The Pulpit Commentary — Exodus — Volume 2 — Section 218

the words ?f the. Lord," n~d, when he had read what. he had written, the poop le c<>□- firmed their prev10_11s promise (ver. 7). A wri~ten remmder of ~he covenant as accepted by them was all-1mportnnt; a dying enthusiasm goes hand m hand with a wani □" memory; only a record which will revive the memory can avail to rekindle the enthu~ siasm. Our own experience illuHtrates this. The diary, the marked Bible-what a suggestive eloquence they have, not only to remind of old times, but to re-awaken ohl. feelings I 2. The sacramedal symbol. Burnt-offerings, the outward sign of dedication and obedience; peace offerings, the outward sign of gratitude and thanksgiving. Half the blood sprinkled on tho people and half on the altar, symbol of the union between man aud God so long as his commands were thankfully obeyed. So long as man is in the flesh he needs such sensible and visible emblems. His senses are a function of himself; to fay hold of them is to lay hold of him through them. The Bible is our record of what God requires of us; but baptism and the Lord's Hupper give outward expreHsion to the teaching of the Bible. Each confirms the influence of the other; we need both to support our resolutions. Ill. THE PARTIAL REVELATION. The people had expressed their willingness to obey; and, further, they had openly confirmed that expression. Time, however, was needed to test and strengthen their resolution: they could not be admitted to the full blaze of light merely because, in partial darkness, they had for a little gazed towards its dawning. A few are selected to represent the multitude (vers. 1, 9-11); and even of these few, not all are admitted to equal nearness. Enough is revealed to help faith, more would probably have only injured its growth. [Illustration: Plants are kept from too much light until they are firmly rooted.] Faith, here, needed rooting: until that was accom- plished an economy of reserve was necessary. Concluding considerations.-!. The honest promise of obedience is accepted by God as of moral value. He encourages sincerity by glimpses of the reward in store. 2. Only obedience tested by difficulty can win the realisation of the beatific vision. The people must share the life-long training of Moses before they can enjoy with the like freedom his privilege of intimacy with God. Willin,,aness to obey brings knowledge; but full knowledge comes with full obedience.-G. Vers. 3-9.-The ratification of the covenant. These verses contain the account of the formal ratification of the covenant between Israel and Jehovah-an event, the most momentous in the history of the nation, big, for weal or woe, with unimaginable issues, a.nd a shadow of the better covenant which God now makes with Christians. Observe-- I. THE RATIONALITY OF THE COVENANT. God desires from his people" reasonable service" (Rom. xii. 1). He would not have them enter it in haste. Vows made under the influenoe of sudden impressions are not to be trusted. Once committed to his service, God will deal with us with strictness (eh. uiii. 21). But he does not wish us to commit ourselves till we have carefully considered the nature of the step we are taking, a.nd the magnitude of the issues involved (cf. Luke xiv. 26-34). See this illustrated in the history of the covenant with Israel. The covenant was entered into-- 1. With great deliberation. It was not forced on Israel. The negotiations connected with it were intentionally drawn out and prolonged, just that the people might have the opportunity of pondering well the character of the proposed engagement. .Alike iu the even£s of the exodus, and in the miracles of the desert, they had had abundant experience of the character of the Being with whom they were allying themselves. Arrived at Sinai, preliminary proposals were made to them, and an opportunity given them at the outset 01 saying Yea or Nay (eh. xix. 3-9). ~heir acceptance of these proposals was followed by the giving of the law, which drew trom t~em a. new pronme to do whatever God should speak to them (eh. xx. 19; Deut. v. 27). An 1_uterval ensued, during which Moses was in the mountain (eh. xx. 21). On desceuJrng, he recites to them" All the words of the Lord, and all the judgm.ents" (ver. 3); and un~e again they promise full obedience. Eveu then the matter is allowed to stand over till the morrow, when Moses appears with the written book iu his hand, aud they are asked, finally, if they adhere to what they have said (ver. 7). Gre,iter precautiuus against rash committal could scarcely have been t.ikeu. z..After cureful i11.slrw·lio,_,. P,lin-; were lakeu fully to iufonu the 11eople of the (,enn, ul' the coveu,int, bl'lore ,isk1n>; 1he111  'I'H I..: ROOK OF EXODUS. [en. XXIV. 3-9.