LESSON 19
ISRAEL AT THE MOUNT OF GOD
Memory Verse: 18:9 (N . W . 20:3)————Lesson: Exodus 19:1-25
—by E. L. Bynum
ISRAEL AT THE MOUNT OF GOD
Israel encamped here at the mount for eleven months.
I. THE PROMISE OF THE COVENANT. v. 1-9
A. Israel Camped Before The Mount. v . 1-2
1. The time of their arrival. v. 1. Three in the Bible is the number of manifestation.
2. They were led by the Lord to this camping place. v. 2
B. Moses Called Before The Lord. v. 3-4
1. God speaks to Moses and tell him what to say to Israel. v. 3. God has now kept His promise. Ex. 3:12
2. He reminds them of what He has done. v. 4. Deut. 32:9-12. This passage shows how the little eagles are forced from the nest, so that they might fly and be mature. God’s people are forced from the nest, so that they might be mature and do what God created them to do.
C. Israel Challenged To Keep The Covenant. v. 5-6
1. The covenant was the ten commandments. Ex. 34:27-28
2. They were to be God’s peculiar treasure. v. 5. Peculiar means
private property, select, prized, and preserved. He is fulfilling the covenant relationship which was promised in Ex. 6:6-7.
3. They were to be a kingdom of priests. v. 6. The whole nation of people were to be royal priests. I Pet. 2:9, But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light. The whole world needed priests. A priest represents man to God. Heb. 5:1, For every high priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins.
a. God chose Israel to be His peculiar treasure. Deut. 7:6; 14:2; 26:18; Psa. 135:4, For the LORD hath chosen Jacob unto himself, and Israel for his peculiar treasure. Mal. 3:17, And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.
b. They were not chosen because of their merits, for they had none. Deut. 26:5-11
c. They were chosen because of God’s grace and love. Deut. 7:6-8
4. They were to be a holy nation. v. 6. I Pet. 1:15-16, But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.
a. They were set aside as the property of a Holy God, therefore they were to be holy. Lev. 20:7, Sanctify yourselves therefore, and be ye holy: for I am the LORD your God.
b. Instead of influencing the nations to worship God, the pagan nations influenced Israel to worship their false gods. It is happening today as the world is convincing Christians to adopt the dress, habits, and worship of false religion.
c. One day Israel will influence people for God. Isa. 61:6, But ye shall be named the Priests of the LORD: men shall call you the Ministers of our God: ye shall eat the riches of the Gentiles, and in their glory shall ye boast yourselves. Zech. 12:10, And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for [his] firstborn. Zech. 13:1, In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness.
D . Moses Calls Israel To Hear God’s Message. v . 7-9
1. Israel hears God’s Word. v. 7
2. Israel promises to keep God’s words. v. 8. God knew they would not keep it. Deut. 5:27-29. How quickly Israel enters into a covenant they were never able to keep. Up until this point they had been under the Abrahamic covenant that contained no “if” as in v. 5. See Gen. 15:18-21; and Gal. 3:6-19. Israel entered the promised land on the ground or basis of the Siniatic covenant and not the Abrahamic covenant. God dealt with them thusly. See Josh. 7:11,15; Judges 2:19,21; I Kings 11:11; and Jer. 11:3-5, And say thou unto them, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel; Cursed be the man that obeyeth not the words of this covenant, Which I commanded your fathers in the day that I brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, from the iron furnace, saying, Obey my voice, and do them, according to all which I command you: so shall ye be my people, and I will be your God: That I may perform the oath which I have sworn unto your fathers, to give them a land flowing with milk and honey, as it is this day. Then answered I, and said, So be it, O LORD.
II. THE PREPARATION FOR ENTERING THE COVENANT. v. 10-15
A. The People Prepared By Sanctification. v. 10-11
1. Sanctification involves cleansing. v. 10. What they did in washing their clothes was symbolic and expressive of internal cleansing. This is how we are to do this today. I John 1:9, If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. II Cor. 7:1, Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
2. Sanctification involves the recognition of the need for preparation, in view of the Lord’s presence. v. 11 . Note the number three as in v. 1 .
B. The People Prepared By Separation. v. 12-15
1. A sinful people are separated from God. v. 12
2. Sinful creatures cannot touch the place where God is. v. 13. Heb. 12:18, For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest.
3. Moses instructs the people. v. 14-15. “Come not at your wives,” reveals that they were to set aside fleshly pleasures for this time.
III. THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD. v. 16-25
A. The Divine Manifestation. v. 16-20
1. Events that caused the camp to tremble. v. 16. The storm was a symbol of the presence of God. Deut. 5:22-26
2. The people brought to meet God. v. 17
3. The Lord descends in fire. v. 18
4. God’s voice heard. v. 19
5. Moses called up into the mount. v. 20. A
B. The Divine Instruction. v. 21-25
1. They are to be separated from God lest they perish. v. 21
a. There is to be a distance from a Holy God and His sinful people. God is Holy and he is not our buddy.
b. The same truth was taught in the fence around the Tabernacle, and the separation of the Holy of Holies.
c. God’s people have a new and living way today. Heb. 10:20, By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh. Now He invites us to draw near, but we are to be cleansed so that we can. Heb 10:22, Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.
2. The priests must be sanctified or perish. v. 22
3. Moses thought that the people were already instructed. v. 23
4. The Lord knew they needed further instruction. v. 24
5. The obedience of Moses. v. 25
NOTE: The events in this chapter were intended to impress Israel, so that they will stand in awe of God and reverence Him. Men today need an exalted view of God. Isa. 57:15, For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones. Dan. 9:4, And I prayed unto the LORD my God, and made my confession, and said, O Lord, the great and dreadful God, keeping the covenant and mercy to them that love him, and to them that keep his commandments.
—by E. L. Bynum
STUDY QUESTIONS
1. What is the meaning of the number 3 in the Bible?
2. What covenant had Israel been under up until now?
3. What is the chief difference between the two covenants?
4. What did God promise them if they would keep this covenant?
5. What is needful before a redeemed people should come into his presence?
6. What was the purpose of God in coming in fire and causing the Mount to shake and tremble?
7. Why could not the people go up the mount or at least touch it?