The National tribune., 1888-06-21
SUNDAY MEDITATION.

Zone reading these notes should first carefully
study the paragraph from the Holy Scriptures as
indicated above.l
SUBJECT: THE RATIFICATION OF THE JUDI
CIAL LAWS RECEIVED BY MOSES ON Mt.
SINAI.
We now pass from the New to the Old Testa
ment. We are to have five studies in the Book
of Exodus, book written by Moses at Mount
Sinai, giving account of the children of Israel
leaving Egypt with its bondage, escaping into
the wilderness and arriving at Mt. Horeb.
/. Time.
Our lesson is located in the year 2513 A. M.
and 1491 B. c., or 3,379 years ago. The Jews,
under lead of Moses, reached the Monnt of
Sinai in 45 days after leaving Egypt. Not
long after getting settled in their new quarters
Moses was called up into the mount to receive
the laws which were afterward given to the
children of Israel, and to prove indeed the
basis Of ecclesiastical regulations.
2. Place.
It seems the Israelites remained at Mt. Sinai
for about one year, during which time Moses
was thoroughly instructed, God being his
teacher, in all the system of theology and the
ordinances of true religion. There were three
points Of interest: First the foot of the mount
ain, where the masses OF people were; second
ly, spot midway between the foot and the
summit of the mount where the 20 paused
thirdly, the tip-top, where God and Moses met
We have suggested by these three points the
court for the miscellaneous crOwds-the holy
place accessible to the priest and the Holy Of
Holes, Gods central spot of manifestation
We remember our Savior in Gethsemane, the
eight Apostles near the entry, the three mid
way between the gate and the midst of the
garden, and our Redeemer at the center. The
priests of God should always stand where they
can receive from God and hand to the people.
While all Christians have personal access to
4 81 ,- FI.p,EA 6 = Cx-
pei do in certain sense stand midway between
God and the people, so as to minister to the
people the things of God. Preaching is not
original matter, but simply revelation to the
people by ministers of messages received from
God
3. The Company which Aseended the Mountain.
The party was composed of two classes: 1.
Moses; 2. The 70. OF the latter we know
three by name-Nadab and Abihu, sons of
spoken of were not those appointed to be in the
Office of Elder. That body was not formed till
later. (Nu, II 49,
4. The Visible God
We meet difficulty in verse 10. "They sGw
God" How could this be2 (Read st. John,
1:18; Col, L Is; IT,, 1: II; 6:16. In con-
trast read Ex., 10: II; 80: II; Deu., 4: 12l
We speak Of seeing man when in fact we see
only his body. Jesus was a manifestation of
GOuF 1nHlAHu6l, ana yet ne was III the human
form. Moses saw God; saw the Shekinah; saw
the luminous cloud IN which Deity often
veloped himself when appearing to men; saw
God as we see human being vailed. In his
omnipresenee, essence, omniscienee, ETC., no
one can see God, because no one finite can take
in the Infinite; because no one in space can
reach out beyond space. No one can see God
no one whose vision at the best is imperfect,
whose very organs are only material.
X The Facts
| Verses and state Gods direction to Moses
as to the re-ascent Of Mt. Sinai. In verses 3 to
| 8, inclusive, we have account of what Moses
! did just before oDeying the command of verses
/ l and 2 Verses 8, 10, IL report the ascent Of
/ the mountain to the point where Moses was to
! separate from the 20 and pass on up TO a greater
| elevation.
Before going up into the mountain again
| Moses recited to the people the laws received
on former ascent, and written in Chapters q,
1 p and %. We must remember that the moral
law-the decalog - was spoken by Jehovah
himself in the hearing and sight of all the peo-
! pie. (See 20: 1921 TO preserve the laws
Moses wrote them in book form. ". A. At
| once he began obedience to the laws received
lie built an altar. (20:24, 25.) The altar was
q symbol Of Gods presence-the II pillars stood
| for II tribes. No ministry had been yet insti-
| tuted, and so he selected a~body of young men
| TO offer sacrifices. A covenant formal ratif-
! cation OF the laws gotten on the mountain-was
to be made. The parties to the covenant were
/ God and the Israelites and hence both took
1 oath TO each In the form Of q scarlet symbol
! The people heartily assented on their part, as
/. God did on his part Midway between the foot
and summit of Mt. Sinai Moses and the 70
paused. God appeared in grandest brilliance,
sitting as on throne fxedsto floor, made as
it were of pavement Of solid sapphire stones.
/ Near as he was tie people suffered no injury at
!, ftnvR F1Ff1 g
ratification feast, kind of communion be-
tween the parties to the covenant. The act OF
| mutual eating and drinking in early days and
Eastern nations was most sacred service, eter-
naily binding together in confidence the par
ties so feasting.
6. saggsstions
l. Obey After Moses told the people all of
the commands Of God they responded "All
the words which the Lord hath said will we
do" (V 81 When the commands were re-
peated SO as 10 be distinctly understood the peo-
pie answered as before, adding, and I'VE will
be obedient." (V H. Not to know Gods
will may be mitigating circumstance. To
know and then refuse compliance must bring
down on offenders serious consequences We
are Gods children. parent has right to be
obeyed. Nothing viii make such break in
the domestic realm as declension on the part OF
the family to recognize the head the father. /" Al
that the Lord hath said [ordered will we do'
lR.7) Partial obedience will notdo. We must
recognize every commandment issued by our
Heavenly Father. All the words which the
Lord hath said will we do" (V.31 Gods
words are the Old and the New Testament.
There must be no eclecticism about the COM
mands of God. 1t will not do for us to obey
some Of Gods laws and trample on others.
/ Wilderness is holiness. God requires complete
obedience. Gods laws are a system, every
item being part. His commands are body OF
law subdiyided into departments according to
the varied relations of life. You cannot there
fore, fracture a single law without affecting
the whole system of divine government
without evincing disposition which lies al
I the foundation Of anarchy without being a
traitor to Him whose throne is fixed on a sap.
phiTe (eternal) pavement ". 10)
z. Be true to all covenant relations GOV.
! eRant il a contract entered into between two
parties. Ia the case before us, one party
is God, the other the Jewish people One
party may be the government, the ether the
subjects One may be the seller, the other the
buyer. God entered into covenant with hi
people, he on one hand agreeing TO do this and
that; they on the other hand promising to bt
: true, faithful, obedient children Of God. Tht
I shedding Of blood had significance. A par
! was spriukled on the altar, ". A. the abode o.
: representative Of God; the other part wa
: sprinkled on the people, or rather probably OF
= the II pillars, which represented the Jewisl
people That tho blood be shed the anifna