Exodus 19:1-25 – Preparations to receive the Mosaic Covenant
Background: The Mosaic Covenant is established in Exodus 19 to 24:11. It is a conditional covenant. The biblical covenants in sequence are: Adamic Covenant, Noahic Covenant, Abrahamic Covenant, Mosaic Covenant, Davidic Covenant and the New Covenant.
Dispensation is a period/stewardship/administration whereby people are given revelations by God and are tested for their faithfulness.
The Mosaic Covenant is the period of the Dispensation of Law. In sequence of bible history, the seven dispensations are: (1) Innocence, (2) Conscience, (3) Human Government, (4) Promise, (5) Law, (6) Grace and (7) Kingdom of God.
They stayed at Mt Sinai for 11 months (Num 10:11).
Preparations before receiving the Law (Exod 19:1-25)
The intent or the heart of the Covenant to the Israelites is this:
5 Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep My covenant, you shall be My treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is Mine; 6 and you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. (Exod 19:5-6).
In the history of Israel, they failed to be live as priests of the LORD. Instead of influencing the Gentile nations to worship YHWH, they went astray to worship idols of the nations. Instead of being a holy nation, they became unholy by behaving like Egypt and Sodom in the spiritually dark periods.
Three times, the Israelites declared, “All the LORD has spoken we will do” (Exod 19:8; 24:3, 7), But they were disobedient.
God heard their response (Deut 5:27-28). However, God knew that they had over-estimated their response (Deut 5:29)
Any commitment to God is a serious matter and there should be a public dedication. Consecration requires: (a) clean garments, (b) separation of the sinful self from a holy God and (3) temporary fasting from normal sexual relations.
Fire is a symbol of holiness. Fire enlightens, purges and refines. Thunders, lightnings and thick cloud augment the awe of approaching God who dwells in unapproachable light (1 Tim 6:16). A very loud trumpet sound originates in heaven. (Trumpet sounds appear frequently in Israel’s history and also in Revelation, the last book of the Bible). All these invoke fear and trembling from the Israelites.
For Christians we take heed that God will “Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.” And be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire (Heb 12:26-29).
Under the Mosaic Law, there is a distinct class of priests. Only Moses and Aaron can approach the LORD at the top on the holy mountain. Only the high priest, after ritual cleansing can approach God in Jewish religious history. The priests can come nearer to God. The people have to stay within the limits marked around the foot of the mountain.
In the Dispensation of Grace, every Christian can approach God the Father, through Jesus, the Son of God. Jesus is the Great High Priest who has passed through the heavens.
Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need (Heb 4:14-16).
