Fear The Holy God and Consecrate Yourselves

<Ex 19> 1 On the first day of the third month after the Israelites left Egypt—on that very day—they came to the Desert of Sinai.

2 After they set out from Rephidim, they entered the Desert of Sinai, and Israel camped there in the desert in front of the mountain.

3 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 descendants of Jacob and what you are to tell the people of Israel: 4 ‘You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself.

5 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, 6 you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites.”

7 So Moses went back and summoned the elders of the people and set before them all the words the Lord had commanded him to speak. 8 The people all responded together, “We will do everything the Lord has said.” So Moses brought their answer back to the Lord.

Grace and Law (Obedience).

• Mosaic covenant: Faith should be accompanied by obedience.
• Important: God only talked about obedience after He saved Israel.
• Grace comes before the Law.
• We are saved by grace, not by keeping the Law.
• God was not offering the Law as an alternative means of salvation, but as an appropriate response to salvation.
• God shows us grace and saves us so that we can worship and obey Him.
• Humans may be passive in the work of redemption, but we cannot remain passive in living for God.

We must fear God.

<Ex 19> 9 The Lord said to Moses, “I am going to come to you in a dense cloud, so that the people will hear me speaking with you and will always put their trust in you.” Then Moses told the Lord what the people had said.

12 Put limits for the people around the mountain and tell them, ‘Be careful that you do not approach the mountain or touch the foot of it. Whoever touches the mountain is to be put to death. 13 They are to be stoned or shot with arrows; not a hand is to be laid on them. No person or animal shall be permitted to live.’ Only when the ram’s horn sounds a long blast may they approach the mountain.”

16 On the morning of the third day there was thunder and lightning, with a thick cloud over the mountain, and a very loud trumpet blast. Everyone in the camp trembled. 17 Then Moses led the people out of the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain. 18 Mount Sinai was covered with smoke, because the Lord descended on it in fire. The smoke billowed up from it like smoke from a furnace, and the whole mountain trembled violently. 19 As the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke and the voice of God answered him.

• God’s dramatic appearance: Manifest His power and produce holy fear in people.
• No one should think that God can be treated casually.
• Problem of underestimating the holiness and wrath of God, and forgetting how to tremble before Him.
• God is at the same time gracious and fearsome; loving yet dangerous.
• The holy God being ‘dangerous’ does not mean we should run away from Him, but approach Him with care.
• God sets His own terms, boundaries, and mediator by which we can approach Him.
• Moses was the mediator of the old covenant.
• Jesus is our mediator under the new covenant <Heb 8; 12:24>.

Consecrate yourselves.

• ‘You will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ <Ex 19:6>, cf. <1 Pe 2:9>.
• Consecrate our lives to live for the glory of God.
• Consecrate ourselves before meeting God.

10 And the Lord said to Moses, “Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow. Have them wash their clothes 11 and be ready by the third day, because on that day the Lord will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people.

14 After Moses had gone down the mountain to the people, he consecrated them, and they washed their clothes. 15 Then he said to the people, “Prepare yourselves for the third day. Abstain from sexual relations.”

• Put whole heart and focus on God.
• Cleanse ourselves.
• Are we well-prepared before meeting God on the Lord’s Day? Or are we attending Sun service with a flippant attitude?