When Moses came and told the people all the words and ordinances of the LORD, they all responded with one voice: "All the words that the LORD has spoken, we will do." Sermons
I. OBSERVE HOW CLEARLY THESE TERMS HAD BEEN STATED. Moses came and told the people all the words of the Lord and all the judgments. All the way to Sinai the people had the opportunity of seeing the power of Jehovah; at Sinai something of his glory had been manifested; and now in these words and judgments the character and will of Jehovah were made known. It is observable that at their first approach to Sinai the people had expressed their willingness to be obedient to God (Exodus 19:8). But he does not seek to bind them. down by a formal contract until he has made clear the laws under which he would have them to live. it is well for us to bear in mind that God distinctly and emphatically states all things of practical and present importance. We indeed may have a very imperfect understanding of his statements; but the statements in themselves are perfectly plain, only requiring that our minds should be brought into a right state of humility, and concentrated upon the study of God's holy commandments with the requisite degree of attention. II. OBSERVE ALSO THE WAY IN WHICH THESE TERMS HAD BEEN ACCEPTED. The people answered with one voice. There was a remarkable unanimity. Are we to take it that there was a complete, universal, cordial shout of acceptance? There is no reason to suppose otherwise, no reason to suppose but that a profound impression had been made on every mind. Not the slightest word appears to indicate discord. But of course, although there was no discord in the expression, there was great diversity in the state of mind which underlay the shout of acceptance. The emotion finding vent in this unanimous acceptance could be traced back in a few instances to a thoroughly awakened conscience, desiring to live a thoroughly righteous life, and be in true and complete conformity to the will of God; for there were men of David's spirit long before David's time. But in how many was there nothing more than the inconsiderate shout of those who, after all God had said, had yet not the slightest knowledge of his will! And yet with all these profound differences the superficial enthusiastic agreement evidently served a purpose. For not only was there a word, but also a highly significant and impressive deed. Notice that all the preparations in the way of altar, pillars, offerings, etc., made so carefully by Moses, are not said to have been made by God's commandment. The most we can say is, that they were not out of harmony with his will. They were a visible representation, a kind of writing out of the great contract into which the people thus entered. There stood the altar signifying the presence of God, and there the pillars signifying the twelve tribes, and there was the blood with its principle of life joining together, in a glorious unity, Jehovah and his people. The great and lamentable differences underneath are neither forgotten nor underrated; but for the time they are not regarded. The unity of feeling thus seemed was made to serve a great symbolic purpose. These people, by word and deed, by the erection of these pillars, and by the acceptance of the sprinkled blood, took part in a great historic act, and declared that they were the people of God in a way the consequences of which they could not afterwards escape. III. Observe this very remarkable thing - THAT GOD SHOULD HAVE ACCEPTED THEIR ACCEPTANCE. He knew how much and how little it meant, and yet he did not point out the rashness of the utterance, he did not interfere with the symbolic actions by which Moses more deliberately set forth the adhesion of the people. We are bound, therefore, to conclude that in whatever ignorance and sudden enthusiasm the people might subscribe to this covenant, yet that subscription was right. The laws that God gave from Sinai are the laws for men to live by. The constitution of God's kingdom was by this great symbolic act solemnly introduced into Israel, and made the constitution of Israel also. Every nation, if it is to be anything more than a mere crowd, must have a constitution. Some constitutions grow, and like all things that grow, they occasionally branch out in unexpected directions. Other constitutions, men meet together to determine and formulate, like that of the American republic. But here is a constitution which comes down out of heaven from God; and in a great historic act, the nation into which it comes accepts it. Hence those born under that constitution were bound to accept it also. There was no nation on the face of the earth that had such securities, privileges, and prospects as Israel had under these laws from Sinai. The government was neither a despotism nor a democracy. The people were neither under an arbitrary will which might capriciously change, nor did they depend upon their own fluctuating opinions. God, if we might use such an expression, was bound by these laws, even as the people were themselves. - Y.
Come up to Me into the mount. I. EACH ONE HAS HIS OWN POSITION TO OCCUPY.II. EACH MAN HAS HIS OWN DIVINE VISION. To-day we may experience Divine chidings, and to-morrow we may be on the Mount of Beatitude. III. BUT THERE ARE SPECIALITIES OF WORK. IV. THEREFORE THERE MUST BE SPECIALITY IN THE PREPARATIONS. Learn to be much in the right, much in prayer, much in mountain solitude; but much also with the people. Let waiting and working go hand in hand. Above all things, obey the Divine voice. (W. Burrows, B. A.) 1. For religious teachers. 2. For those engaged in business. 3. For parents, etc. II. That SPECIAL PLACES are appointed for communion with God. 1. House of God. 2. Privacy of own chamber. III. That PREPARATION should be made for communion with God (ver. 14; see Matthew 6:6). 1. Guard against interruptions from without. 2. Drive away worldly and anxious thoughts within. IV. That communion with God should be most frequently ALONE. 1. Presence of others may distract mind or embarrass thoughts. 2. Presence of others may divert attention from personal concerns of soul. 3. Private sins and wants to be laid bare. V. That in communion with God, THE PRESENCE OF OTHERS IS SOMETIMES HELPFUL AND EVEN NECESSARY. Family worship — prayer meetings — for those who have common wants, interests, etc. VI. That communion with God is THE CONDITION UPON WHICH MAN MAY WITNESS THE DIVINE GLORY (vers. 16, 17; see Isaiah 6.) VII. That communion with God MAY RE PROTRACTED, and man must not weary of it. VIII. That among the purposes of communion with God, are RECOGNITION OF THE DIVINE AUTHORITY AND PREPARATION FOR FUTURE WORK. (J. W. Burn.) (A. J. Gordon.) Moses would never have been the law-giver he was had he not remained there on the mount, in sight of the glory and in communion with his God. The disciples would never have wrought as they did, had they not tarried in Jerusalem. Eminent preachers and teachers would never have thrilled and won hearts to Christ as they have, had they not gained their power in long seasons of prayer and communion with God.1. Spiritual endowment is always the measure of success in work for Christ. Preachers fail and teachers fail because they are so little on the mount with God. 2. The want of Christian workers everywhere is revelation of the Divine glory. From this, power springs. God can use us only as we become equipped by vision of, and communion with, Him. We can tell only as we know. We know only as we are taught of God. Have we been on the mount, under the cloud? Have we seen the glory and heard the voice? What is our message from God to men? (J. E. Twitchell.). People Aaron, Abihu, Hur, Israelites, Joshua, Moses, NadabPlaces Mount SinaiTopics Answering, Judgments, Laws, Ordinances, Perform, Recounted, Recounteth, Responded, Spoken, Voice, WhateverOutline 1. Moses is called up into the mountain3. The people promise obedience 4. Moses builds an altar, and twelve pillars. 6. He sprinkles the blood of the covenant 9. The glory of God appears 14. Aaron and Hur have the charge of the people 15. Moses goes into the mountain, where he continues forty days and forty nights. Dictionary of Bible Themes Exodus 24:3 1349 covenant, at Sinai 1443 revelation, OT Library Sin and Forgiveness'... Forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty....'--EXODUS xxiv. 7. The former chapter tells us of the majesty of the divine revelation as it was made to Moses on 'the mount of God.' Let us notice that, whatever was the visible pomp of the external Theophany to the senses, the true revelation lay in the proclamation of the 'Name'; the revelation to the conscience and the heart; and such a revelation had never before fallen on mortal ears. It is remarkable … Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture 'The Love of Thine Espousals' The Blood of the Covenant The Blood of the Testament The Blood of Sprinkling The Birth of Jesus Proclaimed by Angels to the Shepherds. The Lord's Supper Instituted. Writings of St. Ambrose. Things Pertaining to the Kingdom. The Last Supper Brief Outline of Ancient Jewish Theological Literature Jesus Calls Four Fishermen to Follow Him. Appendix xii. The Baptism of Proselytes Exodus Links Exodus 24:3 NIVExodus 24:3 NLT Exodus 24:3 ESV Exodus 24:3 NASB Exodus 24:3 KJV Exodus 24:3 Bible Apps Exodus 24:3 Parallel Exodus 24:3 Biblia Paralela Exodus 24:3 Chinese Bible Exodus 24:3 French Bible Exodus 24:3 German Bible Exodus 24:3 Commentaries Bible Hub |
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