[[2026-04-13]] - previous: [[Exodus 15.22-18.27 Study Notes]]. provided for in the desert, [[God]] fighting the armies w/ [[Moses]]' raised arms, beginnings of government # My notes - # My answers to pre-reading questions - Start by looking at [[Exodus 19]]:4-6. Note down a) the basis for the relationship in v.4, b) what [[Yahweh]] is asking of the people in v.5, c) what he is promising them a. because they have seen what [[Yahweh]] did for them in [[Egypt]] b. "**if** you obey me fully and keep my covenant" c. "then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession." - Now read through the rest of [[Exodus 19]]. Think about the visuals (mountain, thunder/lightning, etc) and consider why they are included in the passage (how do they help us understand the kind of relationship that [[Yahweh]] expects?) - The visuals are overwhelming and terrifying: thunder and lightning, thick cloud, a trumpet blast so loud "everyone in the camp trembled," fire, billowing smoke "like smoke from a furnace," and the whole mountain shaking violently (vv.16-18). These aren't decorative -- they establish the radical asymmetry of the relationship. This is not two parties meeting as equals. Yahweh is holy and consuming; the people must consecrate themselves, wash their clothes, abstain, and stay behind physical barriers on pain of death. Even the priests must consecrate themselves or Yahweh will "break out against them" (v.22). The visuals make clear that the covenant relationship in vv.4-6 — treasured possession, kingdom of priests — is an act of extraordinary grace, not something Israel earns or approaches casually. The right posture is awe. - Now bring in the [[Commandments]] in [[Exodus 20]]:1-21. Write down the role that these commandments might play in the relationship - The commandments flow directly from the relationship established in 19:4-6, and 20:2 makes this explicit: "I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt." Rescue comes first; commands come after. The commandments define what "obeying fully and keeping my covenant" actually looks like in practice — they give concrete shape to covenant faithfulness. The first four govern the vertical relationship (no other gods, no idols, no misuse of the name, Sabbath rest), and the last six govern horizontal relationships within the community. Together they describe what a "kingdom of priests and holy nation" looks like on the ground. Notably, the people's reaction in vv.18-21 mirrors the fear from ch.19 — they beg Moses to mediate because the direct presence is too terrifying — and Moses tells them this fear is precisely the point: "so that the fear of God will be with you to keep you from sinning" (v.20). The commandments are the content of the covenant; the visuals are what make obeying them feel urgent and serious. # [[NET Bible]] # [[Zondervan NIV Biblical Theology Study Bible]] # [[Exodus FG leaders notes.pdf]] ## [[Exodus 19]]:1-8 (focus) -- Commitment - **What kind of relationship does [[Yahweh]] want**? This chapter lets us know - Not of equals -- [[Yahweh]] on top of mountain, [[Moses]] has to go up - [[Yahweh]] is in complete authority -- the people's role is to obey. Note the conditional - Contrast with [[Covenant]] with [[Abraham]] - much less focus on what he expected from [[Abraham]]'s offspring compared to here - because now they are a real nation! and the "holy nation" part becomes important - v. 8 "we will do everything [[Yahweh]] has said" -- big step! ## [[Exodus 19]]:9-25 -- Encounter - Now we are **establishing and ratifying the covenant**, inviting [[Israel]] to meet him - But note emphasis on the rules here -- cleaning for three days, enforced distance, etc, all add gravity - Gradation becomes a theme - mountain base to mountain top - inner tent vs outer tent - closeness mediated by [[Moses]]/[[Aaron]] ## [[Exodus 20]]:1-21 -- [[The Ten Commandments]] - What does this add to the last scenes? **[[Yahweh]]'s voice governing relationship** - Why have these in the flow of the text in the middle of this story? - [[Yahweh]] is continuing to demonstrate his authority - He gets to define how he is worshipped and approached - He has authority over all areas of [[Israel]]'s life - Important notes: - It is not the case that [[Israel]] had to follow [[The Law]] to earn [[God]]'s approval. They receive the law *after* they are rescued (approved) by [[God]], after his promise to [[Abraham]], etc - [[Deuteronomy]] says it is within [[Israel]]'s ability to keep the law. It is not too difficult to follow - While [[The Law]] no longer applies to us as a package, we can still derive important principles about godly living from it ([[1 Timothy 1]]:8) - Rather than dispensing, [[Jesus]] thought that we should go beyond ([[Matthew 6]]:27-30)