“The Lord of the Mountain” (Exodus 19:16–25)

“The Lord of the Mountain” (Exodus 19:16–25)
Pastor Cameron Jungels
Eastside Baptist Church
Sunday PM, March 11, 2018

Exodus 19:16–25 (NIV)

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. 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, and the whole mountain trembled violently. 19 As the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke and the voice of God answered him.

20 The Lord descended to the top of Mount Sinai and called Moses to the top of the mountain. So Moses went up 21 and the Lord said to him, “Go down and warn the people so they do not force their way through to see the Lord and many of them perish. 22 Even the priests, who approach the Lord, must consecrate themselves, or the Lord will break out against them.”

23 Moses said to the Lord, “The people cannot come up Mount Sinai, because you yourself warned us, ‘Put limits around the mountain and set it apart as holy.’ ”

24 The Lord replied, “Go down and bring Aaron up with you. But the priests and the people must not force their way through to come up to the Lord, or he will break out against them.”

25 So Moses went down to the people and told them.

1. The Lord manifests his holy presence in power (16–19).

a. The Lord’s presence comes on the third day in accordance with his word.
b. The Lord’s presence is marked by displays of power and authority from his created world
c. The Lord’s presence is met with appropriate fear and awe.

2. The holy Lord must descend (condescend) to meet with his people (19b–20).

a. The Lord condescends to listen to the voice of a man and respond (19b).
b. The Lord descends on the mountain to meet with a man (20).

3. The Lord delays the giving of the covenant in order to further instruct his people to honor his holy presence (21–25).

a. The Lord delays the giving of the covenant to reinforce his holiness (21).
b. The Lord: Warn the people again (21–22).
c. Moses: The people have already been told (23).
d. The Lord: Tell them again and bring Aaron with you next time (24).
e. Moses: He goes down to get Aaron and warn the people and priests again (25).

Main Idea: The Lord is so holy that his creation cannot help but respond to his presence, and his people must be ever mindful of the perfect holiness of their God and not presume to think that they are worthy in and of themselves to approach his holy presence.