The Pulpit Commentary — Exodus — Volume 2 — Section 101

HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Vers. 1, 2. Arrival and encampment at Sinai.-We come now to the comideration of what, next to the exodus, is the greatest event in Israel's history-the ratification at Sinai of the nation's covenant with God, preceded by thi, giving of the law. we cannot attach too great importance to these Divine acts. The covenant at Sinai place,\ Israel in a totally unique relation to Jehovah. It conferred on that people an honour the like of which no nation on earth ever had, or ever has since, enjoyed. It gave rise to an economy, the express design of which was to prepare the way for Christ-to shut mon up under a conviction of the hopelessness of attaining righteousness by the law, to the faith that should afterwards be revealed (Gal. iii. 23). This covenant, as befitted tho majesty of God, dealing with a sinful people, was to be ordained "in the hand of a media.tor" (Gal. iii. 19). Moses, accordingly, is seen in these verses entering on his media.torial functions. Once, a second, and a third time, in the course of this single chapter, he is seen ascending the mount, to meet with God (vers. 3, 8, 20); and once, a second, and a third time, he is sent back from its awful recesses with a message to the people. Vere. 1, 2 relate the arrival at Sinai. I. THE NOTE OF TIME.-" In the third month," etc. (ver. 1). That is, a.bout six weeks-forty or fifty days-after leaving Egypt. This was close on the date of Pente- cost, afterwards traditionally observed as the anniversary of the giving of the law. It was probably with allusion to this fact that, in the new economy, the day of Pentecost was chosen for the gift of the Spirit to the Church (Acts ii.). Thus was fulfilled the prophecy-" Behold the days come, saith the Lord, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of .Judah . . . I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts" (Jer. xxxi. 31-33). "Sinai, then, was the Pentecost of the old dispensation. And, conversely, Pentecost is the Sinai of the new." (Gibson.) II. THE PLACE OF ENCAMPMENT.-" The wilderness of Sinai . . . before the mount (vers. 1, 2). A fitter theatre for the awful revelation about to be given could scarcely be imagined. 'J'he heart of the desert, it was-1. A place of absolute solitude. The people were absolutely alone with God-withdrawn from everything which could distract their thoughts from him and from his message. Owen observes-" When God deals with men by the law, he will let them see nothing but himself and their own consciences . . . For the most part, when the law is preached to sinners, they have innumerable diversions and reliefs at hand to shield them from its terror and efficacy . . . . They have other things to do than to attend to the voice of the law; at least, it is not yet necessary that they should so do. But when God will bring them to the mount, as he will here or hereafter, all these pretext2 will vanish and disappear" (on Heh. xi,t. 18). For the thorough awakening of conscience, we must get a. man alone-- must, in some way or other, sever him from his ordinary surroundings. 2. A place of great 6ublimity. Travellers dwell with a.we on its be.re, desolate grandeur---on "the lengthened approach" to the mount, "as to some natural sanctuary." The mind, amidst such grandeur, is irresistibly drawn upwards. It is brought into the condition most fit for the reception of thoughts of the everlasting and sublime. How suitable was such a. place for the promulgation of that moral law which Kant said a.fleeted him with such indescribable awe every time he thought of it! Every circumstance was present which could lend body, vastness, volume, impressivenesR, and reduphca.~ed sublimity to the terrors of the revelation. 'l'he "sound of the trumpet and the voice of words" would reverberate with strange power a.mid those rocky heights, and along the echoing valleys. The sternness of the environment was itself a. co~mertary on tl:e law's sanctities. 3. A place of barrenness. "lt was a barren and frllltl_ess desert, where there was little water or food, and, a.nswera.bly thereunto, the law Ill a state_ of sin, would bring forth no fruit, nothing acceptable to God, no_r useful to the so~ls of men." (Owen.) So entirely has the spirit of this scene-of this awful desert solitu?e -passed into the revelation connected with it, that the two can no longer be dis- sociated. Si1111i, unconsciously to ourselves, acts upon us to this hour, in every contact of our minds with the truths of the law. HI. '1111, DJ,:SJClN 01'' '1'JJJ,; s'JAY. brncl abode a.t i5iuni for elcYen mouths. Duri11g 106 THE BOOK OF EXODUS. ( en. XIX. 3-9.