From Mount Sinai to Mount Zion
Hebrews 12:18-24
Mount Sinai 12:18-21
A. The burning mountain experience: Exodus 19
1. Note the restrictions. Vs 10-13
Clean clothes!
Boundaries: No touching on the threat of death!
No sexual relations between husband and wife! Totally separated to the Lord!
This strikes me as a very “one on One” situation. The Law is a one on One issue. An individuals’ sin could impact God’s blessing on the nation. Achan (Joshua 7:1), Phinehas’ single handed deliverance by slaying one offender spared the nation.
2. The physical manifestations. Vs 16-20
Vs 16 Thundering & lightning, a thick cloud, sound of a loud trumpet
Vs 18 Mount Sinai covered in smoke, the Lord descended upon it in fire, the mountain being like a smoking furnace. The mountain shook with an earthquake. Fire=vs18. earthquake=vs26
Fire: most likely His angelic hosts, his servants/ministers. Acts 7:53, Ps 104:4/Heb 1:7
Vs 19 There was a loud blast of a trumpet that increased in volume and duration. The Lord spoke audibly/voice of words (Heb 12:19) No visible speaker-“Now Hear This!”
3. Additional warnings. Vs 21-24
God leaves no room for curiosity! Vs 21-24 Moses reminds God that He had already warned the people, but God very firmly tells Moses to do it again. God knows our human nature better than we do! The curious need not apply, only the desperate will find a listening and receiving God!
4. The Peoples’ response. Vs 16 “All the people in the camp trembled.” Heb 12:21 “So terrifying was the sight that Moses said, I am exceedingly afraid and trembling. (Deut 9:19)
Mount Zion 12:22-24 The most glorious “but” in all of scripture!!!! “But you have come”.
A. Mount Zion, the city of the Living God
Note: “You have come”, not “you will someday come”. There is a real sense in which we now dwell there and receive currently the benefits of this dwelling place of the Most High God! It is a faith dwelling!
1. Zion was the goal of the Old Testament. Ps 2:6, 9:11, 48:1-3; Jer 31:6, 10-12; Joel 2:28-32; Micah 4:1-2 “Zion” occurs 150 times in the OT.
2. Zion is the heavenly Jerusalem! This is the city Abraham looked for 11:10, 16. Notice that we move from Mount Sinai to the heavenly Jerusalem. That leaves no room for a restored earthly Jerusalem.
3. “to an innumerable company of angels.” Contrast this with the “ministers of fire” at Mount Sinai!. Remember I Peter 1:12? According to Hebrews 1:14 & II Kings 5:15-17, the angelic “looking into” the grace of God in our salvation is a lot more that standing around twiddling their thumbs while redemptive history plays out. They are actively involved!! They are his "ministering spiritsn (Hebrews 1:14)
4. “To the general assembly and church of the firstborn”. The actual meaning of “general assembly” is an festive gathering, a universal companionship. How different from “come not at your wives” in Exodus 20! Here we have hosts of angels, and an eternal family reunion of the church of the Firstborn who bear their Father’s name (Eph 3:15), Registered in heaven in the Lamb’s Book of Life! (Rev 13:8)
5. “To the Judge of all”. What a comfort! We come to the judge and live to tell about it! The Judge is perfectly “just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.” (Rom 3:26) We need have no fear!
6. “To the spirits of just men made perfect.” We are justified, righteous by the perfect plan of the Judge! II Cor 5:21 These are not disembodied spirits for they are still men/humans. Humans are evidenced by their bodies!
7. “And to Jesus, the Mediator of the New Covenant.” Unlike Moses (vs21), our Mediator is perfectly at home, with all authority and power. He operates from the Throne of Grace, assuring our acceptance to this Mount Zion eternally. (Heb 4:14-16)
8. “and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel.” Abel’s blood cried out for vengeance! (Gen 4:8-10) The blood of Jesus, the blood of sprinkling speaks of mercy and grace. And by this shedding of blood, by this sacrifice, He took away Mount Sinai and a trembling people, and established Mount Zion, the place of fellowship, relationship with the Most High God, His holy angels, and the eternal family reunion of the Firstborn and His many brothers and sisters!
Question: Which mountain are you residing at? Does judgment, fear, guilt, anxiety define your day? Perhaps you are spending too much time at the foot of Mount Sinai. Our Christ Jesus has brought us to a new Mountain, to the City of our God, and the gate is wide open! Come on in! Come in and rest, come in and enjoy the incredible benefits that are yours for the asking! (John 16:23-24) Jesus paid the total price. Come and welcome!
Hebrews 12:18-24
Mount Sinai 12:18-21
A. The burning mountain experience: Exodus 19
1. Note the restrictions. Vs 10-13
Clean clothes!
Boundaries: No touching on the threat of death!
No sexual relations between husband and wife! Totally separated to the Lord!
This strikes me as a very “one on One” situation. The Law is a one on One issue. An individuals’ sin could impact God’s blessing on the nation. Achan (Joshua 7:1), Phinehas’ single handed deliverance by slaying one offender spared the nation.
2. The physical manifestations. Vs 16-20
Vs 16 Thundering & lightning, a thick cloud, sound of a loud trumpet
Vs 18 Mount Sinai covered in smoke, the Lord descended upon it in fire, the mountain being like a smoking furnace. The mountain shook with an earthquake. Fire=vs18. earthquake=vs26
Fire: most likely His angelic hosts, his servants/ministers. Acts 7:53, Ps 104:4/Heb 1:7
Vs 19 There was a loud blast of a trumpet that increased in volume and duration. The Lord spoke audibly/voice of words (Heb 12:19) No visible speaker-“Now Hear This!”
3. Additional warnings. Vs 21-24
God leaves no room for curiosity! Vs 21-24 Moses reminds God that He had already warned the people, but God very firmly tells Moses to do it again. God knows our human nature better than we do! The curious need not apply, only the desperate will find a listening and receiving God!
4. The Peoples’ response. Vs 16 “All the people in the camp trembled.” Heb 12:21 “So terrifying was the sight that Moses said, I am exceedingly afraid and trembling. (Deut 9:19)
Mount Zion 12:22-24 The most glorious “but” in all of scripture!!!! “But you have come”.
A. Mount Zion, the city of the Living God
Note: “You have come”, not “you will someday come”. There is a real sense in which we now dwell there and receive currently the benefits of this dwelling place of the Most High God! It is a faith dwelling!
1. Zion was the goal of the Old Testament. Ps 2:6, 9:11, 48:1-3; Jer 31:6, 10-12; Joel 2:28-32; Micah 4:1-2 “Zion” occurs 150 times in the OT.
2. Zion is the heavenly Jerusalem! This is the city Abraham looked for 11:10, 16. Notice that we move from Mount Sinai to the heavenly Jerusalem. That leaves no room for a restored earthly Jerusalem.
3. “to an innumerable company of angels.” Contrast this with the “ministers of fire” at Mount Sinai!. Remember I Peter 1:12? According to Hebrews 1:14 & II Kings 5:15-17, the angelic “looking into” the grace of God in our salvation is a lot more that standing around twiddling their thumbs while redemptive history plays out. They are actively involved!! They are his "ministering spiritsn (Hebrews 1:14)
4. “To the general assembly and church of the firstborn”. The actual meaning of “general assembly” is an festive gathering, a universal companionship. How different from “come not at your wives” in Exodus 20! Here we have hosts of angels, and an eternal family reunion of the church of the Firstborn who bear their Father’s name (Eph 3:15), Registered in heaven in the Lamb’s Book of Life! (Rev 13:8)
5. “To the Judge of all”. What a comfort! We come to the judge and live to tell about it! The Judge is perfectly “just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.” (Rom 3:26) We need have no fear!
6. “To the spirits of just men made perfect.” We are justified, righteous by the perfect plan of the Judge! II Cor 5:21 These are not disembodied spirits for they are still men/humans. Humans are evidenced by their bodies!
7. “And to Jesus, the Mediator of the New Covenant.” Unlike Moses (vs21), our Mediator is perfectly at home, with all authority and power. He operates from the Throne of Grace, assuring our acceptance to this Mount Zion eternally. (Heb 4:14-16)
8. “and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel.” Abel’s blood cried out for vengeance! (Gen 4:8-10) The blood of Jesus, the blood of sprinkling speaks of mercy and grace. And by this shedding of blood, by this sacrifice, He took away Mount Sinai and a trembling people, and established Mount Zion, the place of fellowship, relationship with the Most High God, His holy angels, and the eternal family reunion of the Firstborn and His many brothers and sisters!
Question: Which mountain are you residing at? Does judgment, fear, guilt, anxiety define your day? Perhaps you are spending too much time at the foot of Mount Sinai. Our Christ Jesus has brought us to a new Mountain, to the City of our God, and the gate is wide open! Come on in! Come in and rest, come in and enjoy the incredible benefits that are yours for the asking! (John 16:23-24) Jesus paid the total price. Come and welcome!