We have been examining the Law of Moses, topically.  The series was requested by a teen in Bible class.  This will conclude the series (Though we may revisit it at some point).

1. Preparation.  At Mount Sinai, the Israelites were told to prepare to be in the presence of God (Exodus 19:10-14).

This was not to be taken lightly.  (1) They were to wash their clothes (Exodus 19:10).  Why?  No doubt this was to impress them with the specialness of the occasion.  This was not an everyday affair.  This was special.  (2) The men were to not come near their wives in preparation for the coming presence of the LORD (Exodus 19:15).  Why?  It is not because sexual intimacy between a properly married man and woman is sinful.  It is not (Hebrews 13:4).  H.D. Simmons provided this explanation “As fasting from lawful food was at times engaged in to devote one’s total energy and mind to God, there were occasions where sexual relations were temporarily prohibited.  This was the case here” (Studies in Exodus, editor Dub McClish, Second Annual Shertz Lectures, p. 201).  I believe that this is correct (cf. 1 Corinthians 7:5).  (3) Boundaries were to be set (Exodus 19:12).  Why?  This would remind them of the distance that still existed between God and man.

Application for us: (1) We should seek to be clean and properly clothed before God.  In the New Testament the emphasis is on being spiritually clean (James 4:7-8; 1 Timothy 2:8-10; Ephesians 5:25-26; 1 John 1:7; 1:9; Revelation 7:13-14), and spiritually clothed (Galatians 3:26-27; Romans 13:13-14; 1 Peter 5:5; Colossians 3:12-15, etc.).  What about physical cleanness and clothing?  God has not specified how we are to dress (other than modestly).  However, how one dresses may reflect, in some cases, the esteem one has for an event or an occasion.  I am not alone in this opinion.  James Burton Coffman comments, “What must we think of the slipshod, casual, disheveled, common or even torn and dirty clothes that one sees these days even waiting on the Lord’s table?  Why?  Has the conviction that worshippers are ‘in His presence’ weakened?  If that is not the reason, what is the reason?  Oh, but people cannot afford to clean up and dress up!  If one thinks so, let him attend a wedding of any of the sloppy dressers at church, and he will get his eyes opened, if not popped!  A profound reverence lies at the root of all true religious feelings” (studylight.org, Coffman on Exodus 19:10-14).  We are appearing in the presence of God.  Let us never take this lightly.  (2) Let us focus on Him before we come to worship.  Let us not stay out so late on Saturday night that we fail to give God our best on Sunday morning.  Let us not spend so much on the weekend playing that we have nothing to give on Sunday morning.  Johnny Ramsey once told a story of shame from his youth.  He said that he went out with friends to the movies on Saturday night.  On Sunday morning he was ashamed that he had little to give.  He has spent more on his entertainment than on supporting the work of the church.  He said that he determined that he never wanted to do that again. I have known some who did not want to read the newspaper or do anything which could distract their minds form worship. I believe that I read some where that this was Gus Nichols practice (though, I cannot document it. Please share it, if you have it.). I once attended with a member who did not want to engage in any small talk until after worship. He wanted his thoughts to be on things which prepared him for worship. Alexander Campbell once contrasted two individuals going to worship. He wrote, ” Suppose two persons, A and B … A, from the time he opened his eyes in the morning, was filled with the recollection of the Savior’s life, death, and resurrection. In his closet, in his family, along the way, he was meditating or conversing on the wonders of redemption, and renewing his recollections of the sayings and doings of the Messiah. B, on the other hand, arose as on other days … talks about the common affairs of everyday life, and allows his thoughts to roam over the business of the last week, or, perhaps, to project the business of the next. If he meet with a neighbor, friend, or brother, the news of the day is inquired after, expatiated upon, discussed; the crops, the markets, the public health, or the weather – the affairs of Europe, or the doings of Congress, or the prospects of some candidate for political honor – become the theme of conversation. As he rides or walks to church, he chats about any of these topics, till he enters the doors of the meeting house … can B by a single effort unburden his mind … from comtemplation of things on earth to things in heaven ? … Is it accordant to reason that B can delight in God, and rejoice in commemorating the wonders of his redemption, while his thoughts are dissipated upon the mountains of a thousand vanities?” (Alexander Campbell, The Christian System, p. 247). How much mental preparation do we make? (3) While we can draw near to God through Jesus (Hebrews 10:19-22), He is still to be feared (1 Peter 2:17, etc.).  Let us respect His boundaries.

Other passages in the Old Testament remind us that God wanted them to take worship seriously (Ecclesiastes 5:1-7; Psalm 89:7; Proverbs 15:8; 28:9; Isaiah 1:12-17).  Should we do any less?

2.  Participation.  No Israelite male was to appear before the LORD at a feast empty-handed (Deuteronomy 16:16-17).

They were expected to offer something to the LORD.  “Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the LORD your God which He has given you” (Deuteronomy 16:17).

Consider these words from the Psalms.  “What shall I render to the LORD for all of His benefits toward Me?  I will take up the cup of salvation and call upon the name of the LORD.  I will pay my vows to the LORD now in the presence of all His people… O LORD… I will offer to You the sacrifice of thanksgiving and will call upon the name of the LORD.  I will pay my vows to the LORD now in the presence of all His people, in the courts of the LORD’s house, in the midst of you, O Jerusalem” (Psalm 116:12-19).

 Application: What do we bring to Him in worship?  Do we offer Him our spirits (John 4:24 cf. Joshua 24:14)?  Do we offer Him the fruit of our lips (Hebrews 13:15 cf.. Hosea 14:2)?  Do we liberally give (1 Corinthians 16:1-2 cf. Deuteronomy 16:17; 2 Corinthians 8:1-7, 12; 9:7)?  Do we truly present ourselves as living sacrifices to Him (Romans 12:1-2)? 

3.  Presentation.  Their offering was to be without blemish or defect (Leviticus 22:17-24; Deuteronomy 15:21; 17:1).

Only the best was to be offered.  Anything less was not acceptable.  The LORD upbraided those of Malachi’s day, “When you offer the blind as a sacrifice, is it not evil?  And when you offer the lame and sick, is it not evil?  Offer it then to your governor!  Would he be pleased with you?  Would he accept you favorably?” (Malachi 1:7-8).

Application: Let us bring only our best to the Lord (Matthew 22:36-37; Luke 9:23-26; 14:26-33; Romans 12:1-2).  He doesn’t want our unsacrificial offerings, our scraps, our left-overs.

“All He wants is you.  No one else will do,

Not just a part, He wants all of your heart.

All He wants is all of you.  All He wants is you.

All He wants is me, unreservedly.

Not just a part, He wants All of my heart.

All He wants is all of me.  All He wants is me”

(Audrey Meier, song: All He Wants Is You)