Title: Exodus 24 “Close to the Lord”
Contents
Exodus 24 “Close to the Lord”
Here again God speaks about the religious life of the people of Israel. It is a life that draws closer to God. “It is a blessing for me to draw near to God” (Psalm 73:28). “Come before him with singing” (Psalm 100:2). “Come boldly before the throne of grace” (Hebrews 4:16). “Let us come to God with a true heart and complete faith” (Hebrews 10:22).
1 “Come up and worship from afar; come near, do not come up” (1-2)
2 “Moses came…” (3-9)
Moses did as God had commanded. He went up to the mountain and took all the ordinances of the Lord, and brought them down and proclaimed them to the people. The proclamation of the covenant is recorded here.
1) Moses received all the words of the Lord, brought them, proclaimed them, and recorded them (3,4).
2) He built an altar and 12 pillars (4).
3) He had the young men offer burnt offerings and peace offerings (5).
4) The covenant was read while sprinkling blood on the altar and the people (6-8)
3 “Go up and see the God of Israel…” (10-18)
Record the events following the proclamation of the contract.
1) Moses and Aaron and … Seventy elders of Israel went up and saw the God of Israel. He could not see God Himself, but he did see His glory. It was as if Jesus and the three disciples had climbed the Mount of Transfiguration and saw the glory of God. "Under his feet, it was as if sapphire was stretched out, and it was as clear as the sky." It was a glorious sight. And when they saw God, they ate and drank. They rejoiced and rejoiced to see the glory of God.
2) Moses and Joshua went up to the mountain of God. On the seventh day, only Moses went into the cloud and went up on the mountain for forty days and forty nights. And they were given stone tablets on which the law and commandments were written.
3) Aaron, Hur, and the elders waited at the foot of the mountain to rule and look after the people. God cares for and rules over those who are on the mountain as well as those who are below it. The life that a believer should strive for the rest of his life is a life that draws closer to God.