Êxodo 24
J. Vernon McGee · Citado em PreceptAustin
Êxodo 24
Vernon McGee - God told these men to come up into the mountain, but even these men who were in a very unique position at that time were told to worship afar off. How different things were under law than they are under grace. How different their situation was from when God was bringing them along the path from Egypt on eagle’s wings of grace. Under law man must worship afar off but today Ephesians 2:13 tells us, “But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.” God saves us and leads us along life’s pathway today by His grace. C H Spurgeon on shall come near to the LORD but they shall not come near - Nearer to God than the people were allowed to come, but still at a distance from him. It was a covenant of distance, — bounds were set about the mount lest the people should come too near. Yet they were near unto God as compared with the heathen, but far off as compared with those who now, by the teaching of the Spirit of God, have been brought near to God through the precious blood of Jesus. Moses alone could come near to Jehovah on mount Sinai, the people could not go up with him, — nor even with the man who was their mediator with God, for such Moses was; but you and I, beloved, can go up with him who is far greater than Moses, —with him who is the one Mediator between God and men, the man Christ at Jesus, for God “hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.” THOUGHT - Utter reverence is due the Lord, so approach to Him is limited and access denied except to the few. This is in contrast to what believers enjoy today (cf. Hebrews 2:17-18; 4:16). Texts like this should make believers in Jesus Christ more appreciative of the warm invitation they have to come freely with their worship and to have their needs met by their merciful Father (Hebrews 2:17-18; 4:16). (Moody Bible Commentary) Exodus 24:3 Then Moses came and recounted to the people all the words of the LORD and all the ordinances; and all the people answered with one voice and said, "All the words which the LORD has spoken we will do!" all the ordinance: Ex 21:1-23:33 De 4:1,5,45 5:1,31 6:1 11:1 All the words: Ex 24:7 Ex 19:8 De 5:27,28 Jos 24:22 Ga 3:19,20 Exodus 24 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries A PROMISING PROMISE! "WE WILL DO" Related Passages: Deuteronomy 5:27; 28+ ‘Go near and hear all that the LORD our God says; then speak to us all that the LORD our God speaks to you, and we will hear and do it.’ “The LORD heard the voice of your words when you spoke to me, and the LORD said to me, ‘I have heard the voice of the words of this people which they have spoken to you. They have done well in all that they have spoken. Joshua 24:20-22 “If you forsake the LORD and serve foreign gods, then He will turn and do you harm and consume you after He has done good to you.” The people said to Joshua, “No, but we will serve the LORD.” Joshua said to the people, “You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen for yourselves the LORD, to serve Him.” And they said, “We are witnesses.” What do the bride and groom say to each other to "ratify" their marriage covenant? "I do." Here in effect Israel says to her Husband (Isa 54:5, Jer 31:32) "I DO!" (actually "we will do.") See related study - Covenant: As It Relates to Marriage Then Moses came - He came from meeting with God on Mount Sinai. "Moses came from the mountain, upon which he was still standing after his ascent described in Ex 20:21, to the camp." (Cassuto) NET Note - The general consensus among commentators is that this refers to Moses’ coming from the mountain after he made the ascent in Ex 20:21. And recounted to the people all the words of the LORD and all the ordinances - Moses came and recounted is showing that Moses has now become the mediator between God and the nation of Israel. Recounted (tell the details, the facts or particulars of - see also below on saphar/sapar) here refers to the communication of important truths (same word used in Ex 18:8), in this context new revelation from Jehovah of instructions and regulations regarding how Israel was to function as a holy nation, separate and distinct from the surrounding pagan peoples. The Septuagint translates sapar/saphar with the verb diegeomai meaning to give a detailed account. Moses was to function in essence as God's mouthpiece (aka, prophet - Dt 18:15, quoted in Acts 3:22+, Acts 7:37+, Dt 34:10) and was to speak only what God spoke to him, neither adding to it nor subtracting from it (Pr 30:6, Dt 4:2+, Dt 12:32, Rev 22:18-19+). In short, Moses presents a detailed account of what he had heard from God. The words of the LORD would be the "Ten Commandments" which He spoke to the people from Mount Sinai and the ordinances which refers to the words of LORD had spoken to Moses on the mountain beginning in Ex 21:1+ where God instructed Moses "Now these are the ordinances which you are to set before them." These ordinances continue through at least Exodus 23:19+ (some feel the words go through Ex 23:33+), when God begins to give instructions on going into the land. Some writers feel that all the words also includes the words in Ex 20:21-26+ (which includes instructions on making an altar). Recounted (05608)(saphar/sapar from sepher = writing, book, document, scroll) means to number, recount, relate, declare (Ps 19:1 = "their expanse is declaring..."), proclaim, enumerate, tell, narrate, make known, speak ("if you were told" - Hab 1:5). As a participle = writer, scribe, secretary. To number = take account of = carefully observe & consider. Saphar/sapar basically speaks of mathematical activity as in Ge 15:5+ (Gen 32:12 - "too great to be numbered", cf Jer 33:22 = "cannot be counted", Hos 1:10 "numbered") "count the stars, if you are able to count them." (cf Lev 15:13). To "count up" or "take a census" ("numbered the people" = 2 Sa 24:10). Assigning people to particular jobs ("So Solomon assigned..." = 2 Chr 2:2) Count out according to a list ("he counted them out to Sheshbazzar," = Ezra 1:8). With the sense "taken account of" (Ps 56:8) Meaning to measure ("until he stopped measuring" = Ge 41:49). Fathers => teach children to recount God's miracles and mighty deeds (Ps 78:3) Every believer is to declare or tell of the miracles and mighty deeds of the delivering God (1Chr 16:24; cf. Ps 9:1, 14 Ps 26:7 Ps 73:28 Ps 75:1 Ps 107:22 Jer 51:10) and to declare his name (Ps 102:21 Ps 22:22 etc.). One can count - objects = Ezra 1:8; Isa 22:10); people = 2 Sa24:10; periods of time = Lev 23:15ff; Dt 16:9; Job 39:2; actions = Job 14:16; 31:4; Ps 56:8 thoughts = Ps 139:18 Vine adds "For the most part the verb in this form means "to recount," to orally list in detail. The one exception to this significance is Job 38:37: "Who can number the clouds in wisdom? Or who can stay the bottles of heaven…?" In every other instance the verb signifies a vocal statement (listing or enumeration) of a series of given facts ("servant told Isaac all the things that he had done" = Ge 24:66 where Eliezer gave a summary of all his activities which helped Isaac who Rebekah was and why she was there.) The emphasis is on accurate, detailed recounting as with the 12 spies sent into the promised land in Nu 13:27 ("Thus they told him,", cf similar idea in Jos 2:23). Saphar/sapar - 104v - assigned(1), count(17), counted(6), counts(2), declare(6), declared(2), elapse(1), measuring(1), number(3), numbered(5), proclaim(1), recount(1), recounted(3), relate(3), related(9), relating(2), speak(1), state(1), surely(1), taken(1), taken account(1), talk(1), tell(23), telling(1), told(15), utter(1). And all the people answered with one voice - All means this was not just a majority but all without exception. With one voice emphasizes they were all in one accord! As we would say, their reply was unanimous. Their promise to obey was good, but that would not serve to truly ratify the Book of the Covenant, which would require the use of blood. Recall that Lev 17:11+ says ‘For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you on the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood by reason of the life that makes atonement.’ So the blood was a serious symbol of life (and death) and thus was a fitting symbol to solemnly seal the Book of the Covenant. In a sense, it would also "seal" Israel's promise to keep it, that is, it would result in God holding them responsible to keep their promise. Later especially in Deuteronomy, they were given with serious consequences if they broke their covenant promises. ISRAEL HEARD AND PROMISES TO HEED And said, "All the words which the LORD has spoken we will do - All...the people...all...the words is a good start. This echoes their earlier affirmation "All the people answered together and said, “All that the LORD has spoken we will do!” And Moses brought back the words of the people to the LORD." (Ex 19:8+) Note again all...people...all...will do. As Joshua's predecessor was dying, he spoke similar words to the people who gave a similar response (see above Josh 24:20-22). Good intentions must be followed by good actions based on those good intentions. Stated another way, only when one's actions are good do they validate one's good intentions. Or even another way, we must be doers of our words, not just speakers of those words. As we will soon see Israel's good intentions were followed by horrible actions (golden calf in Exodus 32). Thompson quips "Here we go again. As one writer said, this is “commendable enthusiasm” but frankly it is delusional. Israel is in that self-trusting fog and she actually believes that she will obey all the Word of God. As we have said, she will not even make it past commandment number one. What really should have happened here and what should have happened in the Garden of Eden, where they had just one commandment, is that the people should have said–God, please help us to obey you because we can’t do this ourselves and we won’t do this ourselves. Had Adam and Eve or had Israel really drawn near to God, she would have seen God help her. But she was self sufficient and self-reliant and that is when we fall flat on our faces. But we do see something that is important. If we want fellowship with God, we should have a desire to obey the Word of God. It is true we will not ever totally measure up, but that should be our desire. We should want to know the Word of God so we may apply it to our lives." (Sermon) (ED: Thompson's comment reminds me of Major Ian Thomas saying "I can't. He never said I could. But He can and He always said He would." We must daily depend on the enabling power of the Spirit to obey, for there is no other way. There is no "Plan B." When we arise in the morning and say "Thanks, but I've got this one, Lord," we are setting ourselves for sure fire failure!) Being fervent in spirit means one must have more than good intentions. --George Brooks THOUGHT - The problem with Israel's promise was while they were willing, they did not fully understand the weakness of their flesh. Jesus touched on this issue when He said to Peter and John "“Keep watching and praying that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” (Mt 26:41+) Paul alluded to this in Romans 8:3+ explaining "(OLD COVENANT) what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, (NEW COVENANT) God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh." In short, while the Israelites were willing, they lacked the power. The Law could not change their hearts. They remind me of Wesley who joined the holy club and tried to keep the law to be holy but with great frustration. It was not until he was born again and given a new heart, that he had the new power [indwelling Spirit] Who enabled him to keep the law. Have you had a supernatural heart transplant (read Ezekiel 36:26-27+)? Or are you a believer who is frustrated because you are trying to keep the law and are failing? Paul would say to you "Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? ." (Gal 3:3+) His point is that now under the new covenant, you have a new heart and with God's Spirit, we are to learn to rely no longer on our fallen flesh, but to rely wholly on the Holy Spirit to put to death the deeds of the flesh (read Ro 8:13+). Vance Havner - Good intentions. What God looks for is the intent of the heart and, when in our hearts we have already made the sacrifice required, God may sometimes not ask us to actually finish what we meant to do. Abraham put God first, not Isaac, and we read, "In Isaac shall thy seed be called" (Gen. 21:12). Our testimony is perpetuated by the Isaac we offer at God's command, whether consummated actually or intentionally. Exodus 24:4 Moses wrote down all the words of the LORD. Then he arose early in the morning, and built an altar at the foot of the mountain with twelve pillars for the twelve tribes of Israel. Moses wrote down: De 31:9 Jos 24:26 and built an altar: Ex 20:24-26 twelve pillars: Ge 28:18,22 Ge 31:45 Jos 24:27 Ga 2:9 for the twelve tribes of Israel: Ex 28:21 Lev 24:5 Nu 17:2 Jos 4:2,3,8,9,20 1Ki 11:30 Ezr 6:17 Lu 22:30 Rev 21:14 Exodus 24 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries MOSES WRITES AND WORSHIPS So after recounting the words, now Moses records the words. Moses is preparing to ratify the Book of the Covenant. Moses wrote down all the words of the LORD - Ancient near east covenant documents typically had written copies that were then recited publicly. Later we read "So Moses wrote this law and gave it to the priests, the sons of Levi who carried the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and to all the elders of Israel." (Dt 31:9) What did he write on? Papyrus, parchment, stone? Recall that God had instructed Moses to write in Ex 17:14+ "Then the LORD said to Moses, “Write this in a book as a memorial and recite it to Joshua, that I will utterly blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven.” Rayburn on the ancient covenant agreements - The copies of the covenant were deposited in the respective sanctuaries of the two parties, but in Israel’s case, the tabernacle and then the temple, were the sanctuaries of both Yahweh and Israel and thus both copies of the covenant were thus deposited there, in the ark of the covenant. The two parties are thus both represented: Israel by the twelve pillars, each representing one of the tribes, and Yahweh by the altar. Currid - Part of the process of ratifying a covenant in the ancient Near East entailed putting the agreement in writing. The document served as a testimonial to the treaty and its various elements. In this case Moses was the author of the manuscript, which is called the Book of the Covenant in verse 7. No doubt this document included both the Decalogue and the laws of chapters 20–23, since the latter are an exposition of the former. Thompson- From the earliest days, God wanted His Word in written form. Fellowship with God demands the written Word. Once you have the written Word, you have the will of God in written form. Having the Word of God in written form would mean that people could know God’s will on every issue of life. People could go to corporate worship and hear leaders expound the Scriptures. Parents could teach children and newcomers the importance of the commandments of God. These commandments which were written down were literally critical to life because if you broke some of them, you could end up dead. This is a very important principle to see. The Word of God is always critical to our spiritual life. We need to read it and reread it because this is a key to having life in our relationship with God. (Sermon) Then he arose early in the morning - This emphasize the importance and priority of the meeting with God to ratify the covenant. Moses' morning worship. Four times Moses arises early in the morning in Exodus - Ex 8:20, Ex 9:13, Ex 24:4, Ex 34:4. THOUGHT - Is meeting with God a priority or do you place Him in the line to follow other things you think are more significant. Or do you not meet with Him at all. How foolish we are to go into our day without consulting the God of the day! Just because you cannot see Him, does not mean you are wasting your time. You can definitely HEAR Him, but that requires you open His Book and read it prayerfully. NOTHING is more significant than meeting with God at the beginning of each new day. See Thoughts on the Quiet Time And built an altar at the foot of the mountain - The altar was not up the side of the mountain but at the base or foot of the mountain. At the end of the Ten Commandments Jehovah had said "You shall make an altar of earth for Me, and you shall sacrifice on it your burnt offerings and your peace offerings, your sheep and your oxen; in every place where I cause My name to be remembered, I will come to you and bless you." (Ex 20:24) This offering of animals would provide the blood Moses would use to ratify the covenant with Israel. John
Êxodo 24
Vernon McGee - What they saw was a representation of God. I sincerely doubt that we shall see God the Father throughout eternity. Jesus Christ is probably the closest view we will have of the Father. Moody Bible Commentary - There are two different terms translated "saw"; ra'a, "see" (Ex 24:10a), has the idea more of a glance, and haza, "behold" (Ex 24:11b), has the idea more of a sustained gaze. In some fashion (again, not altogether clear) the men both "saw" and "beheld" Him in a time of fellowship. NET Note - S. R. Driver suggests that they saw the divine Glory, not directly, but as they looked up from below, through what appeared to be a transparent blue sapphire pavement And under His feet - This implies that they saw God in some way manifest with human features (feet) and anthropomorphism. Walter Kaiser - Under God’s feet was a “pavement made of sapphire," a deep blue or, more accurately, lapis lazuli of Mesopotamia, an opaque blue precious stone speckled with a golden yellow-colored pyrite (see above). True sapphire, the transparent crystalline of corundum, was unknown in Egypt around 1400 B.C. It symbolizes the heavens (cf. Ezek 1:22). (EBC-Ex) NET Note is interesting on His feet - What is described amounts to what a person could see when prostrate. Currid - The leaders saw a ‘pavement’; the word is related to that for ‘brick / tile’. The picture, then, is of a tiled floor consisting of lapis lazuli, a beautiful blue stone. The entire construction was as bright and clear as heaven itself—it was as if heaven had partially descended to earth. There appeared to be a pavement of sapphire, as clear as the sky itself - Appeared suggests a term of comparison, that in other words it was "like a pavement of sapphire." As the sky suggests the color was blue and clear suggests a sky without clouds. Clearly human interpretation of the transcendent, incomprehensible God is at best difficult and recalls a description by the prophet Ezekiel Then I looked, and behold, in the expanse that was over the heads of the cherubim something like a sapphire stone, in appearance resembling a throne, appeared above them.(Ezekiel 10:1+) Sapphire (05601)(sappir) denotes the clear blue lapis lazuli rather than the very hard modern sapphire (cf. KJV). The stone seems to owe its name to the Sanskrit word sanipriya, meaning "slowly moving Saturn." It is used figuratively in the Shulammite bride's description of her beloved (Song 5:14). Jeremiah's lamentation of the Nazirites' changed appearance (cf La 4:7 with La 4:8). Job indicates that these stones are found in mines (Job 28:6), and though costly, cannot equal the value of true wisdom (Job 28:16). The lapis lazuli also was desired by royalty (Ezek. 28:13)—it was even used in the breastplate of the high priest of Israel (Exo. 28:18; 39:11). Further, the throne of God in Ezekiel's visions appeared as lapis lazuli (Ezek. 1:26; 10:1), and this stone was seen as the pavement beneath God's feet at Mount Sinai (Exo. 24:10).These stones had been in the Garden of Eden (Ezek. 28:13). It is also one of the twelve stones found in the foundation of the New Jerusalem (Isa. 54:11; cf. Rev. 21:19). Sappir - 11x in 11v - lapis lazuli(2), lapis lazuli*(1), sapphire(5), sapphires(3). Exod. 24:10; Exod. 28:18; Exod. 39:11; Job 28:6; Job 28:16; Cant. 5:14; Isa. 54:11; Lam. 4:7; Ezek. 1:26; Ezek. 10:1; Ezek. 28:13 The phrase as clear as the sky itself reminds one of the vision recorded by John Around the throne were twenty-four thrones; and upon the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white garments, and golden crowns on their heads. 5 Out from the throne come flashes of lightning and sounds and peals of thunder. And there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God; 6 and before the throne there was something like a sea of glass, like crystal; and in the center and around the throne, four living creatures full of eyes in front and behind. (Revelation 4:4-6+). Question: Has anyone ever seen God? Answer: The Bible tells us that no one has ever seen God (John 1:18) except the Lord Jesus Christ. In Exodus 33:20, God declares, “You cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live.” These Scriptures seem to contradict other Scriptures which describe various people “seeing” God. For example, Exodus 33:11 describes Moses speaking to God “face to face.” How could Moses speak with God “face to face” if no one can see God’s face and live? In this instance, the phrase “face to face” is a figure of speech indicating they were in very close communion. God and Moses were speaking to each other as if they were two human beings having a close conversation. In Genesis 32:30, Jacob saw God appearing as a man; he did not truly see God. Samson’s parents were terrified when they realized they had seen God (Judges 13:22), but they had only seen Him appearing as an angel. Jesus was God in the flesh (John 1:1, 14) so when people saw Him, they were seeing God. So, yes, God can be “seen” and many people have “seen” God. At the same time, no one has ever seen God revealed in all His glory. In our fallen human condition, if God were to fully reveal Himself to us, we would be consumed and destroyed. Therefore, God veils Himself and appears in forms in which we can “see” Him. However, this is different than seeing God with all His glory and holiness displayed. People have seen visions of God, images of God, and appearances of God, but no one has ever seen God in all His fullness (Exodus 33:20). (GotQuestions.org) Related - Did Moses see God? Mormons Answered Verse by Verse - Does God actually have hands and feet, a human body? Mormonism teaches that he does, and Mormons turn to passages such as this to support that belief. But when Moses and his associates “saw God,” was it in a literal sense, or in the visionary sense in which prophets were allowed to “see” future events? God later told Moses that “there shall no man see me, and live” (Exod. 33:20). And the New Testament asserts that “no man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him” (John 1:18). Seeing God He who has seen Me has seen the Father. — John 14:9 Today's Scripture:Exodus 24:1-8 Jesus said, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God” (Matthew 5:8). Yet the apostle Paul spoke of God as One “whom no man has seen or can see” (1 Timothy 6:15-16). I have often thought about this seeming contradiction. How can we reconcile our Lord’s statement with the words of Paul? I believe we must first recognize that God in His essential being is pure Spirit (John 4:24), and therefore is invisibly present everywhere in His vast creation (Psalm 139:7-12). But we read in the Bible that on various occasions God appeared to people in a visible way (Genesis 18:1-3). He created a burning bush from which to challenge Moses (Exodus 3:2). And in today’s Scripture reading, the glory of His presence was revealed, and “there was under His feet as it were a paved work of sapphire stone” (Exodus 24:9-10). God can appear in any form He desires, even while He Himself remains invisibly present throughout the universe. No mortal can see God and live, His brilliance would destroy all sight, But Jesus' glory we shall see For He as God is truth and light. —D. De Haan To see God, look to Jesus. Alexander
Êxodo 24
McGee - It was during this time on Mount Sinai that Moses received the instructions presented in the rest of this book. F B Meyer devotional thought on 40 days and 40 nights - The life of fellowship with God cannot be built up in a day. It begins with the habitual reference of all to Him, hour by hour, as Moses did in Egypt. But it moves on to more and longer periods of communion; and it finds its consummation and bliss in days and nights of intercession and waiting and holy intercourse. Related Resource: What is the significance of 40 days in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org