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Psalm 9:10. “ Those who know Your name will trust in You, for You, Lord have never forsaken those who seek You.”. Called to Holiness. Weekend of May 11/12, 2013 Exodus 19:1-6, 10-14, 16-19. What will we cover today?. According to the Bible, we, as God’s people, have a responsibility
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Psalm 9:10 “Those who know Your name will trust in You, for You, Lord have never forsaken those who seek You.”
Called to Holiness Weekend of May 11/12, 2013 Exodus 19:1-6, 10-14, 16-19
What will we cover today? According to the Bible, we, as God’s people, have a responsibility to be holy. But do we value being holy and how important is it to strive to be holy in our daily lives?
Who Should We Be? Exodus 19:1-6 1 In the third month after the Israelites left Egypt--on the very day--they came to the Desert of Sinai. 2 After they set out from Rephidim, they entered the Desert of Sinai, and Israel camped there in the desert in front of the mountain. 3 Then Moses went up to God, and the LORD called to him from the mountain and said,
Who Should We Be? "This is what you are to say to the house of Jacob and what you are to tell the people of Israel: 4 'You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles' wings and brought you to myself. 5 Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession.
Who Should We Be? Although the whole earth is mine, 6 you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.' These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites."
Who Should We Be? • BACKGROUND: • The nation of Israel had just been freed from Egyptian slavery; • They had been rescued in a most dramatic way at the Red Sea and then watched in amazement as Pharaoh and his army was destroyed; • And after a long march through the Desert of Sinai, they have arrived at the Mountain of the Lord, Mt. Sinai;
Mt. Sinai Today • 7,487 ft. high • Tallest in northern Arabia Is part of a very rugged mountain region. St. Catherine’s Monastery
Who Should We Be? • As the people settled in, Moses ascends the Mountain to meet with God. • The idea here is that God can hardly wait to meet with His children; • Like a father, or grandfather, who has been away from his children for some time – he can’t wait to see them again; • This is called “personification” – where human characteristics are given to God.
Who Should We Be? • God begins by remind Israel of His saving acts towards them: • God was mighty to save Israel back in Egypt through the powerful display of the ten plagues; • God was mighty to save Israel as she cross the Red Sea on dry land and single-handedly destroy the Egyptian army; • God was mighty to save Israel during her trip to Mt. Sinai; Why did God do all this? Grace! Pure Grace!
Who Should We Be? • Now God says, “If you keep my commands, then you will be My treasured possession.” • Was God saying “If you are good, then I will love you?” • Keeping the commandments was the people’s response to this God who already loved and cared for them. • This is the same response for Christians today. No, not at all! We are saved by GRACE, and then respond with obedience! 1 Peter 2:9 “You are a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
Who Should We Be? • Why did God choose the People of Israel? • They were not the largest of nations; • They were not the best of nations; • You will be “My kingdom of priests and My holy nation.” • They were to be an example to the watching world; • They were to live lives consecrated to God; • They were a light to the Gentiles to bring them to God; Pure Grace! • We are to live as examples to a watching world? Has anything changed? • We are to live lives consecrated to God? • We are to be lights to the Gentiles to bring them to God?
How Should We Prepare? Exodus 19:1-14 10 And the LORD said to Moses, "Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow. Have them wash their clothes 11 and be ready by the third day, because on that day the LORD will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people. 12 Put limits for the people around the mountain and tell them, …
How Should We Prepare? 'Be careful that you do not go up the mountain or touch the foot of it. Whoever touches the mountain shall surely be put to death… Only when the ram's horn sounds a long blast may they go up to the mountain." 14 After Moses had gone down the mountain to the people, he consecrated them, and they washed their clothes.
How Should We Prepare? • If you were to meet the Queen of England or the President of the United States, how would you prepare for that meeting? • Would you learn certain protocols that you would have to follow? • Would you study certain physical decorum that you would have to follow? Of course we would! We’re meeting someone special!
How Should We Prepare? • The People of Israel were about to meet God – how were they to prepare? • The people were to “consecrate themselves” IN-wardly: • This was special: they were being singled out for a very important purpose – “to meet God!” • It included reverence for God, meaning they were to realize just how special God is. • They were to make sure everything in them was pure before coming into God’s presence.
How Should We Prepare? • The people were to “consecrate themselves” OUT-wardly: • They were to wash their clothes; • They were to cleanse themselves; • After this period of consecration, God came down on Mt. Sinai on the third day in all His glory and power.
How Should We Prepare? • The people were told not to get too close to the mountain – a zone where neither animal or people could come any closer. • God is perfectly and powerfully Holy – meaning that any contact with sin would result in complete destruction. • But God is also loving and kind, so providing this “Boundary Line” showed God’s kindness towards His people. • Luther’s Explanation to the Commandments: Why this Boundary Line? Fear God & Love God
How Should We Prepare? • The people were called to “listen up” when they heard a blast from the shofar or ram’s horn.
How Should We Prepare? • We come into God’s presence at Church in much the same way today: • Since God is Holy and we are sinful, we first deal with that which separates us from God – We confess our sinfulness. • Only through the Blood of Jesus can we approach this Holy God. Fear God Love God
What Should We Expect? Exodus 19:16-19 16 On the morning of the third day there was thunder and lightning, with a thick cloud over the mountain, and a very loud trumpet blast. Everyone in the camp trembled. 17 Then Moses led the people out of the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain. …
What Should We Expect? 18 Mount Sinai was covered with smoke, because the LORD descended on it in fire. The smoke billowed up from it like smoke from a furnace, the whole mountain trembled violently, 19 and the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder. Then Moses spoke and the voice of God answered him.
What Should We Expect? • How terrible and awesome was this visit of God to Mt. Sinai. • Obviously, this got the people’s attention! • It also demonstrated that this God was not like any of the weakling gods of Egypt. • This was a living God, whose holiness demanded respect and reverence.
What Should We Expect? • “Then Moses brought the people out to meet God,” a turning point for the people of Israel: • No longer were they a Bedouin group of wilderness wanderers; • No longer were they simply the offspring of Jacob; • Now they are the People of God: • Set apart to keep God’s laws; • Bound to God in a covenant relationship;
Special and Important Note • We need to be careful that the right construct of these events are followed: namely “Because……Therefore.” But which one is correct? • “Because the People obey God, therefore God will make them His people.” • “Because God rescued His people, therefore they will obey God.” Wrong! Correct!
Because, God rescued you from Egypt, brought you to Mt. Sinai and will take you to a New Land. Therefore, you are a people that will obey God, love each other and serve each other in community. The Old Testament Model
Because, God rescued you from Sin, brought you to Mt. Calvary and will take you to a New Land. Therefore, you are a people that will obey God, love each other and serve each other in community. The New Testament Model
Because… Therefore… our Christian living! Why I go to Church! Why I live the way I do! Why I study the Bible! of God’s Activity, God’s Grace and His Forgiveness in Jesus Christ!
Conclusion Bible Study • To know Jesus…. Is to want to know Him more; • To love Jesus…. Is to want to love Him more; • To serve Jesus…. Is to want to serve Him more; Worship & Prayer Christian Service We do all this to give thanks to God for Saving us!
