The Pulpit Commentary — Exodus — Volume 2 — Section 347

IIOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Ver. 10.-" I make a covenant." I. A COVENANT RENEWED. Mark bow in con- nection with this there is-{1) A new command to ascend the mount. (2) A new co=and that the mount shall not be touched. (3) A new manifestation of the Divine glory. Yet how different I (4) A new giving of the law. (5) A new rehearsal (in su=ary) of tbe "rights." (6) A new fast of forty days and forty nights. II. A COVENANT RENEWED ON THE BASIS OF DITEBCESBION. we have even more than this-we have a "shadow of the Cross" ( eh. xx.xii. 32). Peace made by (1) mediation, (2) atonement, (3) intercession. The bestowal of the blessing on this ground-1. Prevented the people from looking lightly on sin, or from imagining that God looked lightly on it. 2. Conserved the Divine honour. 3. Gave a higher value to the gift. 4. Put honour upon Moses. 5. Taught that blessings can be won from God by intercession.-J. 0. Vers. 10-29.-Revived obligations. Former instructions a.re renewed; only, how- ever, so far as relates to the duties of religion. Renewal of the civil code was r. ~t required. Subject to this limit, the new book of the covenant (ver. 27) revives, sup- plements, expands, a.nd endorses the teachings and precepts of the old one. We have in it-- I. PROMISE (vers. 10, 11). God, as on the former occasion (eh. x.xiii. 23-30), pledges himself to drive out all their enemies. The work would be-1. Wonderful- " Before all the people will I do marvels," etc. 2. Terribl1t-" For it is a terrible thing which I will do with thee." Men have passed the same judgment upon it. God however, called it terrible before they did. They should remember this when they build on it an objection to the Bible. God can do terrible things. 3. Thorough. The extirpation would be complete. II. CAUTION (vers. 12-18). The Israelites were to beware of being snared into idole.try. To this end they were-1. To make no league with the Canaanites. "Evil communications corrupt good me.nners" (1 Cor. xv. 33). 2. To destroy all signs of their idolatrous worship. No good comes of retaining in our midst that which can only be a sne.re to us. 3. To avoid intermarriages. "Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers" (2 Cor. vi. 14). III. CoMMAND (vera. 18-27). The command relates to the three feasts. See former B)milies.-J. 0. 2B2  TRE IlOOR OF EXODUS.