of Moses’ family took place (Exodus 18:5). It was here that Israel would remain for 11 months (cf. Numbers 10:11).
Apparently it was not necessary for God to summon Moses. Verse three implies that Moses went up the mountain without any overt prompting from God. This may very well be due to the fact that it was here, on Mt. Horeb (which seems to by synonymous with Mt. Sinai) that Moses first encountered God (cf. Exodus 3 and 4). At the burning bush, God promised Moses that the nation would come to worship Him “at this mountain” (Exodus 3:12). Thus, Moses seemed to know that he was to ascend the mountain to speak with God.
From the mountain, God spoke some of the most significant words found in the Old Testament,[1] words which Moses was to proclaim to the Israelites (vss. 3, 6b): “You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians and how I bore you on eagles’ wings, and brought you to Myself. Now then, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be My own possession among all the peoples, for all the earth is Mine; and you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation” (Exodus 19:5-6a).
These words convey several important truths:
(1) Israel’s history is proof of God’s faithfulness to His covenant, for He distinguished the Israelites from the Egyptians, delivering them and making them the special object of His care. In verse 4 God reminds the Israelites of the contrast between their fate at God’s hand at the exodus and that of the Egyptians. God brought about Israel’s deliverance, while at the same time He destroyed the Egyptians.
God uses a beautiful image here, that of the eagle’s care for its offspring. In the Book of Deuteronomy Moses explains the image more fully: “Like an eagle that stirs up its nest, That hovers over its young, He spread His wings and caught them, He carried them on His pinions” (Deuteronomy 32:11). While there were times when God seemed (to the Israelites) to have abandoned His people, in reality, God, like the mother eagle, was simply stirring up the nest, forcing the Israelites to “try their wings.” When Israel thought she was about to perish, God swooped beneath her, bearing her up. What a beautiful picture of the loving and compassionate care of God for His people. Israel’s past proved that God had dealt graciously with her, while at the same time He destroyed the Egyptians.
(2) Israel’s deliverance was for the purpose of being brought to God, so that the nation
could be His prized possession and to serve Him as a priestly nation. In the Abrahamic Covenant, God promised Abraham that Israel would become great as a nation, the special object of His blessing. The blessing of Israel was also meant to be a source of blessing to all nations (Genesis 12:2). While this would ultimately be fulfilled by the coming of Messiah, there was also a more immediate application. God purposed to bless the nations by establishing Israel, His Servant, as a mediatorial people, who would be a “light to the Gentiles,” sharing with the nations the way of entering into fellowship with God.
(3) In order to maintain this privileged status, Israel must keep God’s covenant (as defined by the Law). Israel’s calling was to a position of both privilege and of responsibility. To whom much is given, much is required. Thus, in order to enjoy fellowship with God and to serve Him as His representative to the nations, Israel must reflect His holiness and purity. Israel was thus given the commandments, so that Israel would be distinct from the nations and God‑like, so that they could fulfill their priestly calling.
(19:5-9) Obedience— Believers, Nature of— Rewards: there was the call to obedience. In one word, God told His people what He expected of them: obedience. He had saved and delivered them; now He expected them to follow Him, to keep His covenant, to obey His commandments.
Note that God referred to the covenant as “My covenant” (Exodus 19:5). The covenant was not to be a covenant between equals. God and man were not to sit down together and work out an agreement between themselves. The covenant of law about to be given to man was God’s covenant, the covenant of the LORD God Himself. The laws of the covenant came from the mind and heart of God—not man. They were the laws that God knew man needed, the laws that would bless man and bless the relationship between God and man. Note two significant facts.
1. The covenant of law was conditional (Exodus 19:5-6). The covenant was just like the covenant of a king (a lord, a master) that was being given to his subjects for their benefit. If they kept the covenant, they would be greatly blessed; if they broke the covenant, they would be condemned.
2. God made three great promises to His people if they obeyed His covenant, His laws.
a. God’s people would be special “treasures” (sequallah) to Him. The Hebrew means select, choice, prized, precious, something held dear. The person who obeys God, who keeps God’s commandment, is....
· God’s personal possession
· God’s precious treasure
· God’s choice property
Note that God was not to be the property of Israel, but Israel was to be the property of God. Israel was to be obedient to God, available for God to lead and direct as He knew best.
Note another fact as well: all the earth is the Lord’s (Exodus 19:5). That is, He is the Sovereign Lord and Majesty of the entire universe: He could have chosen any people to be His holy and treasured people, His priests and witnesses upon earth. But He chose Israel. Scripture tells us why:
“The LORD did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people: But because the LORD loved you, and because he would keep the oath which he had sworn unto your fathers, hath the LORD brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bondmen, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt” (Deut. 7:7-8).
Simply stated, God chose and delivered Israel from the world of Egyptian slavery...
· because Israel was the fewest in number of all people: God could thereby more clearly demonstrate His sovereignty, power, and grace.
· because He loved Israel.
· because He was faithful to His oath, His promise to give the promised land and the promised seed to the forefathers (Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob).
b. God’s people would be a “kingdom of priests” to Him (Exodus 19:6). The idea is that of both kings and priests. The person who obeys God becomes both a king and priest to God.
The promise is clear: the obedient person is victorious over all the enemies of life as he marches to the promised land. The obedient person stands as a priest before God; therefore, when he needs help, he has open access, an open door into God’s presence. He cries to God for help and God helps him. Moreover, as a priest, the obedient person is God’s witness (His missionary) to the unbelievers of the world.
c. God’s people would be a “holy nation” of people (Exodus 19:6). The word “holy” means to be sanctified, separate, different, pure, righteous within and without, totally consecrated to God and His mission upon earth.
Think for a moment about what has just been studied: concentrate upon the great promises just made by God. If we obey God and keep His commandments, we become...
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· the “personal possession” of God · the “precious treasure” of God · the “choice property” of God |
· a king to God · a priest to God · a holy— sanctified, pure, righteous, consecrated— people to God |
3. The response to God’s call was positive, a resounding commitment to obey God (Exodus 19:7-9). Note what happened.
a. Moses called the elders together and shared all that the LORD had commanded (Exodus 19:7).
b. The people—with deep conviction and sincerity of heart—committed themselves to God’s covenant, to obey Him and keep His commandments (Exodus 19:8). Note: they did not yet know the terms of the covenant. The laws of God had not yet been spelled out. Nevertheless, the people had learned that God loved and cared for them; therefore, they knew that His commandments would be holy, just, and good (Romans 7:12). They were in essence committing themselves to God personally, declaring that they would trust and follow Him. They would go wherever He led, do whatever He commanded.
Now, how do we know that this was what happened, that their commitment was made out of deep conviction and sincerity of heart? Because Scripture says so:
c. Note the great assurance given by the LORD to His dear servant Moses. The LORD promised to give him a special manifestation of God’s presence. Why? So that people would believe Moses, both people who lived then and people of all time (Exodus 19:9). What was the special manifestation? Right there on Mt. Sinai, every time God spoke to Moses, an astounding cosmic spectacle took place:
Þ A dense, pitch black cloud hung over the mountain
Þ Thunder roared
Þ Lightning flashed
Þ God’s voice pierced and boomed forth from the cloud
Again, God’s purpose was to stir the people to believe Moses, to believe his testimony that the Ten Commandments and laws had come from God. They were truly the commandments of God.
“Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come” (1 Cor. 10:11).
“For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope” (Romans 15:4).
“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness” (2 Tim. 3:16).
“For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost” (2 Peter 1:21).
DEEPER STUDY (19:5-6) Mosaic Covenant— Abrahamic Covenant— Believer, Life and Walk: the Mosaic covenant is a continuation of God’s covenant with His people, a continuation of the Abrahamic covenant. Remember, in ancient history the whole world had forsaken God. Few if any people were totally following God . Thus God had chosen one man and given him the great promises of God. That man was Abraham. God called Abraham to forsake the world, to believe God, and to seek the great promises of God. If Abraham forsook the world and believed God, diligently seeking God’s promises, then God would fulfill the promises in the lives of Abraham’s descendents. There were three great promises given to Abraham:
Þ the promise of the promised land, the land of Canaan (a symbol of heaven).
Þ the promise that Abraham would be a blessing to all the nations of the earth, meaning that the Savior and Messiah of the world would come through his descendents and bless the whole world.
Þ the promise of the promised seed, meaning both a multitude of descendents who would become a great nation of people and the promised seed of the Messiah (cp. Galatians 3:16).
That great nation of people was Israel. There at Mt. Sinai, God was ready to expand and enlarge His covenant given to Abraham.
Þ God called Abraham to believe Him and to seek the great promises of God.
Þ God called Israel to obey Him and to become two things: the holy people of God and His witnesses to the world.
Simply stated, the Mosaic covenant was simply a continuation of the Abrahamic covenant. The following chart shows both the connection and the additional items of the Mosaic covenant.
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The call/challenge
Abrahamic Covenant (Genesis 12:1-3; Acts 3:12; Galatians 3:6-8; Galatians 3:16)
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The promises
Þ God’s people would inherit the promised land Þ God’s people would be a blessing to the entire world, meaning that the Messiah and Savior of the world would come through his descendents and bless the whole world Þ God’s people would bear the promised seed, both a great nation of people and the Savior and Messiah
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The call/challenge
Mosaic Covenant (Exodus 19:5-6) |
The promises
Þ God’s people would become the special people of God Þ God’s people would become a holy nation, marked as the true followers of the only living and true God, a nation set apart to follow God in all righteousness and godliness Þ God’s people would become a kingdom of priests, the witnesses of God to the world |
Note this significant fact: the Abrahamic covenant pictures salvation and the Mosaic covenant pictures the believers’ life and walk.
1. The Abrahamic covenant pictures salvation: if a person forsakes the world, believes God, and diligently seeks the promises of God...
· he inherits the promised land
· he blesses the world by possessing Christ, by following Christ, and by offering Christ to the world
· he bears seed, a number of spiritual descendents who become believers
2. The Mosaic covenant pictures the believer’s life and walk: if a person obeys God...
· he becomes a special person, a valuable treasure to the Lord, a person marked as a follower of the only living and true God
· he becomes a holy person, a member of the holy nation of God
· he becomes a king and a priest to God, a witness for God to the whole world
Another significant fact needs to be noted at this point: Scripture refers to the Mosaic Covenant as the “old” or “first” covenant. The “old covenant” is often contrasted with the “new covenant” established by Christ. Ronald Youngblood says this about the two covenants:
“Our Bible is divided into two Testaments: Old and New. The word for ‘testament’ can also be translated ‘covenant,’ a term that implies significant and intimate relationship between two parties (whether collective or individual). Many Scripture passages compare and contrast the ‘old’ or ‘first’ covenant with the ‘new covenant’ (see, for example, Jeremiah 31:31-34; Hebrews 9:15-22). Although the Bible (particularly the Old Testament) describes many covenants in detail, the terms old covenant and first covenant always refer to the one we are about to study, the Mosaic (Sinaitic) covenant (see especially 2 Cor. 3:14-15; Hebrews 9:15-20), the most important of the older covenants. The Old Testament, then, is basically the story of redemption ratified by the ‘old covenant’ (the Mosaic covenant), and the New Testament is basically the story of redemption ratified by the ‘new covenant’ (instituted by Jesus during the Last Supper; see Luke 22:20). Both covenants become effective only through the shedding of blood (Exodus 24:8; Matthew 26:28).” 6
(19:10) Sanctification— Consecration— Set Apart— Separation— Purity: there was the call to sanctification. The word “sanctification” means to be consecrated, totally given over to God; to be separated from the pollutions of the world and committed to God and His service; to be pure, clean, righteous, holy before God.
Note how the people were to sanctify and consecrate themselves: they were to wash their clothes. While washing and cleaning their clothes, they were to be meditating upon sanctification, upon asking God to cleanse them from the sins and pollutions of this world.
The point is this: God was preparing His people to receive His covenant, preparing His people to make a total commitment to Him. One of the first steps to commitment is sanctification or consecration. Before God could give His covenant to His people, before the people could be totally committed to God, they had to be sanctified, consecrated: cleansed from all sin, from all the pollutions and contaminations of this world.
(19:11-15) Holiness, of God— Reverence— Fear, of God— Awe— Sex— Sanctification: there was the call to reverence and to fear God’s holy presence. God is holy; that is, God is totally different, separated and set apart from everything else. He is set apart in person, being, purity, righteousness, and perfection from the universe and from all that is in the universe. God is totally different and set apart. He is the Sovereign Lord and Majesty of the universe, the Creator and Sustainer of all that is or has ever been or ever will be. God is Light—pure Light—before whom no person or thing could ever stand apart from His will, not without being consumed. Note how God called His people to reverence and to fear His holy presence.
1. God demanded that the people be ready to meet Him. Why? His holy presence was to descend down upon Mt. Sinai on the third day in the sight of all the people (Exodus 19:11).
2. God demanded that His holy presence be acknowledged and respected (Exodus 19:12-13). How?
Þ Boundaries were to be set around the mountain, and the people were not to cross the boundaries (Exodus 19:12). The boundary pictured the great distance between God and man, the great gulf that separates God and man. Any person who crossed the boundary—any person who violated and did not reverence and fear God’s holy presence—was to be executed, put to death (Exodus 19:13).
3. God had demanded that the people sanctify and consecrate themselves. Note that they followed through with His demand: they washed their clothes, obviously asking God to cleanse their hearts while they washed their clothes (Exodus 19:14).
4. God demanded that the people focus totally upon Him. Note how He secured their full attention: they had to abstain from sexual relations during the three days of preparation for God’s descent from the mountain (Exodus 19:15).
God is holy. Consequently, one of the great duties of man is that we reverence and fear His holiness. Any person who curses and denies God is going to face a holy and just God some day. But in addition, any person who shows disrespect and irreverence—who does not fear God in all His majestic being and holiness—will also face a holy, just God in the day of judgment.
God is so high above man that we cannot even conceive the distance that separates us. Our understanding of God—even with the revelation of Scripture and of the Lord Jesus Christ—amounts to no more than a thimble full of water compared to the seas of the earth. Think about the universe—how vast and enormous—yet God’s presence and power extend out beyond the universe.
Man must reverence and fear God. If not, we can expect nothing but the terrifying wrath of the holy, just God. God is love, yes; Jesus Christ showed us that God is love. But the cross, where Jesus Christ bore the sins of the world because of God’s holiness and justice, shows us that God dwells in perfect holiness and perfect justice. If God’s holiness judged His very own Son for the sins of the world, then no person must ever think that God’s holiness will not judge him.
Moses conveyed the words which God had spoken to him on the mountain to the people (v. 7).[2] Unanimously, the people responded, “All that the Lord has spoken we will do!” (v. 8) It is noteworthy that the Israelites agreed to do all that God commanded in principle, rather than in particular. That is, the Law has not yet been given. To this point, God has only indicated that the people must keep their covenant by obeying the laws which He is about to set down. This indicates to us the eagerness with which the Israelites anticipated the Law, as well as the implicit trust they had in the character of God, so that they could commit themselves to obedience without knowing what it is that they would obey.
Moses returned to the top of the mountain to convey the words of the people to God.[3] Before he was able to speak, however, God revealed to Moses that He would appear to Moses in a thick cloud. The purpose for this appearance is not what we would have expected: “Behold, I shall come to you in a thick cloud, in order that the people may hear when I speak with you, and may also believe in you forever” (v. 9). God was going to speak with Moses as Israel watched and listened, so that his leadership would be evident to the people. In light of later (not to mention earlier) events, when Moses’ authority would be challenged, God purposes to clearly establish Moses’ position and authority publicly. His appearance to Moses will accomplish this purpose.
Verses 10‑15 outline the steps which the Israelites must take in order to purify and prepare themselves for the appearance of God on the third day. During the two day interval, a number of things were to be done: