Israel at Sinai, 1-25
19:1 In the third month after the Israelites went out from the land of Egypt, on the very day, they came to the Desert of Sinai. 19:2 After they journeyed from Rephidim, they came to the Desert of Sinai, and they camped in the desert; Israel camped there in front of the mountain.
19:3 Moses went up to God, and the LORD called to him from the mountain, “Thus you will tell the house of Jacob, and declare to the people of Israel: 19:4 ‘You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt and how I lifted you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. 19:5 And now, if you will diligently listen to me and keep my covenant, then you will be my special possession out of all the nations, for all the earth is mine, 19:6 and you will be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you will speak to the Israelites.”
‘Some argue that the language of “kingdom of priests” indicates that we are intermediaries for the presence of God in the world.’
But, say these authors, while it may seem attractive to think of Israel as mediating God’s blessings among the nations, this is not the best way of understanding the phrase:
1. ‘The primary function of the priests in the Old Testament is to mediate between God and man by administering sacrifices. The book of Hebrews understands the priestly office of Christ in largely the same way (4: 14– 5: 10; 7: 1– 28; 10: 1– 18).’
2. ‘“Kingdom of priests” is best understood as a designation for Israel’s call to be set apart from the world and belong to God…The image of a royal priesthood in the Old Testament and in the New Testament suggests holiness and privilege, not incarnational presence.’
3. ‘The rules and regulations of Sinai say nothing about a mission to the Gentiles. There are commands for Israel to express care for sojourners and foreigners in its midst, but not explicit instructions for Israel to go into the world and meet the needs of the nations.’
4. ‘The Israelites conquer the surrounding nations by military force, not by any kind of incarnational mission. The nations are more often threats to Israel’s religion than they are opportunities for service, even if God’s design all along is to save more than ethnic Jews (see Isa. 42: 6; 49: 6; 60: 3).’
5. ‘The prophets never fault Israel for neglecting its missionary or international blessing mandate. God certainly cares about how his chosen people will be an attraction or a byword among the nations. But the direction is “come and see” not “go and tell.”’
19:7 So Moses came and summoned the elders of Israel. He set before them all these words that the LORD had commanded him, 19:8 and all the people answered together, “All that the LORD has commanded we will do!” So Moses brought the words of the people back to the LORD.
19:9 The LORD said to Moses, “I am going to come to you in a dense cloud, so that the people may hear when I speak with you and so that they will always believe in you.” And Moses told the words of the people to the LORD.
19:10 The LORD said to Moses, “Go to the people and sanctify them today and tomorrow, and make them wash their clothes 19:11 and be ready for the third day, for on the third day the LORD will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people. 19:12 You must set boundaries for the people all around, saying, ‘Take heed to yourselves not to go up on the mountain nor touch its edge. Whoever touches the mountain will surely be put to death! 19:13 No hand will touch him—but he will surely be stoned or shot through, whether a beast or a human being; he must not live.’ When the ram’s horn sounds a long blast they may go up on the mountain.”
19:14 Then Moses went down from the mountain to the people and sanctified the people, and they washed their clothes. 19:15 He said to the people, “Be ready for the third day. Do not go near your wives.”
19:16 On the third day in the morning there was thunder and lightning and a dense cloud on the mountain, and the sound of a very loud horn; all the people who were in the camp trembled. 19:17 Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet God, and they took their place at the foot of the mountain. 19:18 Now Mount Sinai was completely covered with smoke because the LORD had descended on it in fire, and its smoke went up like the smoke of a great furnace, and the whole mountain shook violently. 19:19 When the sound of the horn grew louder and louder, Moses was speaking and God was answering him with a voice.
According to Alec Motyer (A Scenic Route Through the Old Testament),
‘Commentators have been known to ‘explain’ what happened at Sinai as volcanic action, but the Exodus account contradicts this, for here was not a fire that belched upwards, but a fire that came down: “The Lord descended to the top of Mount Sinai” (Exodus 19:20).’
I do not find this altogether convincing, since volcanic fire descends after it has erupted.