Senior Class Notes – June 23, 2024 – Toonigh Baptist Church

Summer 2024 Session 1 unit 4 – God’s Promise to Make a Holy Nation; Exodus 19:1-8 PSG 52-61 PSG-CSB.

June 23, 2024

The Point: God promise to Make a Holy Nation.

Inspirational verse: “And Israel saw that great work which the LORD did upon the Egyptians: and the people feared the LORD, and believed the LORD, and his servant Moses.” (Exodus 14:31).

Exodus 19:1 In the third month, when the children of Israel were gone forth out of the land of Egypt, the same day came they into the wilderness of Sinai.

Exactly two months after leaving Egypt (the first day of the third month) the Israelites arrived at Mount Sinia. In all likelihood this was the very place where Moses had turned aside to see the burning bush (3:1-2) and where God had promised that the people would worship Him after being brought out of Egypt (v. 3:12).¹⁹ God’s program for the future of Israel is the next step in the outworking of His plan in bringing Israel out of Egypt (Exodus 6:7; Leviticus 26:12; Deuteronomy 29:9-13).¹⁶ Chapter 19 serves as a preamble to the commandments given by God to Israel, It reveals the purpose of the commandments, as well as the perspective we should have toward them.¹⁷ Sinai is the name of the desert peninsula joining Egypt to Canaan (Israel). It is a rugged wilderness to this day. Mount Sinai (also called Horeb) is near the southern tip of the peninsula and is generally identified as Jebal Musa, the location of Saint Catherine’s Monastery, which was built in the sixth century A.D. The peninsula itself served as a trading and mining center from the Old Kingdom Period (3700-2200 B.C.) onward.¹⁵

Exodus 19:2 For they were departed from Rephidim, and were come to the desert of Sinai, and had pitched in the wilderness; and there Israel camped before the mount.

The Israelites would spend almost a year there.¹⁹ Rephidim: [Easton’s Bible Dictionary – Rephidim: one of the stations of the Israelites, situated in the Wady Feiran, near its junction with the Wady Esh-Sheikh. Here no water could be found for the people to drink, and in their impatience, they were ready to stone Moses, as if he were the cause of their distress. At the command of God, Moses smote “the rock in Horeb,” and a copious stream flowed forth, enough for all the people. After this the Amalekites attacked the Israelites while they were here encamped, but they were utterly defeated (Exodus 17:1 Exodus 17:8-16). They were the “first of the nations” to make war against Israel (Numbers 24:20).

Exodus 19:3 And Moses went up unto God, and the LORD called unto him out of the mountain, saying, Thus shalt thou say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel;

One purpose for Moses making three trips up . . . the mountain and back (vv. 19:3, 7-8, 14, 20, 25) was to clarify visually the unique role and privileges he was granted. The people needed to acknowledge his authority as God’s representative.¹⁶ Prophet – (one who utters divinely inspired revelations: as

(a) often capitalized: the writer of one of the prophetic books of the Bible. (b) capitalized: one regarded by a group of followers as the final authoritative revealer of God’s will.)²⁴

Exodus 19:4 Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles’ wings, and brought you unto myself.

After Moses climbed the mountain to meet with God, the statement Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians was a reminder that the Lord had the credentials to provide a covenant. The expression how I bare you on eagles’ wings was a reminder of how God had provided for the Israelites’ every need on the journey to Sinai.¹⁹ The Lord’s past provision should be the bases for Israel’s future decisions. The mention of being carried on eagles’ wings implied a comparison between the Lord’s bringing Israel out of Egypt and eagles that sometimes carried their young on their backs (Deut. 32:10-11). Eagles were also noted for their speed, long flights, and high nests (2 Sam. 1:23; Isa. 40:31; Jer. 4:13; 49:16; Obed. 4).¹⁶ God uses an image of the eagle’s care for its offspring in the book of Deuteronomy, Moses explains the image more fully “As an eagle stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over her young, spreadeth abroad her wings taketh them, beareth them on her wings” (Deuteronomy 32:11). While there are times when God seems (to the Israelites) to have abandoned His people, in reality God is simply stirring up the nest, forcing the Israelites to try their wings.¹⁷

Exodus 19:5 Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine:

The little word if indicates that the Lord was ready to announce the stipulations of the covenant. The requirement was that Israel was to obey the Lord and keep the covenant’s terms. The first stated blessing was that Israel would be elevated above other nations. God did not, however, surrender His control over the nations, for all the earth is His. In King James Version English, the word peculiar describes private property. So, the fact that the Israelites would be God’s peculiar treasure means they would be His treasured possession.¹⁹ What an amazing thing to be called “My treasured possession” by God. After 400 years of living in the Egyptian culture, eating Egyptian food, wearing Egyptian clothing, God was going to teach the Israelites to be His special people – He would transform them into the blessed nation they were created to be. That is why we should obey God and leave the consequences to Him because He has better plans for us.² The covenant with Moses is the second covenant that pertains to the Rule of God. It is different than the Abrahamic covenant in that it is conditional. It is introduced by the conditional formula “if ye will obey my voice indeed . . . ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me.” This covenant was given to the nation Israel so that those who believed God’s promises given to Abraham in the Abrahamic covenant (Gen. 12:1-3) would know how they should live.¹⁸ God’s declaration also describes how Israel’s deliverance was for the purpose of being brought to God so that the nation could be His prized possession. In the Abrahamic Covenant, God promises Abraham that Israel will become a great nation and the special object of His blessing. The blessing of Israel is also meant to be a source of blessing to all nations (Genesis 12:2). While this would ultimately be fulfilled by the coming of the Messiah, there is also a more immediate application. God purposed to bless the nations by establishing Israel, His servant, as a mediatory people [Mediatory – to interpose between parties in order to reconcile them]²⁴, sharing with the nations the way of entering into fellowship with God.¹⁷ The Lord wanted Israel to be known by what He had done as well as by what they would do. A peculiar treasure uses a word that David used to speak of his “own proper good, of gold and silver” that he had put aside for building the temple (1 Chron. 29:3). In extrabiblical literature a king sometimes used a closely related word to speak positively of a vassal with whom he had a good relationship.¹⁶

Exodus 19:6 And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priest, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.

The ideas of priesthood and holiness go together, since special requirements marked priests as set apart for special service that benefited others (Leviticus 21). The tasks of priests included helping people offer sacrifices to God, according to the need or condition of the person (Leviticus 1-7). Priests acted as judges, both in matters of ritual purity and in civil controversies (Lev. 13-14; Deut. 17:9; 21:5), and they taught God’s law (Lev. 10:11; Mal. 2:7-9). These tasks pointed to the work of Israel among the nations. As the priesthood in Israel was to the nation as a whole, so Israel should be to the other nations; as Israelite priests had unique requirements, duties, and privileges among the Israelites, so Israel would have unique requirements, duties, and privileges among the nations (Lev. 20:22-26; Deut. 4:5-8; 14:21; 26:17-19; Isa. 2:1-5).¹⁶ The second blessing of the pending covenant was that Israel would be a kingdom of priest, thus giving every person access to God in prayer. These two blessings are applied to Christians in Titus 2:14; 1 Peter 2:9; and Revelation 5:10.¹⁹

Titus 2:14 – “Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.”
1 Peter 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:”
Revelation 5:10 – “And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.”

Exodus 19:7 And Moses came down and called for the elders of the people, and laid before their faces all these words which the LORD commanded him.

To this point, God has only indicated that the people must keep their covenant by obeying the laws that he is about to set down.¹⁷ In making this covenant with Israel, God sent Moses to deliver His basic proposition and then waited for a response before going on with the details of the covenant. The Mosaic covenant in its entirety governs three areas of their lives:¹⁸

The commandments governed their personal lives (Ex. 20:1-26).
The law governed their social lives particularly as they related to one another (Ex. 21:1 – 24:11).
The ordinances governed their religious lives so that the people would know how to approach God (ex. 24:12 – 31:18).

The dispensation of Law meant government by the Mosaic covenant. This covenant was given to Israel in order to reveal sin and death. The Law reflected the holiness of a personal God, instructed the people in God’s discipline, reminded them through its priests and sacrifices of God’s salvation, and acted as a pedagogue [Middle English pedagoge, from Latin paedagogus, from Greek paidag*gos, slave who escorted children to school, from paid- ped- + ag*gos leader, from agein to lead] to lead them to Christ. The Law contained three elements:

Commandments revealing the righteousness of God.
Judgments expressing social requirements.
Ordinances directing the religious of Israel.

No one was ever saved by keeping the Law; it was simply God’s moral guideline for Israel. This dispensation ended with the vicarious judgment at the Cross, as Christ died for the sins of all men (cf. Jer. 31:31).⁵⁶

Exodus 19:8 And all the people answered together, and said, All that the LORD hath spoken we will do. And Moses returned the words of the people unto the LORD.

Moses spoke to the elders, who then talked to their families and brought back to Moses a report: All that the LORD hath spoken we will do.¹⁹ The Israelites anticipated the law with eagerness, demonstrating their implicit trust in the character of God.¹⁷ The Mosaic covenant did not replace the Abrahamic covenant. It was added alongside the Abrahamic covenant so that the people of Israel would know how to live until “the Seed,” Christ, comes and makes the complete and perfect sacrifice. The Mosaic covenant was never given so that by keeping it people could be saved, but so that they might realize that they cannot do what God wants, even when God writes it down on stone tablets. The law was given that man might realize that he is helpless and that his only hope is to receive the righteousness of God by faith in Jesus (Gal. 3:17-24).¹⁸

Exodus 19:9 And the LORD said unto Moses, Lo, I come unto thee in a thick cloud, that the people may hear when I speak with thee and believe thee for ever. And Moses told the words of the people unto the LORD.

Verse added for clarification. The preparations for a meeting between the Lord and the Israelites continue the extended metaphor that compares the Lord to a great king issuing a covenant to his vassal. The Lord had chosen to come to Mount Sinai in a way designed to reveal His presence and to communicate with the Israelites, making it “private property,” where no one should expect to wander in and out oblivious to the wishes of the owner. For as long as the Lord visited that place, it was holy ground, an extension of His royal court. Coming there required a royal summons. It was not a casual meeting place.¹⁶ To prevent the Israelites from ever saying that the law Moses was about to transmit to them was of his own making, God gave Moses the highest possible honor: God would speak with Moses, and the people would hear Him.¹⁹

References: Summer 2024, June 2, 2024 – August 25, 2024

(CWB) – Commentary on the Whole Bible by Matthew Henry – Marshall, Morgan & Scott, Ltd. Copyright © 1960. Copyright 1961 by Zondervan Publishing House – Grand Rapids, Michigan. 49506
(CWB#2) – Commentary practical and explanatory on the Whole Bible by Rev. Robert Jamieson, Rev. A.R. Fausset, Rev. David Brown by Zondervan Publishing House – Grand Rapids, Michigan. 49506
(ESVSB) – The English Standard Version Study Bible, Personal size. Copyright © 2008 by Crossway. Scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway.
(ETB) – Explore The Book by J Sidlow Baxter. Copyright © 1960 by J. Sidlow Baxter. Published 1960 by Zondervan Publishing House – Grand Rapids, Michigan.
(HISB) – The Holman Illustrated Study Bible – The Holman Illustrated Study Bible Copyright © 2006 by Holman Bible Publishers. The Holman Christian Standard Bible Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003 by Holman Bible Publishers.
(HRTB) He Reads Truth Bible Copyright © 2019 by Holman Bible Publishers Nashville, Tennessee. All rights reserved. Based on the Christian Standard Bible Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers Nashville, Tennessee. All rights reserved.
(IMO) – On occasion, with the prayerful guidance of the Holy Spirit, I will make comments of my own, based on my understanding of the events. I will indicate such times with – In My O
(KJBC) – The King James Bible Commentary, Copyright © 1999 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. ©1983 by Old-Time Gospel Hour. Scripture quotations are from the Open Bible, King James version, © 1975 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.
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(LESB) Life Essentials Study Bible Copyright © 2019 by Holman Bible Publishers Nashville, Tennessee. All rights reserved. Based on the Christian Standard Bible Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers Nashville, Tennessee. All rights reserved.
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(NIVBTSB) – The New International Version Biblical Theology Study Bible Copyright © 2018 by The Zondervan Corporation. Text from the Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. previously published as The New International Version Zondervan Study Bible.
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(NIVMEB) – The New International Version Ministry Essentials Bible, Copyright © 2014 by Hendrickson Publishers Marketing, LLC. Based on The Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.
(NIVSB) – The New International Version Study Bible Copyright © 1985 by the Zondervan Corporation text from the Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by the New York International Bible Society.®
(NIVSB #2) – The New International Version Study Bible Copyright © 1985, 1995, 2002, 2008, 2011, 2020 by Zondervan Grand Rapids, Michigan 49546, USA. text from the Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica, Inc.®
(NIVZSB) – The New International Version Zondervan Study Bible Copyright © 2015 by the Zondervan Corporation. Text from The Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.
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(SEC) – Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible with Dictionaries of the Hebrew Bible and the Greek Testament words. Copyright © 1890 by James Strong. Based on the King James Version of the Bible.
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