TBC-10

1. Setting the Scene for the Sinai Covenant

We will omit the the first three months of their journey from Rameses to the Wilderness of Sin so that we can focus on our main topic at this point; the Sinai Covenant. This Covenant is the perpetual backdrop to the whole of the Old Testament Scriptures, stretching from Sinai to Calvary when the Old Covenant came to an end and the New Covenant was inititated

• the whole history of the Nation of Israel...

  1. Throughout the events of the rest of the Wilderness wanderings,

  2. the Conquest of the land of Canaan,

  3. the Period of the Judges,

  4. the establishment of the Monarchy,

  5. the Division of the Nation into the two nations of the House of Israel and the House of Judah,

  6. the banishment of the House of Israel,

  7. the captivity of the House of Judah,

  8. the Return of the tiny faithful remnant...

• On the international stage... empires rose and fell

  1. the empire of Babylon (Neo Babylonian)

  2. and Medo-Persia,

  3. The Greek Empire of Alexander,

  4. its division on his death into Four Empires and the times of the Kings of the North and the Kings of the South,

  5. the insane rule of Antiochus Epiphanes and the stubborn courage of the Maccabees,

  6. the Rise of the Roman empire and its rule of the land of Israel,

  7. the emergence of the Sadducees and Pharisees,

  8. the spread of the Greek language through the lands of Alexander's old empires,

  9. the Incarnation, and the earthly ministry of Jesus of Nazareth

Israel's whole history is the fulfilment of the promised blessings and curses of the book of Deuteronomy. All that God prophesied by Moses on Mount Nebo was fulfilled the the story line of the Old Testament.

Introduction: A reminder of how this adventure began

• Exodus 6:6–8 ASV

  1. (Egypt) Wherefore say unto the children of Israel, I am Jehovah, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will rid you out of their bondage, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm, and with great judgments:

  2. (Sinai) and I will take you to me for a people, and I will be to you a God; and ye shall know that I am Jehovah your God, who bringeth you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians.

  3. (Canaan) And I will bring you in unto the land which I sware to give to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob; and I will give it you for a heritage: I am Jehovah. (Exodus 6:6–8 ASV)

2. Arrival at Sinai

• The Gathering - Exodus 19:1–2 ASV

  ¶ In the third month after the children of Israel were gone forth out of the land of Egypt, the same day came they into the wilderness of Sinai. And when they were departed from Rephidim, and were come to the wilderness of Sinai, they encamped in the wilderness; and there Israel encamped before the mount. (Exodus 19:1–2 ASV)

  • The Day of the Assembly

    • Then the LORD delivered to me two tablets of stone written with the finger of God, and on them were all the words which the LORD had spoken to you on the mountain from the midst of the fire in the day of the assembly. (Deuteronomy 9:10 NKJV)

    • according to all you desired of the LORD your God in Horeb in the day of the assembly, saying, “Let me not hear again the voice of the LORD my God, nor let me see this great fire anymore, lest I die.’ (Deuteronomy 18:16 NKJV)

• Moses first assent of Sinai - Exodus 19:3 ASV

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

3. Parties to the Covenant

• The two parties to the Covenant

  1. Jehovah

     The whole of Genesis and these earlier chapters of Exodus have introduced 'Jehovah'

  2. The House of Jacob/the children of Israel
     • Not a nation, but a family.

     and ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and a holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel. (Exodus 19:6 ASV)

     • The first reference to Israel as a nation. This Covenant would constitute a family into a nation

  3. The Mediator - Exodus 19:6 ASV

     and ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and a holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel. (Exodus 19:6 ASV)

     Moses role is established. He is to be the Mediator between God and the children of Israel. In the next chapters we will see him ascended and descending Sinai.

     • Later God offered Moses the same promise

       • now therefore let me alone, that my wrath may wax hot against them, and that I may consume them: and I will make of thee a great nation. (Exodus 32:10 ASV)

4. Pre-conditions to entering this Covenant

• Exodus 19:4–6 ASV

  Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles’ wings, and brought you unto myself. Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be mine own possession from among all peoples: for all the earth is mine: and ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and a holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel. (Exodus 19:4–6 ASV)

  • 1Peter 3:18 NKJV

    ¶ For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit, (1Peter 3:18 NKJV)

• The first time God had mentioned the Covenant to this people

  Similarly,

  there is no reference, in the Gospel accounts to a New Covenant until Calvary is in sight

  there is no mention, in the Acts to a New Covenant

  • Luke 22:20 NKJV

    ¶ Likewise He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you. (Luke 22:20 NKJV)

  • He brings the words of God to the people and takes the words of the people to God.

    The 'broad terms' of the Covenant

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

    • NOW therefore,
      1. The ancient power is broken,
      2. the children of Israel are as 'free as birds'
      3. they have come to the point of decision... and so must we all.

    • IF... ye will obey my voice indeed,

    • and keep my covenant,

    ...THEN

    • ye shall be mine own possession

    • from among all peoples: for all the earth is mine:

    • and ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and a holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel. (Exodus 19:4–6 ASV)

  • Following the critical path

    They had experienced a clear event of redemption and deliverance in which God had made a clear distinction between the children of Israel and the Egyptians. He had brought them to this place in their story. He had borne them 'Eagles' wings' and brought them to 'myself'

    It has all been preparitary up until this point, but 'Now, therefore...'

    "IF you will obey my voice AND you will keep my covenant THEN blessing = my special treasure + my people + my holy nation" BASIC CODE (courtesy of Matt Steed)

5. The Response

• Exodus 19:7–8 ASV

  ¶ And Moses came and called for the elders of the people, and set before them all these words which Jehovah commanded him. And all the people answered together, and said, All that Jehovah hath spoken we will do. And Moses reported the words of the people unto Jehovah. (Exodus 19:7–8 ASV)

• The Three-fold Consent

  1. 1/3 - And all the people answered together, and said, All that Jehovah hath spoken we will do. And Moses reported the words of the people unto Jehovah. (Exodus 19:8 ASV)
     • at offer of the broad-brush Covenant
     • no specific details at this point

  2. 2/3 - And Moses came and told the people all the words of Jehovah, and all the ordinances: and all the people answered with one voice, and said, All the words which Jehovah hath spoken will we do. (Exodus 24:3 ASV)
     • at the expanded details of the Covenant, its 10 words, and its judgments.
     • Exodus 20-24

  3. 3/3 - And he took the book of the covenant, and read in the audience of the people: and they said, All that Jehovah hath spoken will we do, and be obedient. (Exodus 24:7 ASV)
     • at the formal reading of the written law
     • Matthew 26:39–44 NKJV

       ¶ He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.” ¶ Then He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “What! Could you not watch with Me one hour? Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” ¶ Again, a second time, He went away and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if this cup cannot pass away from Me unless I drink it, Your will be done.” And He came and found them asleep again, for their eyes were heavy. ¶ So He left them, went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words. (Matthew 26:39–44 NKJV)

• The Wesley Annual Covenant Renewal Service

  at the culmination of a period of self examination, reflection and prayer

  I am no longer my own, but thine. Put me to what thou wilt, rank me with whom thou wilt. Put me to doing, put me to suffering. Let me be employed for thee or laid aside for thee, exalted for thee or brought low for thee. Let me be full, let me be empty. Let me have all things, let me have nothing. I freely and heartily yield all things to thy pleasure and disposal. And now, O glorious and blessed God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, thou art mine, and I am thine. So be it. And the covenant which I have made on earth, let it be ratified in heaven.Amen.