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Scott's Reference Library
Exodus 19:1 through Exodus 19:6 (NIV)
1In the third month after the Israelites left Egypt—on the very day—they
came to the Desert of Sinai. 2After they set out from Rephidim, they entered the
Desert of Sinai, and Israel camped there in the desert in front of the mountain.
3Then Moses went up to God, and the LORD called to him from the mountain and
said, “This is what you are to say to the house of Jacob and what you are to
tell the people of Israel: 4‘You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and
how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. 5Now if you obey
me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured
possession. Although the whole earth is mine, 6you will be for me a kingdom of
priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words you are to speak to the
Israelites.”
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
VERSES 1-8
Moses was called up the mountain, and was employed as the messenger of this
covenant. The Maker and first Mover of the covenant, is God himself. This
blessed charter was granted out of God’s own free grace. The covenant here
mentioned was the national covenant, by which the Israelites were a people under
the government of Jehovah. It was a type of the new covenant made with true
believers in Christ Jesus; but, like other types, it was only a shadow of good
things to come. As a nation they broke this covenant; therefore the Lord
declared that he would make a new covenant with Israel, writing his law, not
upon tables of stone, but in their hearts, Jeremiah 31:33; Hebrews 8:7-10. The
covenant spoken of in these places as ready to vanish away, is the national
covenant with Israel, which they forfeited by their sins. Unless we carefully
attend to this, we shall fall into mistakes while reading the Old Testament. We
must not suppose that the nation of the Jews were under the covenant of works,
which knows nothing of repentance, faith in a Mediator, forgiveness of sins, or
grace; nor yet that the whole nation of Israel bore the character, and possessed
the privileges of true believers, as being actually sharers in the covenant of
grace. They were all under a dispensation of mercy; they had outward privileges
and advantages for salvation; but, like professing Christians, most rested
therein, and went no further. Israel consented to the conditions. They answered
as one man, All that the Lord hath spoken we will do. Oh that there had been
such a heart in them! Moses, as a mediator, returned the words of the people to
God. Thus Christ, the Mediator, as a Prophet, reveals God’s will to us, his
precepts and promises; and then, as a Priest, offers up to God our spiritual
sacrifices, not only of prayer and praise, but of devout affections, and pious
resolutions, the work of his own Spirit in us.