Exodus 19-20

Book: Exodus

Sep 11

Now that YHWH has delivered His people, He will instruct them in how to represent Him. This will entail the instructions for holiness (the Mosaic Covenant), the holy preparation of the tabernacle and the priestly attendants. Without the Mosaic Covenant, God will not dwell with the people as they will not be holy.

The first four commandments were vertical. It was from seeing this self-revealing God that man would be in awe of His gracious character and would desire to imitate Him. His response must be only that YHWH was beyond Him in holiness and separation and was by no means similar to man and his character.

The last six commandments expressed opportunities for man to represent YHWH. As such, he should be looking for opportunities (as YHWH was) to express this sacrificial love. Since YHWH had provided him the opportunity, his only glory was to give YHWH glory for allowing him to be beneficial as YHWH.