Exodus 19

Camping before Mt. Sinai (vs. 1-2)—The people had been gone from Egypt three months when they arrived before the famed mount where they would receive their law. The Arabs call the mountain “the mount of Moses.” Sinai means “bush” or “bushes,” so designated, no doubt, for the appearance of God to Moses in the burning bush. Another name for the mountain, which actually has two peaks, is Horeb.

“A special treasure” (vs. 3-6)—The Lord called Moses up to the mountain (v. 3), and gave him a message to deliver to the people. Reminding them again of what He had done for them in Egypt (v. 4), Jehovah then sets forth the conditional promise that “if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people. And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation” (vs. 5-6). Nearly all of God’s promises are conditional; we obey, He blesses. Well, He’s good enough to bless people even when they don’t obey—He sends the rain and sunshine on the just and the unjust (Mt. 5:45), but to be a “special treasure” requires submission to His will.

The people accept Jehovah’s words (vs. 7-8)—Moses transmitted the message to the people, and they responded “All that the LORD has spoken we will do” (v. 8). Which was a bunch of hooey, this group was never obedient to God.

Consecrating the people (vs. 9-15)—Yet, the awesome events on top of the mountain did put a fright into the people. The Lord came to Moses in a thick cloud—clouds are often associated with a “coming” of the Lord; part of this awe-inspiring appearance was that the people might have greater faith in God and Moses (v. 9). Yet, when Jehovah was near, consecration was necessary, and He told Moses to command the Israelites to prepare themselves, for on the third day “the LORD will come down upon Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people” (v. 11). They would not literally see Him, of course, but they would know, by the majesty of the happenings, that He was there. No one was to come near the mountain: “Whoever touches the mountain shall surely be put to death” (v. 12), “whether man or beast” (v. 13). The people were to wash their clothes (v. 14), symbolizing inner purification, and not “come near your wives” (vs. 14-15). Mental, physical, and spiritual preparation before the holiness of Jehovah. I wonder how well we prepare ourselves before we approach the Lord every Sunday.

The Holy Mountain (vs. 16-25)—And indeed, “on the third day, in the morning…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” (v. 16). The people stood before the mountain (v. 17), which was encompassed “in smoke, because the Lord descended upon it in fire” (v. 18). The whole mountain “quaked greatly” (v. 18). It must have been an breathtaking, thrilling sight. The Lord once again called Moses to Him (v. 20), and told him again to warn the people to stay away from the mountain (vs. 22-24). Humans cannot touch the holy things of God without His approval. It would be nice to see such reverence and fear of the Lord today. And we should be very well aware of the awesome majesty of His power, that He brooks no disobedience or flippancy in His presence. This scene at Mt. Sinai, at the appearance of the Lord, was indeed a frightening one for the children of Israel, and it should be for us. Tragically, they did not learn from it, and most people today don’t seem to have the proper reverence when they approach God, either. I wonder sometimes what the Lord thinks when people be-bop into worship services dressed in tennis shoes, shorts, and T-shirts, talking about every worldly thing they can think of up to the very second before the worship period begins.. Is that really respectful of God? Our outward actions are a manifestation of what is truly in our hearts. Which wins, reverence or our own comfort and convenience?