Jeff Burns
Puritan Board Freshman
Hey ya'll. Been a while since I've posted anything, or really even been to the board for that matter. Life's been busy lately and I half forgot about this great resource. At any rate, I have a question for everyone and would love your thoughts.
Recently my pastor has been preaching through Exodus. The past two Sundays have been spent going over Ex. 19-20. Here my pastor follows John Sailhamer’s interpretation found in the back of his book Introduction to Old Testament Theology. I could try to summarize the sermons, but my pastor has actually done it for the community group leaders, so I’ll just post his words.
“Summary of the sermon for community group leaders
In Exodus 19:1-6 God calls Israel a treasured possession, a royal priesthood, and a holy nation, if they "obey my voice" (Gen. 26:5) and "keep the covenant" (Gen 17:9) given to Abraham which is kept not by works but by faith. Part of God's desire for the "kingly priests" of Israel is that they go up the mountain to worship him (cf. Exodus 3:12, 19:13b, Ex. 20:18-20, Deut .5:2-5) only after they consecrated themselves and waited until God called them up the mountain with a trumpet blast on the third day (the day of Pentecost- 50 days after leaving Egypt). When the trumpet was blown the people did not go up the mountain but feared in a away that led them to stand far off from God and to take their stand at the foot of the mountain (cf. Exodus 19:16-17, 20:18-20, Deut 5:5). Their fear primarily led them to distance themselves from God rather than fearing God in a way that led them closer to Him. This distance is shown through the rest of chapter 19 as a distinction is made between the priests and the people and Moses has to go up the mountain without the people. The boundary that was around the people for consecration is now set around the mountain creating even more distance (19:12,23). As a result just like Paul indicated in Galatians 3:15-19, the law was given not to do away with the covenant promise made to Abraham, but it was given because of the people's sins (cf. Jeremiah 7:21-24). It was given to "hold the people captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith [Jesus Christ] is revealed" (Gal. 3:23). The law was not punishment however. It is good, holy and righteous (Romans 7:12). Yet the laws function to guard the people from falling into the sins of the other nations until Jesus came to free people from the law that all who trust in him might be called sons of God (cf. Galatians 3:23-25; Romans 7:6).
As application, we are reminded of Presence: God's promised presence and his desire for a personal relationship with his people; Consecration: we are reminded of God's delight in a holy, set apart people who are a city within a city. Fear: We are brought to remember that we must fear God not in a way that distances us from him but draws us to lean into him with loving faith. Obedience: And we must be called to walk in obedience to God's commands.”
Has anyone ever heard of an interpretation like this before? I couldn’t find it in any of the major commentaries and only discovered it was verbatim from Sailhamer on Monday night. I’d love to hear your thoughts on the idea that Israel was supposed to ascend Mt. Sinai. I assume most folks here espouse covenant theology, so I understand some presuppositional biases will arise. For the record, I’m not at all convinced of Sailhamer’s interpretation….
Recently my pastor has been preaching through Exodus. The past two Sundays have been spent going over Ex. 19-20. Here my pastor follows John Sailhamer’s interpretation found in the back of his book Introduction to Old Testament Theology. I could try to summarize the sermons, but my pastor has actually done it for the community group leaders, so I’ll just post his words.
“Summary of the sermon for community group leaders
In Exodus 19:1-6 God calls Israel a treasured possession, a royal priesthood, and a holy nation, if they "obey my voice" (Gen. 26:5) and "keep the covenant" (Gen 17:9) given to Abraham which is kept not by works but by faith. Part of God's desire for the "kingly priests" of Israel is that they go up the mountain to worship him (cf. Exodus 3:12, 19:13b, Ex. 20:18-20, Deut .5:2-5) only after they consecrated themselves and waited until God called them up the mountain with a trumpet blast on the third day (the day of Pentecost- 50 days after leaving Egypt). When the trumpet was blown the people did not go up the mountain but feared in a away that led them to stand far off from God and to take their stand at the foot of the mountain (cf. Exodus 19:16-17, 20:18-20, Deut 5:5). Their fear primarily led them to distance themselves from God rather than fearing God in a way that led them closer to Him. This distance is shown through the rest of chapter 19 as a distinction is made between the priests and the people and Moses has to go up the mountain without the people. The boundary that was around the people for consecration is now set around the mountain creating even more distance (19:12,23). As a result just like Paul indicated in Galatians 3:15-19, the law was given not to do away with the covenant promise made to Abraham, but it was given because of the people's sins (cf. Jeremiah 7:21-24). It was given to "hold the people captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith [Jesus Christ] is revealed" (Gal. 3:23). The law was not punishment however. It is good, holy and righteous (Romans 7:12). Yet the laws function to guard the people from falling into the sins of the other nations until Jesus came to free people from the law that all who trust in him might be called sons of God (cf. Galatians 3:23-25; Romans 7:6).
As application, we are reminded of Presence: God's promised presence and his desire for a personal relationship with his people; Consecration: we are reminded of God's delight in a holy, set apart people who are a city within a city. Fear: We are brought to remember that we must fear God not in a way that distances us from him but draws us to lean into him with loving faith. Obedience: And we must be called to walk in obedience to God's commands.”
Has anyone ever heard of an interpretation like this before? I couldn’t find it in any of the major commentaries and only discovered it was verbatim from Sailhamer on Monday night. I’d love to hear your thoughts on the idea that Israel was supposed to ascend Mt. Sinai. I assume most folks here espouse covenant theology, so I understand some presuppositional biases will arise. For the record, I’m not at all convinced of Sailhamer’s interpretation….