The Ten Commandments-Final thoughts on Ex 19:3-11

Today we conclude our look at a few of the verses that precede God's actual speaking of the Ten Commandments in Exodus 20.

The observational overview of Ex 19:3-11 can be found HERE

And the in depth look at Ex 19:3-6 can be found HERE.




The in depth look at Ex 19:7-11 can be found HERE.

After today's post I will move onto the Ex 20:1-17 and look at the actual Ten Commandments (or Decalogue).

And as aside I am still working on the Ref-Tagger links as I want people to be able to hover over a Bible verse and see it immediately while reading the post.  Thank you for your continued patience!

Exodus 19:3-11 (NASB)
³ Moses went up to God, and the LORD called to him from the mountain, saying, "Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob and tell the sons of Israel:
⁴ 'You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles' wings, and brought you to Myself.
⁵ ~'Now then, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be My own possession among all the peoples, for all the earth is Mine;
⁶ and you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.' These are the words that you shall speak to the sons of Israel."
⁷ So Moses came and called the elders of the people, and set before them all these words which the LORD had commanded him.
⁸ 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.
⁹ The LORD said to Moses, "Behold, I will come to you in a thick cloud, so that the people may hear when I speak with you and may also believe in you forever." Then Moses told the words of the people to the LORD.
¹⁰ The LORD also said to Moses, "Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow, and let them wash their garments;
¹¹ and let them be ready for the third day, for on the third day the LORD will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people.

Biblical Principles:

• What fundamental universal truths are presented in this passage. State that truth in a simple sentence or two. -- God chose the Israelites to be His. He wanted to reassure them and help them to know and believe that Moses spoke with authority given to Him by God. God wants obedience! The Israelites were quick to agree but often quick to forget. God came down to talk to them! And then later, He sent His Son Jesus Christ to with us!!
• What issues in our own culture and my own situations does this truth address? -- Sometimes we (I) are also quick to forget what God has done and IS still doing!
• What are the implications when applied to my life and the world around me? -- I should NOT focus on the world around me but focus on the Word of God.
• What changes does it require? -- Definitive focus and diligence!
• What values does it reinforce? -- This passage (and the following commandments) demonstrate just how much God loves His people!
• What difference does it make? -- WOW! It makes all the difference. God knows what we need and WANTS to give it to us!

Application:

• Is there an example to follow?
• Is there a sin to avoid? -- Yes, disobedience
• Is there a promise to claim? -- Yes? For the Israelites. If they kept the covenant God would make them His own possession. For everyone else the actual covenant comes later but the same holds true: If we keep that new covenant ushered in by Jesus Christ!
• Is there a command to obey? --Yes. Keep the covenant. Obey God's voice!
• Is there a condition to meet? -- Yes, see above.
• Is there an error to mark? -- Yes, In hindsight we see the Israelites quick to say they will do all that God has spoken. And they made a false god out of gold. We also are prone to the same behavior (I know I am!) Staying the course,, diligence, prayer, focus on God are the ways to avoid that error of forgetfulness!)
• Is there a challenge to face? -- Yes! How doe we avoid that forgetfulness? We read the Word of God, we love Jesus Christ, we pray and focus our thoughts on things of God.

Application Summary:

• Based on recent events in my life I should look at the log ( Mt 7:3-5 ) in my own eye before criticizing the Israelites of Exodus! How quickly I FORGET! But that is the challenge: To stay focused on the God's Word that he spoke to us and continues to speak to us!

 

Bibliography

 

• Baker, Warren, ed. – The Complete Word Study Old Testament. Chattanooga, TN: AMG, 1994. WORDsearch CROSS e-book.
• God's Word: Today's Bible Translation That Means What It Says Holiday, FL: Green Key Books, n.d.. WORDsearch CROSS e-book.
• God's Word Application Index. Holiday, FL: Green Key Books, n.d.. WORDsearch CROSS e-book.
• Holy Bible, New American Standard La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995. WORDsearch CROSS e-book.
• Thompson, Frank Charles. Thompson Chain Reference Bible. Indianapolis, IN: B. B. Kirkbride Bible Co., 1997. WORDsearch CROSS e-book.
• Torrey, R. A. The New Topical Textbook. New York: Fleming H. Revell Company, 1897. WORDsearch CROSS e-book. 

Our next post, as stated above, will begin our look at the actual Ten Commandments:  Ex 20:1-17.