(2)A Holy Revelation pt. 4 • Ex 23: 1-33

Review & Overview

1. Previous Study’s Review

In chp.21-23:   Moses will receive some Laws from God… 

We mentioned that there are 3 major divisions regarding the Law of God…

Moral Law: 10 commandments Ex 20

Civil Law: crimes & punishments Ex 21-23    

Ceremonial Law: religious events Leviticus

2. Current Study’s Overview

As we come to chps.23…  we continue to look at some of the Civil Laws…   

These laws are not meant to deal with every situation in life…    but     general principles regarding life…

chp.23:    can be divided into 5 sections…         5 parts…        5 things… 

1.  The Law Regarding Justice Vs. 1-9

1.1 Justice Regarding Lying Vs. 1

This is the 9th commandment, Ex.20:16.   Do not bear false witness against your neighbor…  

In other words don’t lie, don’t pervert justice...

Always tell the truth… be honest…  why, because...   

Ephesians 4:25 NKJV

25 Therefore, putting away lying, “Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor,” for we are members of one another.

John 8:44 NKJV

44 You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.

1.2 Justice Regarding Mob Mentality Vs. 2

So don’t jump on the bandwagon…     don’t follow the crowd in doing the wrong thing…

Stand up for justice and righteousness even when it’s not popular to do so…

The term "mob mentality" is often used to describe situations where people are influenced by their peers to adopt certain behaviors, follow trends, or purchase items. In essence, it's about individuals acting a certain way because the people around them are doing so. 

ILLUSTRATION: Think about being at a football match. If the crowd starts cheering or booing, many people will join in, even if they don't fully understand why. That's a bit like mob mentality. Let's go over the main psychological concepts behind this:

1. Deindividuation - This is a state where an individual immersed in a group loses their sense of self-awareness and behaves in ways they normally wouldn't. Being in a mob can make people feel anonymous, and they feel less personal responsibility for their actions.

2. Social conformity: This is when people change their behavior to fit in with the group around them. It's natural to want to belong, and agreeing with the group often seems like the easiest way to be accepted. 

3. **Groupthink:** This is when people in a group start to think alike, ignoring differing viewpoints. In a mob, it's easier for a group to make hasty and irrational decisions when everyone thinks the same way.

4. **Bystander effect:** This refers to the phenomenon where people are less likely to take action or help someone in need when others are present. In a mob, this can lead to people ignoring harmful behavior because they assume someone else will intervene.

5. **Diffusion of responsibility:** In a mob, people might feel less accountable for their actions because they believe the responsibility is shared among the group. They may act in ways they wouldn't normally because they feel that the blame, if there is any, will be spread around and not land solely on them.

6. **Obedience to authority:** Sometimes, mobs form and act out because they're following the lead of an authority figure or someone they respect. This person may incite actions that individuals wouldn't typically carry out on their own.

APPLICATION: Remember, it's important to stay true to our Christian values, even when you're in a group.

Just because others are acting a certain way doesn't mean you should too.

1.3 Justice Regarding Partiality Vs. 3

Just because a man is poor doesn’t mean he should get away with doing wrong…  don’t show him partiality…      

Exodus 23:3 NLT

3 And do not slant your testimony in favor of a person just because that person is poor.

1 Tim.5:21 do nothing with partiality…

APPLICATION: We might feel sorry for someone because they’re poor… but that doesn’t give them the right to steal

The law of God is consistent.

1.4 Justice Regarding Animals Vs. 4-5

don’t take out your anger on your enemies animals…     they didn’t do anything to you…

APPLICATION: Be nice to animals in general, unless your going to eat them…    they are God’s creation too…

1.5 Justice Regarding The Poor Vs. 6

in vs.3 we’re not to go easy on someone because they are poor…  here we’re not to pervert judgment by siding with the rich…   &   forgetting about the poor…  

Read the book James on that matter.

1.6 Justice Regarding The Innocent Vs. 7

if your not sure about the verdict don’t make a decision regarding it so you won’t kill the innocent…

Because God will not justify the wicked, they won’t go unpunished… if your not sure, let God handle it. Which is a good idea anyway…    

Romans 12:19 NKJV

19 Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord.

1.7 Justice Regarding The Foreigners Vs. 8-9

don’t accept bribes…   don’t oppress the stranger…

Apply justice in every instance…     always do what is just…   what is right…   what is holy…

We are to be above reproach, Col.1:22…      

men & women of integrity, Titus 2:7…

2.  The Law Regarding Sabbath Vs. 10-13

2.1 The Land Vs. 10-11   

this is the Sabbath for the Land…  the land was to rest every 7 years for 1 year…  

And whatever grew in the fields during the 7th year would be for the poor and the animals… 

We’re not told here but in Lev.25:20-22 God told them that in the 6th year He would produce enough food for 3 years…         which of coarse would take care of the 7th, 8th & 9th year…   

2.2 The People Vs. 12

reiterating the 4th Commandment from Ex.20:8…

This day was a day to rest from work so you could spend time with the Lord, which is a good idea…

For us the Sabbath is not about a particular day…  but  a particular person…  Jesus Christ.

Colossians 2:16–17 NKJV

16 So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths, 17 which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ.

2.3 Vs. 13

In all things God desires Obedience…   

When the Children of Israel came into the Promised Land they did not obey the Sabbath rest for the Land or for the Servants for 490 years…    Jer.34:14-22…      so they owed God 70 years…

In Jer.25:11 we’re told they would be in Babylonian captivity for 70 years…

APPLICATION: There is always a price to pay for disobedience…       pay day one day…     

Galatians 6:7 NKJV

7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.

3. The Law Regarding Feasts Vs. 14-19

Now there are 7 Feasts in all…    the 3 that are listed here are the 1st, 4th & 7th Feasts…    and they all involve the Agricultural Cycle… 

Unleavened Bread Vs. 14-15 - Is really the 2nd feast but it includes Passover the 1st feast…

Passover & Unleavened Bread were in April – May…    the Early Barley Harvest…

Passover was on the 14th of Nissan or Abib, Unleavened Bread was on the 15th – 21st day of Abib…

It commemorates the urgency the Children of Israel left Egypt…  they didn’t bake leaven in their bread. Leaven is a type of sin…     

1 Corinthians 5:6–7 NKJV

6 Your glorying is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? 7 Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us.

we are to purge out the sin in our lives…   

Romans 6:14 NKJV

14 For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.

So Unleavened Bread points to Jesus Christ…  

2 Cor.5:21 He knew no sin…  

1 John 3:5 in His is no sin…  

John 6:48 I am the bread of life…

Harvest: Weeks, Pentecost the 4th feast Vs. 16a - This was in May – June,   during the Wheat Harvest…    50 days after the barley harvest…

Acts 2: on the day of Pentecost the disciples were filled with the Holy Spirit & the church was birthed

Ingathering: Booths, Tabernacles the 7th and final feast Vs. 16b - This was Sept – Oct,  which was the Final Harvest…  this feast commemorates God’s provision for the Israelites in the Wilderness wanderings…

It looks forward to the Millennial Kingdom, in Zech 14:16-20 we’ll be celebrating this feast for 1000 yrs.

Mandatory Feasts Vs.17-19 - These 3 feasts required mandatory attendance for every male Jew, Deut.16:16…

In Israel today they don’t mix their Meats & Dairy products because of this verse…        you don’t walk in and ask for a cheeseburger…           or         a pepperoni pizza…

4.   The Law Regarding An Angel Vs. 20-24

This Angel from God is no doubt Jesus Christ…       vs.21 He can pardon sins…  

God instructs the Israelites not to Provoke Him…       but       to Obey Him…  

Because Obedience will bring Blessing…    it’s a simple truth…   but an important one…

Now we don’t obey to be blessed…  we are obedient out of love…  &  the result of that is a blessing…

Like giving…          we don’t give to get…       but       when we do give we do get…

5. The Law Regarding Service Vs. 25-33   

God says if you serve Me…      I’ll fight for you…   &   give the land to you…

9 times in these 9 vs. God said: I will,  provide for you…  heal you… deliver you…  fight for you… 

In other words don’t worry about anything, just Serve Me…      I’ll take care of everything else…     

APPLICATION: We need to understand that…    &      believe  1 Sam.17:47 battle belongs to the Lord

But note carefully how the Lord will take care of everything in vs.30,    little by little…   and we hate that…

I would just as soon the Lord deal with all my problems right away, amen?

But the Lord will take of everything in His time & in His way…  not ours… 

Isa.55:8-9 My thoughts…

ENDING....