EXODUS CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR -------------------------- Pink calls this chapter "The Covenant Ratified" He says that this might be suitably be designated the Old Testament Mount of Transfiguration, for here Jehovah manifested His glory as never before or after during the whole of the Mosaic economy. Verse 1, Notice in verse one that they must worship "afar off." No one can approach God in his own righteousness, or the ground of his own works. Verse 2, Why was Moses allowed to approach, but the others could not? Was Moses any more righteous in himself than the others? Did he have a superior claim on God? NO! Moses was the appointed mediator between God and His people, and he pointed, in type, to the One Perfect Mediator than came from God and could approach God in His own righteousness. Verse 3, The words refer to the "decalogue" and what is found in chapters 21 to 23. Notice the "words" and the "judgements" are set apart. The judgements begin in chapter 21 as verse 1 indicates. So there seems to be a distinction between the "words" or the "ten commandments" and the "judgements." Verses 4-5, This altar was in obedience to what was spoken in Ex 20 verse 24. Under the hill or Mt. Sinai. Ex 20:24 An altar of earth thou shalt make unto me, and shalt sacrifice thereon thy burnt offerings, and thy peace offerings, thy sheep, and thine oxen: in all places where I record my name I will come unto thee, and I will bless thee. 25 And if thou wilt make me an altar of stone, thou shalt not build it of hewn stone: for if thou lift up thy tool upon it, thou hast polluted it. 26 Neither shalt thou go up by steps unto mine altar, that thy nakedness be not discovered thereon. The "young men" performed this work, because the Levites had not yet been set apart for this work. These "young men" were probably the "first born" which were set apart (sanctified). Ex 13:2 Sanctify unto me all the firstborn, whatsoever openeth the womb among the children of Israel, [both] of man and of beast: it [is] mine. Pink says that these were "burnt offerings" or "peace offerings" and not the blood of atonement. Verses 6-8, SEE Hebrews 9:18-20 Heb 9:18 Whereupon neither the first [testament] was dedicated without blood. 19 For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people, 20 Saying, This [is] the blood of the testament which God hath enjoined unto you. Notice that it was the covenant or testament that was dedicated with this blood. So too, the covenant with Noah and also the Abrahamic covenant were ratified with sacrifice. (See Gen 8:20- 21 and Gen 15:9-10,17) Verse 9-10, Notice the word "THEN." It was after the blood had been applied that such a glorious scene took place. They communed with the Living God. This points to the value of the blood and the great privileges that it procures. This scene in TYPE points to the precious Blood of Jesus Christ. Compare: And notice the word "therefore" Re 7:14 And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 15 THEREFORE are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them. The Mormon has a book that says this: 2Nephi 25:23 For we labor diligently to write, to persuade our children, and also our brethren, to believe in Christ, and to be reconciled to God; for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, AFTER ALL WE CAN DO. But the Bible states: Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: [it is] the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. Pink says that the 70 elders represented the nation of Israel. Verse 10, Pink says that the sapphire stone speaks of Divine government. Ez 1:26 And above the firmament that [was] over their heads [was] the likeness of a throne, as the appearance of a sapphire stone: and upon the likeness of the throne [was] the likeness as the appearance of a man above upon it. Notice there was the likeness as the appearance of a man above it. This would seem to show that the government will be on the shoulders of "the man" Christ Jesus. Isa 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. The paved work = tile, pavement, brick Would this be referring to a foundation? Re 21:19 And the foundations of the wall of the city [were] garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first FOUNDATION [was] jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald; It was a "finished work" and a "sure foundation" on which to stand. 1Co 3:11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. "the body of heaven in [his] clearness." This may be typical of His word or Counsels that are brought to us from heaven and are made clear to us by the Holy Spirit. Verse 11, Now they fellowship with God in sweet communion, whereas before if they would have perished. Compare: Ex 19:21 And the LORD said unto Moses, Go down, charge the people, lest they break through unto the LORD to gaze, and many of them perish. But now!!! How careful the Lord is with the types! They point most solemnly to the Lord Jesus Christ and the work He performed. Compare: Heb 10:1 For the law having a SHADOW of good things to come, [and] not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect. Heb 9:8 The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing: 9 Which [was] a FIGURE for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience; Pink says, "The man of the world will ask, 'How could the blood of calves and goats make any difference in their fitness to approach God?' And the answer is, Just in the same way that a few pieces of paper may raise a pauper from poverty to wealth. The bank-note paper is intrinsically worthless, but it represents gold in the coffers of the Bank of England. Just as valueless was that blood of slain beasts, but it represented the precious blood of Christ." Pink says, "Israel's history continued for almost 1500 years after this memorial occasion, but never again did their elders "see God," and never again did they eat and drink in His presence. Sin came in..." Verses 12-18, Moses is separated from the rest as the Mediator again. The glory of God was not His grace but His holiness, because it appeared as a "devouring fire," verse 17. The six days speaks of work and toil and the 7th speaks of rest. So too we read of the true mediator, Heb 4:10 For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God [did] from his. Joh 17:4 I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do. 5 And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was. After 6 days Moses entered into God's glory, see verse 18. Pink says that this is a TYPE of the ASCENSION of Christ, following His work on earth. Moses communed with God for 40 days and 40 nights and there received the things concerning the tabernacle. It is not until after these things concerning the tabernacle that we see Moses descending from the mount. (See Ex 32:1) It should be pointed out that Moses DID come down from the mount after these 40 days. So too, Christ will return again and what will He find concerning Israel, but a people in rebellion. Moses' anger was waxed hot against Israel, so to Christ when He comes for His people will find Israel in the same condition. This will begin the tribulation period. Perhaps Joshua represents the believers when Christ comes for His people. Joshua seems to have met Moses somewhat up the mount, when he was coming down. Pink points out that Moses will ascend back up the mount and when he comes down the second time the people commune with him.