Exodus 19: 13-25
14 After Moses had gone down the mountain to the people, he consecrated
them, and they washed their clothes. 15 Then he said to the people, “Prepare
yourselves for the third day. Abstain from sexual relations.” 16 On the morning
of the third day there was thunder and lightning, with a thick cloud over the
mountain, and a very loud trumpet blast. Everyone in the camp trembled. 17 Then
Moses led the people out of the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the
foot of the mountain. 18 Mount Sinai was covered with smoke, because the LORD
descended on it in fire. The smoke billowed up from it like smoke from a
furnace, and the whole mountain trembled violently. 19 As the sound of the
trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke and the voice of God answered him.
20 The LORD descended to the top of Mount Sinai and called Moses to the top of
the mountain. So Moses went up 21 and the LORD said to him, “Go down and warn
the people so they do not force their way through to see the LORD and many of
them perish. 22 Even the priests, who approach the LORD, must consecrate
themselves, or the LORD will break out against them.” 23 Moses said to the
LORD, “The people cannot come up Mount Sinai, because you yourself warned us,
‘Put limits around the mountain and set it apart as holy.’ ” 24 The LORD
replied, “Go down and bring Aaron up with you. But the priests and the people
must not force their way through to come up to the LORD, or he will break out
against them.” 25 So Moses went down to the people and told them.
Title: Musts
before worship
Message:
Preparation of ourselves before worship is necessary. Purifying our hearts and
minds is required. Above all, giving our full attention to the Father as we
communicate with Him must be observed. God ordered Moses to make holy of the Israelites
thru washing their clothes, letting themselves free of sexual desires and other
worldly business two days before He meets them in Mt. Sinai. During the
encounter, there was lightning and thunder which probably were utilized to call
people’s attention to God and to remind them that what they were doing was
something beyond their usual activities. Further, God demands that we should
not desire more than what He allowed us to know about Him, that we must not go
beyond His limitations, thus the setting of boundaries around the mountain. Here
I am reminded of the “forbidden knowledge” indicated in Genesis 2:17 that when
defied sent Adam and Eve out of Paradise. Hence, the realization that I must
seek God’s guidance in all that I do every single day especially on activities
concerning spirituality.
Promise to Claim: God meets
with people who have pure minds and hearts; thus, refraining from deeds which
may deprive us from holy thoughts must be practiced. Reverence of Him in every
aspect of our being guarantees us his acknowledgement of our spiritual acts.
Command to Obey: Repent.
Let us cleanse ourselves of evil thoughts and desires before we communicate
with God. Let us conform to His limitations where knowledge of Him is
concerned. Let us not make ourselves “wiser” than what God designed us to be.
Warning to Heed: Worldly
desires draw us away from God and the desire for “forbidden knowledge” will
take us away from Him. Be reminded of the implications of Eve’s defiance
(Genesis 2:16-17) and of building the Tower of Babel (Genesis 11). God’s
prohibitions are not meant to deprive us of happiness and freedom but for our
good and desired salvation.
Application: I will set
time for my daily prayers and bible reading. I will see to it that I have freed
myself of worldly activities before the day of worship and that I pay attention
to the preacher and other church leaders during a spiritual activity.
