A Holy, Holy, Holy People

Series on Exodus

IV. The Conduct of God’s People

A. The Significance of the Law, Text: Exodus 19

Title: A Holy, Holy, Holy People

Introduction

The mountain of God as Sinai is called in the Bible was a destination for the children of Israel. Before they could go up and take possession of the promised land they had to understand the stipulations of God’s covenant. The location of this mountain has been long debated. Most Bible maps identify Sinai as a 7,647 foot high mountain in the southern Sinai Peninsula, now called Jebel Musa, the mountain of Moses. Whatever the location Sinai is the place where the covenant of grace is defined for all time. There the stipulations are made clear, the covenant is sealed and the nation is prepared for service. The meeting of God with his people at Sinai is vital to our understanding our relationship to God today and should not be viewed as outdated and irrelevant to our New Testament faith. We are going to consider today three ways in which the true nature of the covenant of grace is revealed: the purpose of the covenant, the preparation for the covenant and the presentation of the covenant.

I The Purpose of the Covenant

That the covenant is a promise of grace, and that promise is the foundation of the covenant God has made with sinful people should be obvious from the first part of chapter 19. Israel, that is the children of Abraham Isaac and Jacob had done nothing to deserve their deliverance from Egyptian bondage. Ogden Nash wrote one of his cryptic jingles about God’s love for the Jews which began with the words, “How odd of God to choose the Jews.” That might have anti-semitic overtones to it today, but the truth is it could be written about any nation, or indeed any person. There is an incomprehensible mystery to election. and God reminds the people of this fact at the outset in verses 3-6, Then Moses went up to God, and the LORD called to him from the mountain and said, “This is what you are to say to the house of Jacob and what you are to tell the people of Israel: ‘You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites.” But once God has informed them of his loving choice and gracious deliverance, He proceeds immediately, instantly, and abruptly to explain the purpose for His choosing them. They are to be keepers of the covenant. What is it they are to keep? His law, and they are to be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. These roles are defined by the law. With God as king each one is to offer up their lives a sacrifice to Him, and they are to be His exclusive property manifesting His holiness. In isaiah 61 we are called trees of righteousness, manifesting God’s holiness. In Galatians 3 you will find Paul explaining that the basis of the covenant is grace, or promise, but he says in verses 17 and 18, What I mean is this: The law, introduced 430 years later, does not set aside the covenant previously established by God and thus do away with the promise. For if the inheritance depends on the law, then it no longer depends on a promise; but God in his grace gave it to Abraham through a promise. The law was added to the promise because of transgressions until Messiah should come, so the law is not opposed to the grace of God, but implements it. The law is the light that reveals how dirty the room is, not the broom that sweeps it clean. The whole objective of the Apostle here is to demonstrate that we need a righteousness which God provides and which we cannot earn by obedience to the law. Having said that, however, we must not conclude that the law is useless after Christ has come. Paul’s contrast has to do with our justification and not our sanctification, and the holiness in view in Exodus 19 includes sanctification. There was a husband who didn’t really love his wife. The man was very demanding, and he prepared a list of rules and regulations for his wife to follow. He insisted that she read them over every day and obey them to the letter. Among other things, his “do’s and don’ts” indicated such details as what time she had to get up in the morning, when his breakfast should be served, and how the housework should be done. After several years, the husband died. the woman fell in love with another man, who dearly loved her. After they were married, this husband did everything he could to make his new wife happy, and showering her with tokens of his appreciation. One day as she was cleaning house, she found the list of commands her first husband had drawn up for her. As she looked it over, it dawned on her that even though her present husband hadn’t given her any kind of list, she was doing everything her first husband’s list required anyway. She realized she was so devoted to this man that her deepest desire was to please him out of love, not obligation.

II The Preparation for the Covenant

The importance of the law is underlined by the preparations that the people must undergo. Even though the people respond positively in 19:8, The people all responded together, “We will do everything the LORD has said.” So Moses brought their answer back to the LORD. They will surely fail, and so God underlines the solemnity of the occasion by commanding great care. The washing and consecration in verses 14 and 15 is symbolic of the spiritual purity, After Moses had gone down the mountain to the people, he consecrated them, and they washed their clothes. Then he said to the people, “Prepare yourselves for the third day. Abstain from sexual relations.” They are prepared for the reception of the law which is holy just and good. The abstaining from sexual relations is not because sexual relations are bad, not at all. Rather the sense is that of I Corinthians 7:4 and 5, The wife’s body does not belong to her alone but also to her husband. In the same way, the husband’s body does not belong to him alone but also to his wife. Do not deprive each other except by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. The only thing that takes precedence over the plain command to have sexual relations is prayer. In other words it is like fasting. It promotes attention to spiritual matters, Even though the pleasure of sexual relations is good in marriage it can deflect us from more serious concerns. Furthermore the people must be cleansed because only those cleansed of their sin can have fellowship with God. In our hotel in Jerusalem water jars were at the door of the dining room. The orthodox took enough water to fill one and a half eggshells. The water was first poured on both hands, held with the fingers pointed upwards, and ran up the arm as far as the wrist. Then it had to drop off from the wrist, for the water was now itself unclean, having touched the unclean hands, and, if it ran down the fingers again, it would again render them unclean. The process was repeated with the hands held in the opposite direction, with the fingers pointing down; and then finally each hand was cleansed by being rubbed with the fist of the other. But this was merely a tradition for them. In truth it should point us to the need for real cleansing by the blood of Christ. As a young man i read the story of a Austrian-Hungarian obstetrician named Ignaz Phillip Semmelweis, born in 1818. He discovered that the mothers having babies in the hospitals had a much higher mortality rate due to puerperal fever than those who bore their children outside. He insisted in a new practice of sterile washing by the doctors. they laughed at him. They considered the blood and gore to be a badge of honor. He died a broken man. Years later they had all adopted his plan and today there is a university and a society named after him. The cleansing in Exodus 19 was also a life and death matter, but many react the same way to God’s command to be clean and ignore the reminder that without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness, and the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin. The holiness of this occasion is also underlined by the prohibitions of come near the sacred mountain. Everything is keyed to the deliverance God is about to make. It must be taken with utmost seriousness. God places great importance on his people keeping his laws. He reminds them of the importance by emphasizing the holiness of the context in which they were given. In Hebrews 12:18-22, Christians are reminded that God is serious about the law and our need for it, You have not come to a mountain that can be touched and that is burning with fire; to darkness, gloom and storm; to a trumpet blast or to such a voice speaking words that those who heard it begged that no further word be spoken to them, because they could not bear what was commanded: “If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned.” The sight was so terrifying that Moses said, “I am trembling with fear.” But you have come to Mount Zion, to the heavenly Jerusalem, the city of the living God. This is coupled with a warning in verse 25-29, See to it that you do not refuse him who speaks. If they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, how much less will we, if we turn away from him who warns us from heaven? At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.” The words “once more” indicate the removing of what can be shaken-that is, created things-so that what cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our “God is a consuming fire.”

III The Presentation of the Covenant

When God actually comes down on the mountain He comes with a cloud and a great trumpet blast so that every one of the people are fearful. There is trembling like an earthquake. It is difficult for us to appreciate what an awsome spectacle this must have been. Moses brings up Aaron, but the rest of the priests as well as the people are restrained and held back because of the awful holiness of this situation. The very fact that God gives his law under such circumstance is a demonstration of its importance, and of the need for it. In all covenants in the middle east there was a sacrifice and a meal and then the stipulations of the covenant were written down as a witness between the parties. The difference in the covenant of grace is that God is a superior party who dictates the terms. He has the right because he has created and also redeemed His people. But the stipulations are sometimes taken lightly simply because it is a gracious covenant. In fact the stipulations ought to be taken more seriously because of what the people owe to God. We live in a lawless society. The breakdown of morality is traceable directly to our attitude about law. Sadly the Christian church has sometimes contributed to this loss. In secular society law loses its significance because of relativism, that is, because there are no absolutes and because law becomes and expression of every passing fancy. The church’s job is to demonstrate that there are absolutes. But the church has not only failed to do this, it has often taken the stance that since we are under grace the law is no longer relevant. We have already observed the way in which the author of Hebrews is showing us that as Christians we ought to take the law more seriously, but we are also reminded in Hebrews 12:16 and 17 that we should not be sexually immoral or godless like Esau who sold his inheritance, See that no one is sexually immoral, or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son. Afterward, as you know, when he wanted to inherit this blessing, he was rejected. He could bring about no change of mind, though he sought the blessing with tears. We are accustomed to thinking of our inheritance only as privilege, but as in Israel the birthrite also entailed spiritual responsibility. The implication is that we sell our birthrite too if we do not pursue holiness. The observance of the law is the test of the genuineness of our profession of faith. Therefore in I Peter we are reminded that through Christ we have an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade, but then, Peter says in 1:14-16, As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.” D.L. Moody was one of the greatest evangelists in America. He was determined to witness to everyone he met, so it is interesting that the great communicator said, “A holy life will make the deepest impression. Lighthouses blow no horns, they just shine.”