1 On the third new moon after the people of Israel had gone out of the land of Egypt, on that day they came into the wilderness of Sinai. 2 They set out from Rephidim and came into the wilderness of Sinai, and they encamped in the wilderness. There Israel encamped before the mountain,
1. Why does God mention “In the third month….on the same day”?
The Holy Spirit is reminding us that the nation of Israel is right on schedule in their journey from Egypt to the Promised Land. God has a time table and if they will follow, he will lead. This takes place 50 days after the Passover. Passover was in the middle of the 1st month, they traveled the 2nd month and on the first day of the 3rd month they came to the mountain of God. Later this day would be known as Pentecost, which in Greek means count 50.
And Moses went up to God, and the LORD called to him from the mountain, saying, “Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel:4 ‘You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to Myself.5 Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine.6 And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel.”
2. How does Moses know to go up to God on this mountain? There is no record of God requesting Moses presence?
This is the same mountain where Moses first met God in the burning bush.
Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian. And he led the flock to the back of the desert, and came to Horeb, the mountain of God.2 And the Angel of the LORD appeared to him in a flame of fire from the midst of a bush. Exodus 3:1-2
3. What kind of a statement is: “ Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people.”?
This is a conditional statement, or if – then statement. It is conditional. It has conditions. It depends on whether or not the Israelites obey God’s voice.
God told Abraham “Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to number them.” And He said to him, “So shall your descendants be.“ Gen. 15:5 This was an unconditional statement. It was something God said He would do and it didn’t depend on Abraham.
4. When we say “the law” or God’s laws, what do we mean? The Mosaic law was a series of regulations given to the nation of a Israel. 613 laws, 365 things you were not to do and 248 things you were to do.
Duet 22:1“You shall not see your brother’s ox or his sheep going astray, and hide yourself from them; you shall certainly bring them back to your brother.2
Duet 22:8“When you build a new house, then you shall make a parapet for your roof, that you may not bring guilt of bloodshed on your household if anyone falls from it.
23 “If a young woman who is a virgin is betrothed to a husband, and a man finds her in the city and lies with her,24 then you shall bring them both out to the gate of that city, and you shall stone them to death with stones, the young woman because she did not cry out in the city, and the man because he humbled his neighbor’s wife; so you shall put away the evil from among you.
5. Why would God tell them to obey all His laws when He knew they weren’t able to do it?
Isaiah 14:12-14 ” How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, You who weakened the nations!13For you have said in your heart:I will ascend into heaven,I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation On the farthest sides of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.’
Gen 3:4 Then the serpent said to the woman, “You willnot surely die.5 For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”
Pride is the issue, We don’t want God to tell us what to do.
Gal 3:21 Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith.2 But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.
Gal 2:16knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.
Part of the reason the Law was given was to show us we need a savior and are unable to “be good” on our own. We must be abundantly aware of the fact that we are “screw ups”, every single one of us. It is this pride thing that gets in the way of our relationship with God.
God provided the sacrificial system which is a picture of Christ. When they broke one of the 613 regulations they had to bring an innocent animal, cut it’s throat and sacrifice it for their sin. The blood of the innocent animal was a down payment on the debt they owed God, it covered
their sin until the Messiah, Jesus would come and His sacrifice would take away the sin of the whole world.
John 1:29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!
1 John 2:2 And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.
Romans 3:10-19 There is none righteous, no, not one;
There is none who understands; There is none who seeks after God.12 They have all turned aside; They have together become unprofitable; There is none who does good, no, not one.”13 ” Their throat is an open tomb; With their tongues they have practiced deceit”; The poison of asps is under their lips”;14 ” Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness.”15 ” Their feet are swift to shed blood;16 Destruction and misery are in their ways;17 And the way of peace they have not known.”18 ” There is no fear of God before their eyes.”19 Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.20 Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
6. What does God mean “special treasure”? Why these people?
Pocket money. Of all the people in the world these would be special to God. Why?
Deu 7:6-8 For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God: the LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth.
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,
7. What would a “kingdom of priest” look like?
Priests represent the people before God. They have a closer relationship to God which allows them to be an advocate for others. A kingdom of priest would be a nation where every person has that same close relationship to God. 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.
In their priestly role, the Israelites were to be channels of God’s grace to the nations (see notes on Ge 12:2–3; Isa 42:1–4; 49:6). holy nation.
Jeremiah 31:31-34 (ESV) “Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, 32 not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, my covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, declares the LORD. 33 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the LORD: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 34 And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the LORD. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.”
Exodus 19:7-14 So Moses came and called for the elders of the people, and laid before them all these words which the LORD commanded him.8 Then all the people answered together and said, “All that the LORD has spoken we will do.” So Moses brought back the words of the people to the LORD.9 And the LORD said to Moses, “Behold, I come to you in the thick cloud, that the people may hear when I speak with you, and believe you forever.”
So Moses told the words of the people to the LORD.10 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow, and let them wash their clothes. 11 And let them be ready for the third day. For on the third day the LORD will come down upon Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people.12 You shall set bounds for the people all around, saying, ‘Take heed to yourselves that you do not go up to the mountain or touch its base. Whoever touches the mountain shall surely be put to death.13 Not a hand shall touch him, but he shall surely be stoned or shot with an arrow; whether man or beast, he shall not live.’ When the trumpet sounds long, they shall come near the mountain.” 14 So Moses went down from the mountain to the people and sanctified the people, and they washed their clothes.15 And he said to the people, “Be ready for the third day; do not come near your wives.”
8. What message is God sending with all this talk about not touching the mountain and consecration and washing their clothes?
We fail to understand God’s holiness. His complete purity, and inability to come into contact with sin. We also fail to appreciate our own utter and complete sinfulness. We live in a sinful fallen world and we have a tendency to look at ourselves in comparison to other sinful people, instead of comparing ourselves to the absolute perfection of God. We have nothing to compare to God in our world. The message God is sending is “stay back”, don’t come any closer. There must be separation between us and God, for our own protection. Remember the high priest would die if he came into the Holy of Holies without consecrating himself according to God’s instructions.
1 Tim 2:5 For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus,
John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
Then it came to pass on the third day, in the morning,that there were thunderings and lightnings, and a thick cloud on the mountain; and the sound of the trumpet was very loud so that all the people who were in the camp trembled.17 And Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain.18 Now Mount Sinai was completely in smoke, because the LORD descended upon it in fire. Its smoke ascended like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain quaked greatly.19 And when the blast of the trumpet sounded long and became louder and louder, Moses spoke, and God answered him by voice.20 Then the LORD came down upon Mount Sinai, on the top of the mountain. And the LORD called Moses to the top of the mountain, and Moses went up.21 And the LORD said to Moses, “Go down and warn the people, lest they break through to gaze at the LORD, and many of them perish.22 Also let the priests who come near the LORD consecrate themselves, lest the LORD break out against them.”23 But Moses said to the LORD, “The people cannot come up to Mount Sinai; for You warned us, saying, ‘Set bounds around the mountain and consecrate it.’ “24 Then the LORD said to him, “Away! Get down and then come up, you and Aaron with you. But do not let the priests and the people break through to come up to the LORD, lest He break out against them.”25 So Moses went down to the people and spoke to them.
9. Why all of the scary trumpets and smoke and shaking?
Proverbs 1:7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom
10. If God is a loving God, would he really kill people who were just trying to come up the mountain to get close to Him?
Joshua 24:19-20 But Joshua said to the people, “You cannot serve the LORD, for He is a holy God. He is a jealous God; He will not forgive your transgressions nor your sins.20 If you forsake the LORD and serve foreign gods, then He will turn and do you harm and consume you.”
· ESVN………….ESV Study Bible Notes
· MSBN…….MacArthur NASB Study Notes
· NIVSN…..NIV Study Notes.
· JVM ….J Vernon McGee,
· ACC …. Adam Clarke’s Commentary
· BN …..Barnes Notes
· WBC…… Wycliffe Bible Commentary
·CN …… Constables Notes
·IC……….Ironside Commentary
·NET………Net Bible Study Notes.
·JFB…………..Jamieson Fausset Brown Commentary
·VWS……………..Vincent Word Studies
·CMM………….Commentary on Matthew and Mark
·BDB………….. Barclay’s Daily Study Bible (NT)
·Darby………..John Darby’s Synopsis of the OT and NT
·Johnson………Johnson’s Notes on the New Testament.
·NTCMM…………..The New Testament Commentary: Matthew and Mark.
“Fair Use “ Notice – Title 17 U.S.C. section 107 The above post may contain copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. It is being made available in an effort to advance the understanding of environmental, political, human rights, economic, democracy, scientific, social justice, for the purpose of historical debate, and to advance the understanding of Christian conservative issues. It is believed that this constitutes a ”fair use” of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the Copyright Law. In accordance with the title 17 U.S. C. section 107, the material in this post is shown without profit to those who have expressed an interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes.
1. Why does God mention “In the third month….on the same day”?
The Holy Spirit is reminding us that the nation of Israel is right on schedule in their journey from Egypt to the Promised Land. God has a time table and if they will follow, he will lead. This takes place 50 days after the Passover. Passover was in the middle of the 1st month, they traveled the 2nd month and on the first day of the 3rd month they came to the mountain of God. Later this day would be known as Pentecost, which in Greek means count 50.
And Moses went up to God, and the LORD called to him from the mountain, saying, “Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel:4 ‘You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to Myself.5 Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine.6 And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel.”
2. How does Moses know to go up to God on this mountain? There is no record of God requesting Moses presence?
This is the same mountain where Moses first met God in the burning bush.
Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian. And he led the flock to the back of the desert, and came to Horeb, the mountain of God.2 And the Angel of the LORD appeared to him in a flame of fire from the midst of a bush. Exodus 3:1-2
3. What kind of a statement is: “ Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people.”?
This is a conditional statement, or if – then statement. It is conditional. It has conditions. It depends on whether or not the Israelites obey God’s voice.
God told Abraham “Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to number them.” And He said to him, “So shall your descendants be.“ Gen. 15:5 This was an unconditional statement. It was something God said He would do and it didn’t depend on Abraham.
4. When we say “the law” or God’s laws, what do we mean? The Mosaic law was a series of regulations given to the nation of a Israel. 613 laws, 365 things you were not to do and 248 things you were to do.
Duet 22:1“You shall not see your brother’s ox or his sheep going astray, and hide yourself from them; you shall certainly bring them back to your brother.2
Duet 22:8“When you build a new house, then you shall make a parapet for your roof, that you may not bring guilt of bloodshed on your household if anyone falls from it.
23 “If a young woman who is a virgin is betrothed to a husband, and a man finds her in the city and lies with her,24 then you shall bring them both out to the gate of that city, and you shall stone them to death with stones, the young woman because she did not cry out in the city, and the man because he humbled his neighbor’s wife; so you shall put away the evil from among you.
5. Why would God tell them to obey all His laws when He knew they weren’t able to do it?
Isaiah 14:12-14 ” How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, You who weakened the nations!13For you have said in your heart:I will ascend into heaven,I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation On the farthest sides of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.’
Gen 3:4 Then the serpent said to the woman, “You willnot surely die.5 For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”
Pride is the issue, We don’t want God to tell us what to do.
Gal 3:21 Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith.2 But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.
Gal 2:16knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.
Part of the reason the Law was given was to show us we need a savior and are unable to “be good” on our own. We must be abundantly aware of the fact that we are “screw ups”, every single one of us. It is this pride thing that gets in the way of our relationship with God.
God provided the sacrificial system which is a picture of Christ. When they broke one of the 613 regulations they had to bring an innocent animal, cut it’s throat and sacrifice it for their sin. The blood of the innocent animal was a down payment on the debt they owed God, it covered
their sin until the Messiah, Jesus would come and His sacrifice would take away the sin of the whole world.
John 1:29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!
1 John 2:2 And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.
Romans 3:10-19 There is none righteous, no, not one;
There is none who understands; There is none who seeks after God.12 They have all turned aside; They have together become unprofitable; There is none who does good, no, not one.”13 ” Their throat is an open tomb; With their tongues they have practiced deceit”; The poison of asps is under their lips”;14 ” Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness.”15 ” Their feet are swift to shed blood;16 Destruction and misery are in their ways;17 And the way of peace they have not known.”18 ” There is no fear of God before their eyes.”19 Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.20 Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
6. What does God mean “special treasure”? Why these people?
Pocket money. Of all the people in the world these would be special to God. Why?
Deu 7:6-8 For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God: the LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth.
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,
7. What would a “kingdom of priest” look like?
Priests represent the people before God. They have a closer relationship to God which allows them to be an advocate for others. A kingdom of priest would be a nation where every person has that same close relationship to God. 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.
In their priestly role, the Israelites were to be channels of God’s grace to the nations (see notes on Ge 12:2–3; Isa 42:1–4; 49:6). holy nation.
Jeremiah 31:31-34 (ESV) “Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, 32 not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, my covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, declares the LORD. 33 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the LORD: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 34 And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the LORD. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.”
Exodus 19:7-14 So Moses came and called for the elders of the people, and laid before them all these words which the LORD commanded him.8 Then all the people answered together and said, “All that the LORD has spoken we will do.” So Moses brought back the words of the people to the LORD.9 And the LORD said to Moses, “Behold, I come to you in the thick cloud, that the people may hear when I speak with you, and believe you forever.”
So Moses told the words of the people to the LORD.10 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow, and let them wash their clothes. 11 And let them be ready for the third day. For on the third day the LORD will come down upon Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people.12 You shall set bounds for the people all around, saying, ‘Take heed to yourselves that you do not go up to the mountain or touch its base. Whoever touches the mountain shall surely be put to death.13 Not a hand shall touch him, but he shall surely be stoned or shot with an arrow; whether man or beast, he shall not live.’ When the trumpet sounds long, they shall come near the mountain.” 14 So Moses went down from the mountain to the people and sanctified the people, and they washed their clothes.15 And he said to the people, “Be ready for the third day; do not come near your wives.”
8. What message is God sending with all this talk about not touching the mountain and consecration and washing their clothes?
We fail to understand God’s holiness. His complete purity, and inability to come into contact with sin. We also fail to appreciate our own utter and complete sinfulness. We live in a sinful fallen world and we have a tendency to look at ourselves in comparison to other sinful people, instead of comparing ourselves to the absolute perfection of God. We have nothing to compare to God in our world. The message God is sending is “stay back”, don’t come any closer. There must be separation between us and God, for our own protection. Remember the high priest would die if he came into the Holy of Holies without consecrating himself according to God’s instructions.
1 Tim 2:5 For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus,
John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
Then it came to pass on the third day, in the morning,that there were thunderings and lightnings, and a thick cloud on the mountain; and the sound of the trumpet was very loud so that all the people who were in the camp trembled.17 And Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain.18 Now Mount Sinai was completely in smoke, because the LORD descended upon it in fire. Its smoke ascended like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain quaked greatly.19 And when the blast of the trumpet sounded long and became louder and louder, Moses spoke, and God answered him by voice.20 Then the LORD came down upon Mount Sinai, on the top of the mountain. And the LORD called Moses to the top of the mountain, and Moses went up.21 And the LORD said to Moses, “Go down and warn the people, lest they break through to gaze at the LORD, and many of them perish.22 Also let the priests who come near the LORD consecrate themselves, lest the LORD break out against them.”23 But Moses said to the LORD, “The people cannot come up to Mount Sinai; for You warned us, saying, ‘Set bounds around the mountain and consecrate it.’ “24 Then the LORD said to him, “Away! Get down and then come up, you and Aaron with you. But do not let the priests and the people break through to come up to the LORD, lest He break out against them.”25 So Moses went down to the people and spoke to them.
9. Why all of the scary trumpets and smoke and shaking?
Proverbs 1:7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom
10. If God is a loving God, would he really kill people who were just trying to come up the mountain to get close to Him?
Joshua 24:19-20 But Joshua said to the people, “You cannot serve the LORD, for He is a holy God. He is a jealous God; He will not forgive your transgressions nor your sins.20 If you forsake the LORD and serve foreign gods, then He will turn and do you harm and consume you.”
· ESVN………….ESV Study Bible Notes
· MSBN…….MacArthur NASB Study Notes
· NIVSN…..NIV Study Notes.
· JVM ….J Vernon McGee,
· ACC …. Adam Clarke’s Commentary
· BN …..Barnes Notes
· WBC…… Wycliffe Bible Commentary
·CN …… Constables Notes
·IC……….Ironside Commentary
·NET………Net Bible Study Notes.
·JFB…………..Jamieson Fausset Brown Commentary
·VWS……………..Vincent Word Studies
·CMM………….Commentary on Matthew and Mark
·BDB………….. Barclay’s Daily Study Bible (NT)
·Darby………..John Darby’s Synopsis of the OT and NT
·Johnson………Johnson’s Notes on the New Testament.
·NTCMM…………..The New Testament Commentary: Matthew and Mark.
“Fair Use “ Notice – Title 17 U.S.C. section 107 The above post may contain copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. It is being made available in an effort to advance the understanding of environmental, political, human rights, economic, democracy, scientific, social justice, for the purpose of historical debate, and to advance the understanding of Christian conservative issues. It is believed that this constitutes a ”fair use” of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the Copyright Law. In accordance with the title 17 U.S. C. section 107, the material in this post is shown without profit to those who have expressed an interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes.
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