Called into Covenant with God
God's Covenant with Israel
Exodus 19:9-15 The Message
9 God said to Moses, “Get ready. I’m about to come to you in a thick cloud so that the people can listen in and trust you completely when I speak with you.” Again Moses reported the people’s answer to God.10-13 God said to Moses, “Go to the people. For the next two days get these people ready to meet the Holy God. Have them scrub their clothes so that on the third day they’ll be fully prepared, because on the third day God will come down on Mount Sinai and make his presence known to all the people. Post boundaries for the people all around, telling them, ‘Warning! Don’t climb the mountain. Don’t even touch its edge. Whoever touches the mountain dies—a certain death. And no one is to touch that person, he’s to be stoned. That’s right—stoned. Or shot with arrows, shot to death. Animal or man, whichever—put to death.’
“A long blast from the horn will signal that it’s safe to climb the mountain.”
14-15 Moses went down the mountain to the people and prepared them for the holy meeting. They gave their clothes a good scrubbing. Then he addressed the people: “Be ready in three days. Don’t sleep with a woman.”
For Reflection Pray
In a thick cloud, God speaks through Moses to Israel. God commands Moses to sanctify the people. God commands that they purify themselves by washing their clothes and themselves and by abstaining from sexual intercourse. Since it is God's will that the people are free to choose, God has left the spiritual insight into the cleansing ritual for people to perceive and recognize the purity symbolized and required for inward sanctification as its counterpart. No external command can ensure personal sanctification. The essential preparation for approach to God is inward sanctification;
Pray
Pray that you will see beyond your religious rituals into their deepest meaning, the path to inner sanctification. Prepare yourself by cleansing your soul and enable yourself for righteousness.
Pray
Pray that you will see beyond your religious rituals into their deepest meaning, the path to inner sanctification. Prepare yourself by cleansing your soul and enable yourself for righteousness.
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