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<TITLE>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary on the Whole Bible [Exodus, Chapter XXIV].</TITLE>
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<center><h1>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary
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on the Whole Bible</h1></center>
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[<A HREF="MHC00000.HTM">Table of Contents</A>]<BR>
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[<A HREF="MHC02023.HTM">Previous</A>]
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[<A HREF="MHC02025.HTM">Next</A>]<BR>
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<TD ALIGN="RIGHT" VALIGN="TOP">
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Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1706)
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<!-- (Begin Body) -->
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<CENTER>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+3><B>E X O D U S</B></FONT>
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<BR>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+2>CHAP. XXIV.</FONT>
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<HR SIZE=1 WIDTH=50>
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</CENTER>
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<FONT SIZE=-1>
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<P>
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Moses, as mediator between God and Israel, having received divers laws
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and ordinances from God privately in the three foregoing chapters, in
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this chapter, I. Comes down to the people, acquaints them with the laws
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he had received, and takes their consent to those laws
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+24:3">ver. 3</A>),
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writes the laws, and reads them to the people, who repeat their consent
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+24:4-7">ver. 4-7</A>),
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and then by sacrifice, and the sprinkling of blood, ratifies the
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covenant between them and God,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+24:5,6,8">ver. 5, 6, 8</A>.
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II. He returns to God again, to receive further directions. When he was
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dismissed from his former attendance, he was ordered to attend again,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+24:1,2">ver. 1, 2</A>.
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He did so with seventy of the elders, to whom God made a discovery of
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his glory,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+24:9-11">ver. 9-11</A>.
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Moses is ordered up into the mount
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+24:12,13">ver. 12, 13</A>);
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the rest are ordered down to the people,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+24:14">ver. 14</A>.
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The cloud of glory is seen by all the people on the top of mount Sinai
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+24:15-17">ver. 15-17</A>),
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and Moses is therewith God forty days and forty nights,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+24:18">ver. 18</A>.</P>
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</FONT>
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<A NAME="Ex24_1"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ex24_2"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ex24_3"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ex24_4"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ex24_5"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ex24_6"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ex24_7"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ex24_8"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec1"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Israel's Acceptance of the Laws.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 1491.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>1 And he said unto Moses, Come up unto the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, thou, and
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Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel; and
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worship ye afar off.
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2 And Moses alone shall come near the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>: but they shall not
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come nigh; neither shall the people go up with him.
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3 And Moses came and told the people all the words of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>,
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and all the judgments: and all the people answered with one
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voice, and said, All the words which the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> hath said will we
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do.
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4 And Moses wrote all the words of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, and rose up early
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in the morning, and builded an altar under the hill, and twelve
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pillars, according to the twelve tribes of Israel.
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5 And he sent young men of the children of Israel, which
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offered burnt offerings, and sacrificed peace offerings of oxen
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unto the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>.
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6 And Moses took half of the blood, and put <I>it</I> in basons; and
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half of the blood he sprinkled on the altar.
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7 And he took the book of the covenant, and read in the
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audience of the people: and they said, All that the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> hath
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said will we do, and be obedient.
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8 And Moses took the blood, and sprinkled <I>it</I> on the people,
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and said, Behold the blood of the covenant, which the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> hath
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made with you concerning all these words.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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The first two verses record the appointment of a second session upon
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mount Sinai, for the making of laws, when an end was put to the first.
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When a communion is begun between God and us, it shall never fail on
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his side, if it do not first fail on ours. Moses is directed to bring
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Aaron and his sons, and the seventy elders of Israel, that they might
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be witnesses of the glory of God, and that communion with him to which
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Moses was admitted; and that their testimony might confirm the people's
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faith. In this approach, 1. They must all be very reverent: <I>Worship
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you afar off,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+24:1"><I>v.</I> 1</A>.
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Before they came near, they must worship. Thus we must enter into God's
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gates with humble and solemn adorations, draw near as those that know
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our distance, and admire the condescensions of God's grace in admitting
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us to draw near. Are great princes approached with the profound
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reverences of the body? And shall not the soul that draws near to God
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be bowed before him? 2. They must none of them come so near as Moses,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+24:2"><I>v.</I> 2</A>.
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They must come up to the Lord (and those that would approach to God
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must <I>ascend</I>), but Moses alone must come near, being therein a
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type of Christ, who, as the high priest, entered alone into the most
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holy place.</P>
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<P>
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In the following verses, we have the solemn covenant made between God
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and Israel, and the exchanging of the ratifications; and a very solemn
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transaction it was, typifying the covenant of grace between God and
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believers through Christ.</P>
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<P>
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I. Moses told the people the words of the Lord,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+24:3"><I>v.</I> 3</A>.
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He did not lead them blindfold into the covenant, nor teach them a
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devotion that was the daughter of ignorance; but laid before them all
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the precepts, general and particular, in the foregoing chapters; and
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fairly put it to them whether they were willing to submit to these laws
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or no.</P>
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<P>
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II. The people unanimously consented to the terms proposed, without
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reservation or exception: <I>All the words which the Lord hath said
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will we do.</I> They had before consented in general to be under God's
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government
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+19:8"><I>ch.</I> xix. 8</A>);
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here they consent in particular to these laws
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now given. <I>O that there had been such a heart in them!</I> How well
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were it if people would but be always in the same good mind that
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sometimes they seem to be in! Many consent to the law, and yet do not
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live up to it; they have nothing to except against it, and yet will not
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persuade themselves to be ruled by it.</P>
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<P>
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This is the tenour of the covenant, That, if they would observe the
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foregoing precepts, God would perform the foregoing promises. "Obey,
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and be happy." Here is the bargain made. Observe,</P>
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<P>
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1. How it was engrossed in the book of the covenant: <I>Moses wrote the
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words of the Lord</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+24:4"><I>v.</I> 4</A>),
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that there might be no mistake; probably he had written them as God
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dictated them on the mount. As soon as ever God had separated to
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himself a peculiar people in the world, he governed them by a written
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word, as he has done ever since, and will do while the world stands and
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the church in it. Moses, having engrossed the articles of agreement
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concluded upon between God and Israel, <I>read them in the audience of
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the people</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+24:7"><I>v.</I> 7</A>),
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that they might be perfectly apprised of the thing, and might try
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whether their second thoughts were the same with their first, upon the
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whole matter. And we may suppose they were so; for their words
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+24:7"><I>v.</I> 7</A>)
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are the same with what they were
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+24:3"><I>v.</I> 3</A>),
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but something stronger: <I>All that the Lord hath said</I> (be it good,
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or be it evil, to flesh and blood,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+42:6">Jer. xlii. 6</A>)
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<I>we will do;</I> so they had said before, but now they add, "<I>And
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will be obedient;</I> not only we will do what has been commanded, but
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in every thing which shall further be ordained <I>we will be
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obedient.</I>" Bravely resolved! if they had but stuck to their
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resolution. See here that God's covenants and commands are so
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incontestably equitable in themselves, and so highly advantageous to
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us, that the more we think of them, and the more plainly and fully they
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are set before us, the more reason we shall see to comply with
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them.</P>
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<P>
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2. How it was sealed by the blood of the covenant, that Israel might
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receive strong consolations from the ratifying of God's promises to
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them, and might lie under strong obligations from the ratifying of
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their promises to God. Thus has Infinite Wisdom devised means that we
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may be confirmed both in our faith and in our obedience, may be both
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encouraged in our duty and engaged to it. The covenant must be made by
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sacrifice
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+50:5">Ps. l. 5</A>),
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because, since man has sinned, and forfeited his Creator's favour,
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there can be no fellowship by covenant till there be first friendship
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and atonement by sacrifice.</P>
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<P>
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(1.) In preparation therefore for the parties interchangeably putting
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their seals to this covenant, [1.] Moses builds an altar, to the honour
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of God, which was principally intended in all the altars that were
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built, and which was the first thing to be looked at in the covenant
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they were now to seal. No addition to the perfections of the divine
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nature can be made by any of God's dealings with the children of men,
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but in them his perfections are manifested and magnified, and his
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honour is shown forth; therefore he will not be represented by an
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altar, to signify that all he expected from them was that they should
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do him honour, and that, being his people, they should be to him for a
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name and a praise. [2.] He erects twelve pillars, according to the
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number of the tribes. These were to represent the people, the other
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party to the covenant; and we may suppose that they were set up against
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the altar, and that Moses, as mediator, passed to and fro between them.
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Probably each tribe set up and knew its own pillar, and their elders
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stood by it. [3.] He appointed sacrifices to be offered upon the altar
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+24:5"><I>v.</I> 5</A>),
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burnt-offerings and peace-offerings, which yet were designed to be
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expiatory. We are not concerned to enquire who these young men were
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that were employed in offering these sacrifices; for Moses was himself
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the priest, and what they did was purely as his servants, by his order
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and appointment. No doubt they were men who by their bodily strength
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were qualified for the service, and by their station among the people
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were fittest for the honour.</P>
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<P>
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(2.) Preparation being thus made, the ratifications were very solemnly
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exchanged. [1.] The blood of the sacrifice which the people offered was
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(part of it) sprinkled upon the altar
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+24:6"><I>v.</I> 6</A>),
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which signifies the people's dedicating themselves, their lives, and
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beings, to God, and to his honour. In the blood (which is the life) of
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the dead sacrifices all the Israelites were presented unto God as
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living sacrifices,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ro+12:1">Rom. xii. 1</A>.
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[2.] The blood of the sacrifice which God had owned and accepted was
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(the remainder of it) sprinkled either upon the people themselves
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+24:8"><I>v.</I> 8</A>)
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or upon the pillars that represented them, which signified God's
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graciously conferring his favour upon them and all the fruits of that
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favour, and his giving them all the gifts they could expect or desire
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from a God reconciled to them and in covenant with them by sacrifice.
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This part of the ceremony was thus explained: "<I>Behold the blood of
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the covenant;</I> see here how God has sealed to you to be a people;
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his promises to you, and yours to him, are both <I>yea and amen.</I>"
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Thus our Lord Jesus, the Mediator of the new covenant (of whom Moses
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was a type), having offered up himself a sacrifice upon the cross, that
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his blood might be indeed the blood of the covenant, sprinkled it upon
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the altar in his intercession
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+9:12">Heb. ix. 12</A>),
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and sprinkles it upon his church by his word and ordinances and the
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influences and operations of the Spirit of promise, by whom we are
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sealed. He himself seemed to allude to this solemnity when, in the
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institution of the Lord's supper, he said, <I>This cup is the New
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Testament</I> (or covenant) <I>in my blood.</I> Compare with this,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+9:19,20">Heb. ix. 19, 20</A>.</P>
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<A NAME="Ex24_9"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ex24_10"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ex24_11"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec2"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>A Manifestation of God.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 1491.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>9 Then went up Moses, and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy
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of the elders of Israel:
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10 And they saw the God of Israel: and <I>there was</I> under his
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feet as it were a paved work of a sapphire stone, and as it were
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the body of heaven in <I>his</I> clearness.
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11 And upon the nobles of the children of Israel he laid not
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his hand: also they saw God, and did eat and drink.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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The people having, besides their submission to the ceremony of the
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sprinkling of blood, declared their well-pleasedness in their God and
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his law, again and again, God here gives to their representatives some
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special tokens of his favour to them (for God meets him that rejoices
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and works righteousness), and admits them nearer to him than they could
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have expected. Thus, in the New-Testament church, we find the <I>four
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living creatures,</I> and the <I>four and twenty elders,</I> honoured
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with places round the throne, being <I>redeemed unto God</I> by the
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<I>blood of the Lamb</I> which is <I>in the midst of the throne,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+4:4,6,5:8,9">Rev. iv. 4, 6; v. 8, 9</A>.
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Observe,
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1. They saw the God of Israel
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+24:10"><I>v.</I> 10</A>),
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that is, they had some glimpse of his glory, in light and fire, though
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they saw <I>no manner of similitude,</I> and his being <I>no man hath
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seen nor can see,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ti+6:16">1 Tim. vi. 16</A>.
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They saw the place where the God of Israel stood (so the LXX.),
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something that came near a similitude, but was not; whatever they saw,
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it was certainly something of which no image nor picture could be made,
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and yet enough to satisfy them that God was with them of a truth.
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Nothing is described but that which was under his feet; for our
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conceptions of God are all below him, and fall infinitely short of
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being adequate. They saw not so much as God's feet; but at the bottom
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of the brightness, and as the footstool or pedestal of it, they saw a
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most rich and splendid pavement, such as they never saw before nor
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after, as it had been of sapphires, azure or sky-coloured. The heavens
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themselves are the pavement of God's palace, and his throne is above
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the firmament. See how much better wisdom is than the precious onyx or
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the sapphires, for wisdom was from eternity God's delight
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+8:30">Prov. viii. 30</A>),
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and lay in his bosom, but the sapphires are the pavement under his
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feet; there let us put all the wealth of this world, and not in our
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hearts. 2. <I>Upon the nobles</I> (or elders) <I>of Israel, he laid not
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his hand,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+24:11"><I>v.</I> 11</A>.
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Though they were men, the dazzling splendour of his glory did not
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overwhelm them; but it was so moderated
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Job+26:9">Job xxvi. 9</A>),
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and they were so strengthened
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Da+10:19">Dan. x. 19</A>),
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that they were able to bear it. Nay, though they were sinful men, and
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obnoxious to God's justice, yet he did not lay his punishing avenging
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hand upon them, as they feared he would. When we consider what a
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consuming fire God is, and what stubble we are before him, we shall
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have reason to say, in all our approaches to him, <I>It is of the
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Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.</I> 3. <I>They saw God, and
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did eat and drink.</I> They had not only their lives preserved, but
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|
their vigour, courage, and comfort; it cast no damp upon their joy, but
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rather increased and elevated it. They <I>feasted upon the
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sacrifice,</I> before God, in token of their cheerful consent to the
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|
covenant now made, their grateful acceptance of the benefits of it, and
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their communion with God, in pursuance of that covenant. Thus believers
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<I>eat and drink with Christ at his table,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+22:30">Luke xxii. 30</A>.
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Blessed are those that shall eat bread in the kingdom of our Father,
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and drink of the wine new there.</P>
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<A NAME="Ex24_12"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ex24_13"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ex24_14"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ex24_15"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ex24_16"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ex24_17"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ex24_18"> </A>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>12 And the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> said unto Moses, Come up to me into the mount,
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and be there: and I will give thee tables of stone, and a law,
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and commandments which I have written; that thou mayest teach
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them.
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13 And Moses rose up, and his minister Joshua: and Moses went
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|
up into the mount of God.
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14 And he said unto the elders, Tarry ye here for us, until we
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|
come again unto you: and, behold, Aaron and Hur <I>are</I> with you:
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|
if any man have any matters to do, let him come unto them.
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15 And Moses went up into the mount, and a cloud covered the
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|
mount.
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16 And the glory of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> abode upon mount Sinai, and the
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|
cloud covered it six days: and the seventh day he called unto
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|
Moses out of the midst of the cloud.
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17 And the sight of the glory of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> <I>was</I> like devouring
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|
fire on the top of the mount in the eyes of the children of
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Israel.
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18 And Moses went into the midst of the cloud, and gat him up
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|
into the mount: and Moses was in the mount forty days and forty
|
|
nights.
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</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
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|
|
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The public ceremony of sealing the covenant being over, Moses is called
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|
up to receive further instructions, which we have in the following
|
|
chapters.</P>
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|
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<P>
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|
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|
I. He is called up into the mount, and there he remains six days at
|
|
some distance. Orders are given him
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|
|
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+24:12"><I>v.</I> 12</A>):
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|
|
|
<I>Come up to the mount, and be there,</I> that is, "Expect to continue
|
|
there for some considerable time." Those that would have communion with
|
|
God must not only come to ordinances, but they must abide by them.
|
|
Blessed are those that dwell in his house, not that merely call there.
|
|
"Come up, and <I>I will give thee a law, that thou mayest teach
|
|
them.</I>" Moses taught them nothing but what he had received from the
|
|
Lord, and he received nothing from the Lord but what he taught them;
|
|
for he was faithful both to God and Israel, and did neither add nor
|
|
diminish, but kept close to his instructions. Having received these
|
|
orders, 1. He appointed Aaron and Hur to be as lords-justices in his
|
|
absence, to keep the peace and good order in the congregation,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+24:14"><I>v.</I> 14</A>.
|
|
|
|
The care of his government he would leave behind him when he went up
|
|
into the mount, that he might not have that to distract his mind; and
|
|
yet he would not leave the people as sheep having no shepherd, no, not
|
|
for a few days. Good princes find their government a constant care, and
|
|
their people find it a constant blessing. 2. He took Joshua up with him
|
|
into the mount,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+24:13"><I>v.</I> 13</A>.
|
|
|
|
Joshua was his minister, and it would be a satisfaction to him to have
|
|
him with him as a companion, during the six days that he tarried in the
|
|
mount, before God called to him. Joshua was to be his successor, and
|
|
therefore thus he was honoured before the people, above the rest of the
|
|
elders, that they might afterwards the more readily take him for their
|
|
governor; and thus he was prepared for service, by being trained up in
|
|
communion with God. Joshua was a type of Christ, and (as the learned
|
|
bishop Pearson well observes) Moses takes him with him into the mount,
|
|
because without Jesus, in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and
|
|
knowledge, there is no looking into the secrets of heaven, nor
|
|
approaching the glorious presence of God. 3. A cloud covered the mount
|
|
six days, a visible token of God's special presence there, for he so
|
|
shows himself to us as at the same time to conceal himself from us. He
|
|
lets us know so much as to assure us of his presence, power, and grace,
|
|
but intimates to us that we cannot find him out to perfection. During
|
|
these six days Moses staid waiting upon the mountain for a call into
|
|
the presence-chamber,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+24:15,16"><I>v.</I> 15, 16</A>.
|
|
|
|
God thus tried the patience of Moses, and his obedience to that command
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+24:12"><I>v.</I> 12</A>),
|
|
|
|
<I>Be there.</I> If Moses had been tired before the seventh day (as
|
|
Saul,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+13:8,9">1 Sam. xiii. 8, 9</A>),
|
|
|
|
and had said, <I>What should I wait for the Lord any longer?</I> he
|
|
would have lost the honour of entering into the cloud; but communion
|
|
with God is worth waiting for. And it is fit we should address
|
|
ourselves to solemn ordinances with a solemn pause, taking time to
|
|
compose ourselves,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+108:1">Ps. cviii. 1</A>.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
II. He is called up into a cloud on the seventh day, probably on the
|
|
sabbath day,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+24:16"><I>v.</I> 16</A>.
|
|
|
|
Now,
|
|
|
|
1. The thick cloud opened in the sight of all Israel, and the glory of
|
|
the Lord broke forth <I>like devouring fire,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+24:17"><I>v.</I> 17</A>.
|
|
|
|
God, even our God, is a consuming fire, and so he was pleased to
|
|
manifest himself in the giving of the law, that, knowing the terrors of
|
|
the Lord, we may be persuaded to obey, and may by them be prepared for
|
|
the comforts of the gospel, and that the <I>grace and truth</I> which
|
|
come by Jesus Christ may be the more acceptable. 2. The entrance of
|
|
Moses into the cloud was very wonderful: <I>Moses went into the midst
|
|
of the cloud,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+24:18"><I>v.</I> 18</A>.
|
|
|
|
It was an extraordinary presence of mind which the grace of God
|
|
furnished him with by his six days' preparation, else he durst not have
|
|
ventured into the cloud, especially when it broke out in devouring
|
|
fire. Moses was sure that he who called him would protect him; and even
|
|
those glorious attributes of God which are most terrible to the wicked
|
|
the saints with a humble reverence rejoice in. He that walks
|
|
righteously, and speaks uprightly, is able to <I>dwell even with this
|
|
devouring fire,</I> as we are told,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+33:14,15">Isa. xxxiii. 14, 15</A>.
|
|
|
|
There are persons and works that will abide the fire,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Co+3:12">1 Cor. iii. 12</A>,
|
|
|
|
&c., and some that will have confidence before God. 3. His continuance
|
|
in the cloud was no less wonderful; he was there <I>forty days and
|
|
forty nights.</I> It should seem, the six days
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+24:16"><I>v.</I> 16</A>)
|
|
|
|
were not part of the forty; for, during those six days, Moses was with
|
|
Joshua, who did eat of the manna, and drink of the brook, mentioned,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+9:21">Deut. ix. 21</A>,
|
|
|
|
and while they were together it is probable that Moses did eat and
|
|
drink with him; but when Moses was called <I>into the midst of the
|
|
cloud</I> he left Joshua without, who continued to eat and drink daily
|
|
while he waited for Moses's return, but thenceforward Moses fasted.
|
|
Doubtless God could have said what he had now to say to Moses in one
|
|
day, but, for the greater solemnity of the thing, he kept him with him
|
|
in the mount <I>forty days and forty nights.</I> We are hereby taught
|
|
to spend much time in communion with God, and to think that time best
|
|
spent which is so spent. Those that would get the knowledge of God's
|
|
will must meditate <I>thereon day and night.</I></P>
|
|
|
|
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