THE OTHERS MUST NOT COME NEAR: The mediation of Moses
was to keep apart, in ct to that of Jesus, which was to bring together. Cp Deu
5:5; ct Eph 2:14. Israel is shut out from the presence of God. The way to a meal
of fellowship (v 11) is through a sacrifice (vv 4-7).
Exo 24:3
Vv 3-11: Virtually everything pertaining to the Law of Moses
-- the tabernacle, the altar, the vessels, the priests, and the common people,
as well as the actual Book in which the covenant was written -- all this was
sanctified by the sprinkled blood (Heb 9:19-22). The blood of the sacrifices
was, legally speaking, the means by which the whole of the agreement was sealed
or confirmed; without the sprinkled blood on all the parts, or parties, of the
covenant, there would have been no covenant! (The leaders of Israel also saw God
on the mountain, and then participated in a special meal: Exo 24:11.)
Exo 24:4
Cp the "altar" of Christ on the cross, surrounded by 12
"pillars"/apostles (Gal 2:9), and then the rest of Israel.
12 STONE PILLARS: An affirmation that the 12 tribes
would never return to Egypt. Cp usage of pillar in Gen 31:45-52. Ct Num 14:14.
12 = number of governmental perfection; 12 thrones promised to the 12
apostles.
Exo 24:6
BLOOD... ON THE ALTAR: Christ's sacrifice, efficacious
for Christ himself (the firstfruits) (Heb 13:20; 7:27; Zec 9:9; etc) and then
for others.
Exo 24:7
THEN HE TOOK THE BOOK OF THE COVENANT AND READ IT TO THE
PEOPLE: The people listened and were encouraged to observe all of the words
of the law. But this was not just a single reading. There was repetition -- a
very important learning tool for human beings: Deu 31:11-13; Acts 13:15; Col
4:16. Ct the bad example of Israel: Jer 7:23,24.
Exo 24:8
SPRINKLED IT ON THE PEOPLE: Christ's sacrifice, for his
brethren.
THIS IS THE BLOOD OF THE COVENANT: Cp the bread and
wine passed to the brethren at the Last Supper (cp v 11 here).
Exo 24:10
The throne of God: Eze 1:22,26; Rev 4.
Exo 24:11
BUT GOD DID NOT RAISE HIS HAND AGAINST THESE LEADERS OF THE
ISRAELITES; THEY SAW GOD, AND THEY ATE AND DRANK: "Those who have been
called to mount Zion enjoy a similar experience. They have been privileged to
see the body of heaven in its clearness, the beauty of the Son of God, the
revelation of the Father. Called out from among men they have been drawn into a
fellowship based on the offering of Jesus once for all. Although the death of
the Son of God forms the basis of their approach to the Lord's table, yet the
Lord does not lay His hand upon them when they draw near to behold and to eat
and drink" (MMS 80).
Exo 24:18
AND HE STAYED ON THE MOUNTAIN FORTY DAYS AND FORTY
NIGHTS: During this period of forty days, and the second period when the
tables were renewed, it appears that Moses neither ate bread nor drank water. Cp
Exo 34:28; Deu 9:9. In like manner, Elijah fasted for forty days, when he
visited the same place (1Ki 19:8). They were the two who met our Saviour on the
Mount of Transfiguration (Mat 17:3), the one representing the law, the other
representing the Prophets. Thus they foreshadowed in their own experiences
Jesus' own fast of 40 days in the wilderness of Judea (Luk 4:1-13).