God's Covenant with Israel
Covenant with God • Sermon • Submitted
0 ratings
· 73 viewsTo eagerly anticipate meeting God in many ways and in many places
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Sermon Tone Analysis
A
D
F
J
S
Emotion
A
C
T
Language
O
C
E
A
E
Social
Seeing the Need/Background
Seeing the Need/Background
As noted is last week’s study of Abraham, part of the Lord’s message in the covenant-making ceremony was that Abraham’s descendants would be in “a country not their own” for 400 years ().After that they would “come out with great possessions” (15:14). That coming out was the exodus, which occurred under the leadership of Moses.
Today’s lesson takes us to “the third month” following the exodus (). Acting ungrateful along the way, the Israelites came to the “Desert of Sinai” and “camped....in front of the mountain,” which was Mount Sinai (19:2). There they prepared themselves to hear from God. He had delivered them from hard bondage in Egypt and was about to initiate a covenant relationship with them.
The forthcoming covenant required preparation. Having called to Moses “from the mountain” (), the Lord instructed him to convey a message to the Israelites that focused on (1) what God had done for them, delivering them “on eagles wings,” and (2) what God intended to do for them in making them “my treasured possession....a kingdom of priests, and a holy nation” (19:4-6). When Moses relayed the Lord’s words to the Israelites, they voiced their willingness to obey (19:8). Such a profession of commitment is admirable. But did the people really understand the challenges and responsibilities being placed before them?
Moses informed the people that the Lord would come down upon Mount Sinai to speak to them. But limits or boundaries around the mountain meant the people weren’t to get too close. Only when they heard the sound of the trumpet were they allowed to approach (). The mountain was sacred.
Sacred Mountain -
Sacred Mountain -
Exodus
On the morning of the third day there was thunder and lightning, as well as a thick cloud on the mountain, and a blast of a trumpet so loud that all the people who were in the camp trembled. Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet God. They took their stand at the foot of the mountain. Now Mount Sinai was wrapped in smoke, because the Lord had descended upon it in fire; the smoke went up like the smoke of a kiln, while the whole mountain shook violently. As the blast of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses would speak and God would answer him in thunder.
The previous instruction to the people have stressed preparation for the third day (, ). That pivotal day has now arrived, and an awe-inspiring series of sounds and sights begin. The climate changed. Out of thunder and lightening and the destiny of cloud, the blast of a ram’s horn announced the spectacular presence of God. The entire camp knew the horn was the signal.
They knew it was time to go to their designated places at the base of the mountain. What they did not know was what waited them on that day. They did not know what is was going to be like to hear the voice of God, to stand in God’s presence. Their heightened emotion responded in fear.
The overwhelming nature of the visual and audible elements terrify the people; Moses is no exception (). The people fear deatbh, should they approach close enough for God to speak to them directly (). Sinai could only be explained as a supernatural act of God. All of this brought the appropriate reaction from the Israelites: fear of God.
We should not expect to have such an experience today. Even so, when was the last time that a display of a force of nature caused you to tremble before the Creator of all such forces?
Ultimately God is the one who determines what is an acceptable way to come into his presence. Moses takes the lead in bringing the people out of the camp to meet with God. But they go no father than the foot of the mountain, which refers to its base. The scene intensifies as thickening smoke accompanies violent quaking. The ever louder sound of the trumpet seems to be a prelude to a conversation between Moses and God.
The ever louder sound of the trumpet seems to be a prelude to a conversation between Moses and God.
What safeguards can we adopt to avoid interpreting our own wishes as God’s speaking?
Solemn Message -
Solemn Message -
When the Lord descended upon Mount Sinai, to the top of the mountain, the Lord summoned Moses to the top of the mountain, and Moses went up. Then the Lord said to Moses, “Go down and warn the people not to break through to the Lord to look; otherwise many of them will perish. Even the priests who approach the Lord must consecrate themselves or the Lord will break out against them.” Moses said to the Lord, “The people are not permitted to come up to Mount Sinai; for you yourself warned us, saying, ‘Set limits around the mountain and keep it holy.’ ” The Lord said to him, “Go down, and come up bringing Aaron with you; but do not let either the priests or the people break through to come up to the Lord; otherwise he will break out against them.” So Moses went down to the people and told them.
The Lord descends upon the mountain in fire, and Moses does not take the initiative to approach the Lord, but waits until invited to do so. Understand that Moses is 80 years old when he climbs to the top of the Mount Sinai, but when the invitation comes, Moses simply obeys.
The whole Sinai encounter was a model for God’s willingness to communicate with those created in the divine image. The extraordinary event was an example of the divine order that would be established by the harmony of worship.
After reaching the top of the Mount Sinai, Moses is told to go down! This command seems to occur immediately after Moses complete his ascent, given the urgency of the message he is to convey to the people. The command seems to stress the importance of furthering the possibility of the people respecting the boundaries set by God. The people are not to force their way through to see the Lord, but maintain the boundaries and respect the Lord.
Moses models the principle of obedience for us. He came to this day with the success of leading the Israelites away from those who had captured them. He had proved himself to the people and to God. In obeying God’s command, he established a pattern of obedience that God wanted the people to follow.
How would you go about explaining to an unbeliever the spiritual importance of various boundaries that God has set?
In verse 22 the voice of the Lord declares that even the priests, who approach the Lord, must consecrate themselves. They are therefore singled out for a specific warning. The office of priest will be highly significant in the religious life of Israel in the years ahead.
Exactly how they are to consecrate themselves is not specified. Apparently it involves some kind of ritual or ceremony of which the priests themselves are aware. To fail in this regard is to invite the Lord’s wrath to break out against them.
How can Christians do a better job of sanctifying themselves in preparing to meet God in Worship?
In verse 24 we see that the Lord has a new set of instructions: Moses is to depart and bring back his brother Aaron. Aaron will be first to serve in the role later known as “high priest”, so this mountaintop experience undoubtedly serves as part of his preparations for that important office.
It was important for the people to understand the nature of the call to the priesthood or ministry, that it must be seen as God’s sacred choice rather than their decision.
Again the Lord repeats the warning of , , and once more Moses’ simple obedience is highlighted. Everything that happened during this Sinai narrative was designed to teach the people that God was supreme and that humankind must remain subservient to God’s plan and purpose.
How is your church consecrating its members for their holy task of ministry?
Conclusion
Conclusion
The Israelites in today’s text were told to prepare very diligently and specifically to meet God at Mount Sinai. Today we do not meet God under the same circumstances as the Israelites did. Nevertheless, we can draw lessons from their experience regarding our own preparation for worship.
Many times we get so busy during the week, crowding our days with activities, that we find ourselves having little time to prepare properly for Sunday worship. As a result, Sunday morning finds us scrambling to get to Sunday school or worship - and perhaps arriving late at that. Our bodies may be seated and stationary, but our minds are racing in a hundred different directions. We are not really prepared to meet God.
We may need to simply become more intentional and deliberate about our preparation, formulating a plan for addressing distractions.
Prayer
Prayer
Holy God, restore within us a sense of mystery of the holy. Teach us reverence for your majesty, and lead us to obedient faithfulness to your will for our lives. Help us not lose our sense of reverence for your grace. May we allow the Scriptures to be our primary source of truth about you, rather than being swayed away by the world’s perspective. We pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.