He said, “Behold, I make a covenant: before all your people I will do marvels, such as have not been worked in all the earth, nor in any nation; and all the people among whom you are shall see the work of Yahweh; for it is an awesome thing that I do with you. Observe that which I command you today. Behold, I will drive out before you the Amorite, the Canaanite, the Hittite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite. Be careful, lest you make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land where you are going, lest it be for a snare among you; but you shall break down their altars, and dash in pieces their pillars, and you shall cut down their Asherah poles; for you shall worship no other god; for Yahweh, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.
“Don’t make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land, lest they play the prostitute after their gods, and sacrifice to their gods, and one call you and you eat of his sacrifice; and you take of their daughters to your sons, and their daughters play the prostitute after their gods, and make your sons play the prostitute after their gods.
“You shall make no cast idols for yourselves.
“You shall keep the feast of unleavened bread. Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread, as I commanded you, at the time appointed in the month Abib; for in the month Abib you came out of Egypt.
“All that opens the womb is mine; and all your livestock that is male, the firstborn of cow and sheep. You shall redeem the firstborn of a donkey with a lamb. If you will not redeem it, then you shall break its neck. You shall redeem all the firstborn of your sons. No one shall appear before me empty.
“Six days you shall work, but on the seventh day you shall rest: in plowing time and in harvest you shall rest.
“You shall observe the feast of weeks with the first fruits of wheat harvest, and the feast of harvest at the year’s end. Three times in the year all your males shall appear before the Lord Yahweh, the God of Israel. For I will drive out nations before you and enlarge your borders; neither shall any man desire your land when you go up to appear before Yahweh, your God, three times in the year.
“You shall not offer the blood of my sacrifice with leavened bread. The sacrifice of the feast of the Passover shall not be left to the morning.
“You shall bring the first of the first fruits of your ground to the house of Yahweh your God. “You shall not boil a young goat in its mother’s milk.”
Geneva Bible translators 1599 · Public Domain On vv12, 13, 17, 20, 22, 24, 26 If thou follow their wickedness, and pollute thyself with…
If thou follow their wickedness, and pollute thyself with their idolatry.
Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain.
John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain On vv10–26 Exo 34:10 And he said, Behold, I make a…
Exo 34:10 And he said, Behold, I make a covenant: before all thy people I will do marvels, such as have not been done in all the earth, nor in any nation: and all the people among which thou [art] shall see the work of the LORD: for it [is] a terrible thing that I will do with thee.
Ver. 10. Behold, I make a covenant,] i.e., I re-establish it with this backsliding people. God receiveth returning sinners with much sweetness "He retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy." His mercy, to us, is greater than his justice, though in themselves they are equal, yea, the same.
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I will do marvels.] See this fulfilled and recorded in Jos 10:12-13.
John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Matthew Poole 1685 · Public Domain On vv10, 13, 14, 15, 17, 19, 20, 21, 22, 24, 26 Behold, I make a covenant, i.e. I do hereby…
Behold, I make a covenant, i.e. I do hereby renew my covenant with thy people which they had violated and voided by their sin. But the shortness of the phrase, there being no mention here of any with whom this covenant is made or renewed, and the following words, make it more probable that this covenant is nothing but a solemn promise or engagement that God will do the thing which here follows. And the word covenant is oft used for a mere promise, as Gen 9:9, &c.; Lev 24:8; Num 18:19; 25:12.
It is a terrible thing that I will do with thee; either,
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1. By thy ministry, as that phrase is sometimes used, as 1Co 15:10. Or,
2. In the midst of thee, i.e. of thy people, as Exo 34:11, before thee, i.e. before thy people. This I prefer, because the next verse explains this of such things as were not done by Moses’s ministry, nor in his time, but afterwards.
Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Matthew Henry 1710 · Public Domain On vv10, 18 Reconciliation being made, a covenant of friendship is here…
Reconciliation being made, a covenant of friendship is here settled between God and Israel. The traitors are not only pardoned, but preferred and made favourites again. Well may the assurances of this be ushered in with a behold, a word commanding attention and admiration: Behold, I make a covenant. When the covenant was broken, it was Israel that broke it; now that it comes to be renewed, it is God that makes it. If there be quarrels, we must bear all the blame; if there be peace, God must have all the glory. Here is,
I. God's part of this covenant, what he would do for them, Exo 34:10, Exo 34:11. 1. In general: Before all thy people, I will do marvels. Note, Covenant-blessings are marvellous things (Psa 98:1), marvels in the kingdom of grace; those mentioned here were marvels in the kingdom of nature, the drying up of Jordan, the standing still of the sun, etc. Marvels indeed, for they were without precedent, such as have not been done in all the earth. They were the joy of Israel, and the confirmation of their faith: Thy people shall see, and own the work of the Lord. And they were the terror of their enemies: It is a terrible thing that I will do. Nay, even God's own people should see them with astonishment. 2. In particular: I drive out before thee the Amorite. God, as King of nations, plucks up some, to plant others, as it pleases him; as King of saints, he made room for the vine he brought out of Egypt, Psa 80:8, Psa 80:9. Kingdoms are sacrificed to Israel's interests, Isa 43:3, Isa 43:4.
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II. Their part of the covenant: Observe that which I command thee. We cannot expect the benefit of the promises unless we make conscience of the precepts.
1. The two great precepts are, (1.) Thou shalt worship no other gods (Exo 34:14), not give divine honour to any creature, or any name whatsoever, the creature of fancy. A good reason is annexed. It is at thy peril if thou do: For the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God, as tender in the matters of his worship as the husband is of the honour of the marriage-bed. Jealousy is called the rage of a man (Pro 6:34), but it is God's holy and just displeasure. Those cannot worship God aright who do not worship him alone. (2.) "Thou shalt make thee no molten god (Exo 34:17); thou shalt not worship the true God by images." This was the sin they had lately fallen into, which therefore they are particularly cautioned against.
2. Fences are here erected about these two precepts by two others: (1.) That they might not be tempted to worship other gods, they must not join in affinity or friendship with those that did (Exo 34:12): "Take heed to thyself, for thou art upon thy good behaviour. It is a sin that thou art prone to and that will easily beset thee, and therefore be very cautious, and carefully abstain from all appearances of it and advances towards it. Make no covenant with the inhabitants of the land." If God, in kindness to them, drove out the Canaanites, they ought, in duty to God, not to harbour them. What could be insisted on more reasonable than this? If God make war with the Canaanites, let not Israel make peace with them. If God take care that the Canaanites be not their lords, let them take care that they be not their snares. It was for their civil interest to complete the conquest of the land; so much does God consult our benefit in the laws he gives us. They must particularly take heed of intermarrying with them, Exo 34:15, Exo 34:16. If they espoused their children, they would be in danger of espousing their gods; such is the corruption of nature that the bad are much more likely to debauch the good than the good to reform the bad. The way of sin is downhill: those that are in league with idolaters will come by degrees to be in love with idolatry; and those that are prevailed upon to eat of the idolatrous sacrifice will come at length to offer it. Obsta principiis - Nip the mischief in the bud. (2.) That they might not be tempted to make molten gods, they must utterly destroy those they found and all that belong to them, the altars and groves (Exo 34:13), lest, if these were left standing, they should be brought, in process of time, either to use them or to take pattern by them, or to abate in their detestation and dread of idolatry. The relics of idolatry ought to be abolished as affronts to the holy God and a great reproach to human nature. Let it never be said that men who pretend to reason were ever guilty of such absurdities as to make gods of their own and worship them.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible (1708–1710) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain On vv10–26 And he said, behold, I will make a covenant,....…
And he said, behold, I will make a covenant,.... Or renew the covenant before made the people had broke; which on his part was, that he would, as Moses had entreated, forgive the sin of the people, go along with them, and introduce them into the land of Canaan, and drive out the inhabitants of it before them; and, on their part, that they should avoid idolatry, and everything that led unto it, particularly making covenants, and entering into alliances with the idolatrous nations cast out:
before all thy people I will do marvels, such as have not been done in all the earth, nor in any nation; both in their passage through the wilderness, and entrance into Canaan's land, and the conquest of that; such as the earth opening its mouth and swallowing alive Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, and was a new thing God created; the smiting of the rock at Kadesh, from whence flowed waters abundantly; the healing of such as were bit by fiery serpents through looking at a serpent of brass; Balaam's ass speaking, and reproving the madness of the prophet; the division of the waters of Jordan; the fall of the walls of Jericho at the sound of rams' horns; the sun and moon standing still, until the Lord had avenged himself of his enemies:
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and all the people among which thou art shall see the work of the Lord; for it should be visible, as the above things were, and plainly appear to be the Lord's doing, and not man's, being above the power of any created being to perform:
for it is a terrible thing that I will do with thee; Aben Ezra restrains this to Moses's person, and interprets this of the wonderful shining of the skin of his face, when he came down from the mount, which made the children of Israel afraid to come nigh him; and of his vigorous constitution at the time of his death, when his eye was not dim, nor his natural force abated, contrary to the nature of ancient persons: but it is better to understand it of the ministry of Moses, and of the awful things that God would do by him; or rather of the people of Israel, among whom, and for whose sake, God would do such things as should cause a panic among the nations all around them; particularly what he did for them to Og king of Bashan, and Sihon king of the Amorites, on account of which terror fell, as on the king of Moab, so on the inhabitants of Canaan; see Num 21:33 Jos 2:9.
John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
John Wesley 1765 · Public Domain On vv10, 11, 12, 21, 23, 24 Behold I make a covenant - When the covenant…
Behold I make a covenant - When the covenant was broke, it was Israel that broke it; now it comes to be renewed, it is God that makes it. If there be quarrels, we must bear all the blame; if there be peace, God must have all the glory. Before all thy people I will do marvels - Such as the drying up of Jordan, the standing still of the sun. Marvels indeed, for they were without precedent, such as have not been done in all the earth; the people shall see, and own the work of the Lord; and they were the terror of their enemies: it is a terrible thing that I will do.
John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain On vv10, 13, 21, 24, 25, 26 Verse 10. I will do marvels] This seems to…
Verse 10. I will do marvels] This seems to refer to what God did in putting them in possession of the land of Canaan, causing the walls of Jericho to fall down; making the sun and moon to stand still, c. And thus God made his covenant with them binding himself to put them in possession of the promised land, and binding them to observe the precepts laid down in the following verses, from Ex 34:11-26 inclusive.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Joseph Benson 1811 · Public Domain On vv10, 11, 12, 21, 23 Exo 34:10. Behold I make a covenant — When…
Exo 34:10. Behold I make a covenant — When the covenant was broken, it was Israel that broke it; now it comes to be renewed, it is God that makes it; if there be quarrels, we must bear all the blame; if there be peace, God must have all the glory. Before all thy people I will do marvels — Such as the drying up of Jordan, the causing of the sun to stand still. Marvels indeed, for they were without precedent; and they were the terror of their enemies: it is a terrible thing that I will do.
Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Albert Barnes 1834 · Public Domain On vv10, 12 Marvels - Explained in the following verse. Compare 2Sa…
Marvels - Explained in the following verse. Compare 2Sa 7:23; Psa 77:14.
Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary 1859 · Public Domain On vv10, 11, 13, 14, 15, 16, 18, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26 Covenant. The first had been made void by idolatry.…
Covenant. The first had been made void by idolatry. (Calmet) --- Notwithstanding the former threats, (chap. xxxiii. 3,) God here promises new benefits. (Worthington)
George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).
Daniel D. Whedon 1874 · Public Domain On vv10–13 10. Before all thy people I will do marvels…
10. Before all thy people I will do marvels — This refers to the unparalleled displays of divine help during the journey to Palestine, at the crossing of the Jordan, and during the conquest and settlement of the land of promise. These distinguished Israel in all the earth, and put the fear of them upon all the nations that saw or heard. Comp. Jos_2:9; Jos_2:11.
Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain On vv10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26 10. Jehovah declares His purpose of concluding a covenant…
10. Jehovah declares His purpose of concluding a covenant with His people, to be confirmed by wonders of a character to convince all of His power and greatness. The wonders meant are such as those narrated in Numbers 11, 16, 20, 21, &c. The verse, however, is hardly an answer to v. 9, whereas Exo_33:14 would answer it directly: the conjecture (p. 361) that Exo_33:14-16 should follow here is thus confirmed.
I make] Heb. am making, i.e. am about to make: the partic. after Behold, as Exo_7:17, Exo_8:2, Exo_19:9, and frequently.
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marvels] Exo_3:20, Jos_3:5, Jdg_6:13, Psa_78:4; Psa_78:11, &c.
wrought] lit. created (marg.), of an event—not, as usually, of a material object—requiring superhuman power to produce it: cf. Num_16:30 (RVm.), Jer_31:22, Isa_45:7; Isa_48:7.
with thee] i.e. in dealing with thee: cf. Deu_1:30; Deu_10:21 (also with ‘terrible’): in both these passages ‘for’ is lit. with.
10–28. The (re-)establishment of the covenant, with the laws upon which it is based. The passage belongs in the main to E; but it has probably been enlarged in parts with hortatory additions by the compiler. We have met with some such additions before, in Exo_20:22 to Exo_23:33; and they are found elsewhere also in connexion with laws, as in Lev_18:1-5; Lev_18:24-29; Lev_20:22-24 (H), and Deuteronomy 12-26 passim.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain On vv10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26 (10) I make a covenant—i.e., “I lay down afresh…
(10) I make a covenant—i.e., “I lay down afresh the terms of the covenant which I am content to make with Israel. I will go with them, and drive out the nations before them (Exo_34:11), and work miracles on their behalf (Exo_34:10), and enlarge their borders (Exo_34:24), and prevent their enemies from desiring their land at the festival seasons (Exo_34:24); they, on their part, must ‘observe that which I command them this day.’” The “command” given included the moral law, as laid down in the Ten Commandments (Exo_34:28), and a summary of the chief points contained in the “Book of the Covenant,” which must be regarded as a re-publication and re-authorisation of that book.
Marvels, such as have not been done in all the earth—e.g., the drying up of Jordan (Jos_3:16-17), the falling down of the walls of Jericho (Jos_6:20), the destruction of the army of the five kings by hailstones (Jos_10:11), and the like.
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A terrible thing.—Comp. Deu_10:21; Psa_106:22; Psa_145:6. God is “terrible” to the enemies of His people.
A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain On vv10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17, 18, 19, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26 I make a covenanti.e. , "I lay down afresh…
I make a covenanti.e. , "I lay down afresh the terms of the covenant between me and Israel." On my part, I will go with them (implied, not expressed), and do miracles for them, and drive out the nations before them (vers. 10, 11), and enlarge their borders, and not allow their land to be invaded at the festival seasons (ver. 24): on their part, they must "observe that which I command them" (ver. 11). Marvels such as have not been done in all the earth. As the drying up of the Jordan; (Jos_3:16, Jos_3:17) the falling down of the walls of Jericho, (Jos_6:20) the slaughter of the army of the five kings by hailstones. (Jos_10:11) and the like. It is a terrible thing that I will do with thee. Terrible, not to Israel, but to Israel"s enemies. Compare Psa_106:22 Psa_145:6, etc.
HOMILIES BY J. ORR Ver. 10. I make a covenant.
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I A COVENANT RENEWED. Mark how in connection with this there is
(1) A new command to ascend the mount.
(2) A new command that the mount shall not be touched.
(3) A new manifestation of the Divine glory. Yet how different!
(4) A new giving of the law.
(5) A new rehearsal (in summary) of the "rights.
(6) A new fast of forty days and forty nights.
II A COVENANT RENEWED ON THE BASIS OF INTERCESSION. We have even more than this we have a "shadow of the Cross" (ch. 32:32). Peace made by
(1) mediation,
(2) atonement,
(3) intercession.
The bestowal of the blessing on this ground
1. Prevented the people from looking lightly on sin, or from imagining thatGod looked lightly on it.
2. Conserved the Divine honour.
3. Gave a higher value to the gift.
4. Put honour upon Moses.
5. Taught that blessings can be won from God by intercession. J.O.
Vers. 10-29. Revived obligations.
Former instructions are renewed; only, however, so far as relates to the duties of religion. Renewal of the civil code was not required. Subject to this limit, the new book of the covenant (ver. 27) revives, supplements, expands, and endorses the teachings and precepts of the old one. We have in it
I PROMISE (vers. 10, 11). God, as on the former occasion, (Exo_23:23-30) pledges himself to drive out all their enemies. The work would be
1. Wonderful all the people will I do marvels," etc.
2. Terrible it is a terrible thing which I will do with thee." Men have passed the same judgment upon it. God however, called it terrible before they did. They should remember this when they build on it an objection to the Bible. God can do terrible things.
3. Thorough. The extirpation would be complete.
II CAUTION (vers. 12-18). The Israelites were to beware of being snared into idolatry. To this end they were
1. To make no league with the Canaanites. "Evil communications corrupt good manners". (1Co_15:33)
2. To destroy all signs of their idolatrous worship. No good comes of retaining in our midst that which can only be a snare to us.
3. To avoid intermarriages. "Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers". (2Co_6:14)
III COMMAND (vers. 18-27). The command relates to the three feasts. See former Homilies. J.O.
The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Biblical Illustrator 1887 · Public Domain On v21 Thou shalt rest.
Exo_34:21-26
Thou shalt rest.
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Sabbath rest in harvest
Six days thou shalt work, but on the seventh day thou shalt rest: in earing time and in harvest thou shalt rest; that is, you shall not violate the Sabbath-day because it is harvest. I have heard persons say, It has been six days very wet; the corn is standing, and Sunday happens to be a bright sunny day; and they say, We ought to go and cut down the corn on the Sabbath-day. Here is a provision for this very possibility. God says, Even in harvest and earing time you shall still keep the Sabbath sacred to God. And I have noticed, although I admit my observation has been very limited, that that man who has cut down his corn on the Sunday in order to get it in well, did not succeed one whir better in the long run than he that observed the Sabbath as holy, and waited for sunny week-days in order to do his week-day work. I admit that there are works of necessity and mercy that are proper to be done on the Sabbath-day; and I can conceive the possibility that a time may come--an autumn may come when, even upon the Sabbath-day, you should be obliged to cut down the corn in consequence of unfavourable weather on the week-days; but you should first be well satisfied that there is no prospect of sunshine during the six days that are to follow. Do not forget that God said--not as ceremony but morality--that in earing time, and in harvest even, thou shalt rest, or sabbatize, or keep the Lords day. (J. Cumming, D. D.)
Exemplary Sabbath-keeping
I remember one time, many years ago, I was standing out for Sunday, but the owners could not bear the thought of the smacks laying to for the Sabbath. Well, the owner I sailed for wanted me to work on Sunday. I felt I could not, so I had to leave my berth. I walked about eight weeks after that in search of employment. Several owners asked me whether I wanted a situation. I asked them whether they wished me to fish on the Lords day. They said, yes. I had to decline. Well, the money was getting short, and I used to go in the dark places on the sands to lift up my heart to God to help me to stand against this fierce temptation. I had no help at home. My wife, not loving my Saviour, could not understand my objection, and I have often seen her crying to think that she and the two little children would have no bread to eat. My faith told me that my Father in heaven would not let them be without bread and water--that would be sure. At length the time came when I had to take my watch to pledge to get bread. I started with a heavy heart, and when I got to the shop I could not gain, courage to go in for a long time. I walked up and down praying to God to keep ms strong and faithful and able to part with everything rather than to betray my trust. At last I went in, and there stood one of our Church helpers behind the counter. Hullo, says he, Wilkinson, has it come to this? He was a dear young Christian, and has been a minister of the gospel for many years now. He asked me what I wanted there. Then I told him I had come to pledge my watch to get bread for wife and children. The tears stood in both our eyes. At last he asked, How much do you want on it? I said, I dont know; give me enough to get something to eat to-day; and to-morrow, perhaps, God may see fit to give me something to do where I can still serve Him. Well, he gave me some money, and he shook hands with me, and said, Have faith and courage; keep trusting in the Lord, and He will bring you through. And so He did. The next week three smacks had to be sold, and a Christian man bought one. He asked me to go as skipper of her. He told me, before I went to sea, not to do anything on Sundays if I could help it. That is twenty-six years ago, and that is how the Lord brought me through. (Captain Wilkinson, Mission Smack Ed. Birkbeck.)
Observe the feast.
Gods provision for His peoples enjoyment
I. That seasons for rejoicing were commanded. Let those who think that the Old Dispensation was gloomy remember that there was Divine injunction for joy and feasting three times a year.
II. That these seasons for rejoicing were conveniently appointed. Not in winter, but--
1. In spring, Passover.
2. Summer, First-fruits.
3. Autumn, Ingathering.
III. That these seasons for rejoicing had a religious basis.
1. The feasts were unto God.
2. Were in remembrance of Divine services which made rejoicing possible.
IV. That these seasons for rejoicing were connected with religious acts (Exo_34:17-19).
1. Personal dedication.
2. Sacrifices.
V. That seasons of rejoicing must not engender slovenliness and uncleanness (Exo_34:18).
VI. That seasons of rejoicing must not be desecrated by unnatural or superstitious ceremonies. Thou shalt not seethe a kid in his mothers milk; an outrage on nature and connected with witchcraft. In conclusion, if Judaism was a religion of joy, much more so is Christianity. The latter--
1. Was inaugurated as glad tidings of great joy.
2. Its leading fact and doctrines are grounds of joy (1Jn_1:1-4).
3. Its great central and fundamental principle is an occasion of joy (Rom_5:11).
4. The fruit of the Spirit is joy.
5. It provides an eternity of joy.
6. But remember the joy of the Lords your strength, and it is only in the Lord that we can rejoice evermore (Php_4:4). (J. W. Burn.)
Thrice in the year.--
The three yearly feasts at Jerusalem
We will--
I. Draw your attention to the institution recorded in the text. Consider--
1. Of what nature this appointment was: partly political, and partly religious.
2. What care God took to guard against the objections to which it was liable.
II. Suggest some observations founded upon it.
1. The service of God is of paramount obligation.
2. They who serve the Lord shall be saved by Him. (C. Simeon, M. A.)
The Biblical Illustrator, edited by Joseph S. Exell (c. 1880s–1900s) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary 1892 · Public Domain On v10 MAIN HOMILETICS OF THE PARAGRAPH.—Exo_34:10-26
MAIN HOMILETICS OF THE PARAGRAPH.—Exo_34:10-26
THE RENEWAL OF THE COVENANT
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The engagements which man had made with God being broken, the covenant had to be commenced de novo. All the ground must be again covered. The subject naturally divides itself into promises, prohibitions, injunctions. For the other circumstances, see Exodus 23; Exodus 24.
I. Promises. “Before all the people I will do marvels,” &c.
1. God’s marvels are indefinite, to leave a margin for Him “to do exceeding abundantly more than we can ask or think.” No man would wish for God to tie Himself exclusively down to certain undertakings and nothing more. In that case, God having literally executed His promise, there would be no more room for faith and hope. So all the great Christian privileges are indefinite—faith, conversion, sanctification, heaven. However—
2. God executes definite marvels. God gives us a little that we may have a sample of what He can give, and that little is real, tangible, and experimental, Exo_34:11. God promises us definite destruction of our enemies, and a definite inheritance in the Promised Land.
3. All God’s definite promises include the indefinite, and vice versa.
4. God’s promises to His people are for general instruction. “All the people among which thou art shall see,” &c.
II. Prohibitions.
1. Covenants with the people of the land, Exo_34:12. All alliances—matrimonial or religious—were sternly forbidden, from whatever motive, “lest it be for a snare,” Exo_34:15-16; (2Co_6:14-15).
2. Idolatry, Exo_34:13-14. They were neither to serve nor to spare other gods. This prohibition is binding to-day. All those idols which intervene between us and the service of the true God must be overthrown. Now they excite the righteous jealousy of God!
3. The manufacture of symbols of God, Exo_34:17, lest they should fall again into their recent sin. Christians should cut themselves off from all that would be likely to drag them back into their “former conversation.”
III. Injunctions.
1. The religious feasts. Unless religion be based upon joy, and unless God’s service is joyous and free, they are unpracticable. This first injunction is based upon this fact. God is not a hard master, and desires His people to delight in His service.
2. The religious rest of the Sabbath-day. Sabbath observance is one of the root principles of religion. Where that is neglected or desecrated, religion is extinct. This, by the way, is one of the Sabbath arguments which cannot be refuted.
3. The religious consecration of the first-fruits as recognising God’s right to all. This is also part of the Christian covenant. We must recognise God’s right to our time, our property, and ourselves. In conclusion—our text
i. Has a special reference to backsliders. God offers to renew His covenant with them on the specified terms (Hos_14:1-3). ii. To all (Isa_1:18-20).
—J. W. Burn.
ILLUSTRATIONS
BY
REV. WILLIAM ADAMSON
Law-Lights! Exo_34:1-35. Pressense says, that whatever opinions men may hold as to the integrity of that primitive witness, all must own that it contains pages in which one beholds, as it were, the reflection of the lustre which caused Moses’s face to shine when he held converse with God. It has ever been the pious mind which has through the eyes beheld the chain of revelation and the long series of Divine manifestations gradually unwind themselves. Just as they that watch for the morning gaze out from the height of the tower, longing with inexpressible desire for the approach of dawn; so does religious consciousness cast glances of fire upon the horizon as she looks out for the Divine Sunrise. The whole of the Old Testament pants and throbs with this Divine yearning, and it also shows us the finger of God writing in the heart of man the great preparation for the Gospel. The angels ever
“Draw strength from gazing on its glance,
Though none its meaning fathom may;
The Word’s unwithered countenance
Is bright as at Mount Sinai’s day.”
—Goëthe.
Christ and Exodus! Exo_34:18-26. Take that prism to-morrow and let the sun shine through it, and you will see marvels. The white pure light is divided into many colours. Even so, bring Christ and let His mediatorial glory pour its concentrated flood upon this prism in Exodus 34. Lo! glorious truths of Gospel grace shine with varied, vivid lustre. What glorious rays of saving, sanctifying beauty! We behold the glory of Christ in marvellous combination then in this Mosaic prism. Each ray may be contemplated in itself, but all blend in the glory of God our Saviour.
“Flooded with splendour bright and broad,
The glorious light of the Love of God.”
Vision-Media! Exo_34:18-22.
(1.) We do not say to a person of diseased sight, Come out and look at the noonday sun. But we provide the coloured glass as the medium through which he may behold the brightness of the sun.
(2.) Israel could not gaze upon the glory of God, except through the media of rites and ceremonies, &c. The supernal splendour of a direct vision of God would only have dazzled their sight, and not illuminated their soul.
(3.) Under the Gospel, Christians have their media through which to behold the Divine glory. Christ the Son of Man, His words of tenderness and truth, His works of solace and sympathies; these are the coloured media through which we “gaze upon God.”
“O Love! O Life! our faith and sight
Thy presence maketh one;
As through transfigured clouds of white
We trace the noonday sun.
“So, to our mortal eyes subdued,
Flesh-veiled, but not concealed,
We know in Thee the Fatherhood
And heart of God revealed.”
—Whittier.
Divine-Tribute! Exo_34:20.
(1.) Arrowsmith says, The sun shines by his own nature, the air only by participation of light from the sun. So whatever good the creatures have, is by derivation from Jehovah, the fountain of being. Take away the light of the sun, the air ceaseth to shine, and so it is here.
(2.) Williams says, A right view of benefits received, of the source from whence they flow and of our own demerit, has a direct tendency to excite gratitude; and while the mind is influenced by sovereign grace this will be the pleasing effect.
(3.) The great ocean is in a constant state of evaporation. But there are men who do not believe in evaporation, i.e., in giving back to God of what they received from Him. They get and keep all they can; forgetting the duty of gratitude, overlooking the law of Divine tribute.
“I yield Thee back Thy gifts again,
Thy gifts which most I prize;
Desirous only to retain
The notice of Thine eyes.”
—Guyon.
The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary (gen. ed. Joseph S. Exell; Funk & Wagnalls, c. 1892) — public domain (pre-1929). A full-Bible homiletical/sermon-outline anthology covering 65 of 66 books (2 John is absent from the source module). Text from a community e-Sword module.
C. I. Scofield 1917 · Public Domain On v18 First month i.e. April.
Abib
First month i.e. April.
The Scofield Reference Bible (1917 edition), notes by C. I. Scofield — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Paul E. Kretzmann 1924 · Public Domain On vv10, 18 The Gracious Promise
The Gracious Promise
v. 10. And He said, Behold, I make a covenant, in the place of or in addition to that which had been broken by Israel’s idolatry: Before all the people, in their presence, in their sight, I will do marvels, such as have not been done in all the earth nor in any nation, namely, in bringing His people safely into the Land of Promise. And all the people among which thou art shall see the work of the Lord; for it is a terrible thing that I will do with thee, a thing which would strike fear and terror to the hearts of all enemies and adversaries, as the majesty of the mighty God would sweep them away.
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v. 11. Observe thou (Israel) that which I command thee this day: behold, I drive out before thee the Amorite, and the Canaanite, and the Hittite, and the Perizzite, and the Hivite, and the Jebusite.
v. 12. Take heed to thyself, lest thou make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land whither thou goest, lest it be for a snare in the midst of thee. All intimate alliances were absolutely forbidden at the outset, because the danger of introducing heathen abominations and thus repeating the offense of Mount Horeb was too great.
v. 13. But ye shall destroy their altars, which were devoted to the worship of false gods, break their images, the statues or pillars erected in honor of their idols, and cut down their groves, the pillarlike tree-trunks devoted to the service of Asherah or Astarte, whose voluptuous worship was found throughout Canaan.
v. 14. For thou shalt worship no other god, idols to which the divine name was applied by the heathen; for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God, having revealed Himself as such in the recent transgression of the people;
v. 15. lest thou make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land, and they go a-whoring after their gods, idolatry being considered throughout Scriptures as spiritual adultery, and do sacrifice unto their gods, and one call, that is, invite, thee to the idolatrous feast, and thou eat of his sacrifice;
v. 16. and thou take of their daughters unto thy sons, and their daughters go a-whoring after their gods, and make thy sons go a-whoring after their gods, the husbands being led into idolatry, into spiritual unfaithfulness, by their wives.
v. 17. Thou shalt make thee no molten gods, idols cast out of any metal. While the participation in sacrificial meals of the heathen and intermarriages with heathen women only led to idolatry, the making of images was in itself a transgression of the First Commandment and a breaking of God’s covenant. That is the distinct command of the Lord, that he who has forgiveness of sins should fear God and guard against backsliding, also by avoiding social intimacy with the godless world.
Paul E. Kretzmann, Popular Commentary of the Bible (1921–1924) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
unfoldingWord translationNotes 2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On vv10, 12, 15, 18, 19, 21, 23, 25 your people
your people
Here "your" refers to Moses. (See: Forms of You)
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it is a fearful thing that I am doing with you
A fearful thing is a thing that causes people to be afraid. In this case, people will fear God when they see what he does. AT: "what I do for you will cause people to fear me" (See: Idiom)
I am doing with you
Here "you" refers to Moses and the people of Israel. (See: Forms of You)
translationWords
Yahweh
covenant
people group
amazed
nation
works
fear
obey
command
cast out
Amorite
Canaan
Hittite
Perizzite
Hivite
Jebus
unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.
Tyndale Open Study Notes 2022 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On vv10, 12, 13, 16, 22, 23, 24 34:10-26 Some of the terms of the covenant are…
34:10-26 Some of the terms of the covenant are restated, particularly those that prohibit the worship of other gods and that describe the proper worship of the Lord.
34:10-11 God committed himself again to the miraculous care of his people in bringing them into the land of Canaan. That care was contingent on obedience. In Hebrew, the word translated listen (34:11) also means obey. There is no distinction as there is in English, in which a disobedient person can hear a command but not obey.
Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.