Glorious Sinai - Part Two

Extract

Glorious Sinai – Part Two
A. W. Pink

How long the honoured leaders and official representatives of Israel were privileged to continue eating and drinking before the LORD, we know not; but after a while, Moses was required to detach himself from them and resume his mediatorial position. “And the LORD said unto Moses, Come up to me into the mount, and be there: and I will give thee tables of stone, and a law, and commandments which I have written; that thou mayest teach them” (Exod. 24:12). Apparently, Moses was here called to ascend to a higher level on glorious Sinai, and receive from Jehovah the Ten Commandments which He had first spoken in the hearing of the people, and which He had now recorded with His own finger in more permanent form. A special honour was thereby placed upon the Moral Law which was not accorded the “judgments” or statutory enactments mentioned in chapters 21 to 23, nor to the ritual institutions which were given subsequently. Rightly did Thomas Scott (1747-1821) point out, “This intimated that the Rule of duty remains unchangeably the same, though the covenant of works is broken.” In other words, the Moral Law is lastingly binding upon unregenerate and regenerate alike, notwithstanding the violation of the covenant made with Adam as the federal head of his race.

“And Moses rose up, and his minister Joshua: and Moses went up into the mount of God” (Exod. 24:13). Moses complied promptly, hesitating not―after the recent favour the LORD had so signally shown His people―to approach still nearer the divine presence. This time, he took with him Joshua his minister, whom God had chosen to be his successor. He had previously been singled out for special favour (Exod. 17:9-14); and here, he is granted a further privilege above his fellows. It is to be noted that Sinai is designated, “the mount of God,” because it was here that He vouchsafed His people such glorious manifestations of Himself and revelations of His will for them. “And he said unto the elders, Tarry ye here for us, until we come again unto you: and, behold, Aaron and Hur are with you: if any man have any matters to do, let him come unto …