Exodus 19
It's been 635 years since Yahweh promised Abraham that He would make a great nation of Abraham's descendents and bless that nation as His chosen people. Abraham's part in the covenant was minimal, nowhere near 50/50, as God simply asked for Abraham's belief and trust in that promise. Now, however, the time to fulfill God's promise has come, and God approaches the Israelites to covenant with them as his special people.
Naturally, the Israelites are enthusiastic and excited, yet it soon becomes clear that they have not anticipated the full impact of their part of the covenant. In agreeing to covenant, the people will be pledging their faith and allegiance to an invisible king, their very Creator, and promising to obey the many stringent laws which are part of that covenant.
The solemnity of this historically unprecedented occasion begins with God's proposal of the covenant and the need for all the people to be purified in anticipation of their formal acceptance.
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: ‘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.”
[That sounds like a special case of favoritism]
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. The people all responded together, “We will do everything the Lord has said.” So Moses brought their answer back to the Lord.
[An easy answer]
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.
And the Lord said to Moses, “Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow. Have them wash their clothes 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.
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. 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.”
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.”
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. Then Moses led the people out of the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain. 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. As the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke and the voice of God answered him.
The Lord descended to the top of Mount Sinai and called Moses to the top of the mountain. So Moses went up and the Lord said to him, “Go down and warn the people so they do not force their way through to see the Lord and many of them perish. Even the priests, who approach the Lord, must consecrate themselves, or the Lord will break out against them.”
Moses said to the Lord, “The people cannot come up Mount Sinai, because you yourself warned us, ‘Put limits around the mountain and set it apart as holy.’”
The Lord replied, “Go down and bring Aaron up with you. But the priests and the people must not force their way through to come up to the Lord, or he will break out against them.”
So Moses went down to the people and told them.
Exodus 20
The Ten Commandments
And God spoke all these words:
“I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.
“You shall have no other gods before or besides me.
“You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below.
[Like, for instance, a golden cow]
You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.
“You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.
“Earnestly remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.
“Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.
“You shall not murder.
“You shall not commit adultery.
“You shall not steal.
“You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.
“You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”
The Ten Commandments institute life’s priority—obedience.
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.”
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. Then Moses led the people out of the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain. 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. As the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke and the voice of God answered him.
The Lord descended to the top of Mount Sinai and called Moses to the top of the mountain. So Moses went up and the Lord said to him, “Go down and warn the people so they do not force their way through to see the Lord and many of them perish. Even the priests, who approach the Lord, must consecrate themselves, or the Lord will break out against them.”
Moses said to the Lord, “The people cannot come up Mount Sinai, because you yourself warned us, ‘Put limits around the mountain and set it apart as holy.’”
The Lord replied, “Go down and bring Aaron up with you. But the priests and the people must not force their way through to come up to the Lord, or he will break out against them.”
So Moses went down to the people and told them.
Exodus 20
The Ten Commandments
And God spoke all these words:
“I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.
“You shall have no other gods before or besides me.
“You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below.
[Like, for instance, a golden cow]
You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.
“You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.
“Earnestly remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.
“Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.
“You shall not murder.
“You shall not commit adultery.
“You shall not steal.
“You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.
“You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”
The Ten Commandments institute life’s priority—obedience.
The altar building instructions establish worship’s simplicity—sacrifice.
Left to ourselves, religion evolves into something we create. Human initiative distorts obedience and worship into something complex and confusing, but true spirituality involves an immediate and personal sacrificial encounter with the living God who redeems us from sin and death.
Our human tendency is to make life (and religion and worship) complicated even though God has commanded it to be simple and straightforward. We invariably distract ourselves from the real work and worship that God intended and substitute our own will and work in its place.
When the people saw the thunder and lightning and heard the trumpet and saw the mountain in smoke, they trembled with fear. They stayed at a distance and said to Moses, “Speak to us yourself and we will listen. But do not have God speak to us or we will die.”
Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid. God has come to test you, so that the fear of God will be with you to keep you from sinning.”
The people remained at a distance, while Moses approached the thick darkness where God was.
Then the Lord said to Moses, “Tell the Israelites this: ‘You have seen for yourselves that I have spoken to you from heaven: Do not make any gods to be alongside me; do not make for yourselves gods of silver or gods of gold.
[Like, for instance, a golden cow]
“‘Make an altar of earth for me and sacrifice on it your burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, your sheep and goats and your cattle.
When the people saw the thunder and lightning and heard the trumpet and saw the mountain in smoke, they trembled with fear. They stayed at a distance and said to Moses, “Speak to us yourself and we will listen. But do not have God speak to us or we will die.”
Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid. God has come to test you, so that the fear of God will be with you to keep you from sinning.”
The people remained at a distance, while Moses approached the thick darkness where God was.
Then the Lord said to Moses, “Tell the Israelites this: ‘You have seen for yourselves that I have spoken to you from heaven: Do not make any gods to be alongside me; do not make for yourselves gods of silver or gods of gold.
[Like, for instance, a golden cow]
“‘Make an altar of earth for me and sacrifice on it your burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, your sheep and goats and your cattle.
Wherever I cause my name to be honored, I will come to you and bless you. If you make an altar of stones for me, do not build it with dressed stones, for you will defile it if you use a tool on it.
An altar of earth or stone uses materials provided directly from God. No need for Man use tools to "improve" what God has already provided. Keep focused on the worship of God, not distracted by the beauty of an altar (or church, or church program.)
An altar of earth or stone uses materials provided directly from God. No need for Man use tools to "improve" what God has already provided. Keep focused on the worship of God, not distracted by the beauty of an altar (or church, or church program.)
This emphasizes a communion based on faith, not works.
And do not go up to my altar on steps, or your private parts may be exposed.’
God is directing a strict differentiation between the Israelites worship of God, and their neighbor's fertility practices during worship. The Canaanites and others made their altars with cut, finished stones. Altars with elaborate craftsmanship and elevated platforms with staircases were common in the worship of false gods. The Israelites were not to be like them, so as not to be tempted into making idols.
And do not go up to my altar on steps, or your private parts may be exposed.’
God is directing a strict differentiation between the Israelites worship of God, and their neighbor's fertility practices during worship. The Canaanites and others made their altars with cut, finished stones. Altars with elaborate craftsmanship and elevated platforms with staircases were common in the worship of false gods. The Israelites were not to be like them, so as not to be tempted into making idols.
We read: "The Lord smelled the pleasing aroma and said in his heart: ‘Never again will I curse the ground because of human beings, even though every inclination of the human heart is evil from childhood’" (Genesis 8:21).
Roughly a thousand years before the Exodus, Abraham was the next altar builder. He marked the defining moments of his life with an altar. His answer to the promise of God was an altar (Genesis 12:7; 13:18). He proved his faith in God by his willingness to offer his only son Isaac on an altar on mount Moriah (Genesis 22).
Isaac continued the practice, but he did not merely copy his father’s worship, as if he were maintaining a tradition. Isaac built an altar in response to God’s personal revelation and promise. The Lord appeared to Isaac and said, "I am the God of your father Abraham. Do not be afraid, for I am with you. . ." (Genesis 26:24).
Likewise, when God revealed himself to Jacob, Jacob built an altar (Genesis 35:1,7). The human response to a personal saving encounter with the living God was intuitively and inherently sacrificial.
When the Lord rescued the Israelites from their enemies the Amalekites, Moses built an altar and called it The Lord is my Banner.
All of these altars were built without explicit instructions. Why then did God decide several thousand years into salvation history to give instructions on how to build altars?
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.