Hebrews 12:18-29 - Dundee

I am inviting you to jump in to the middle of three chapters that I have been reading, studying and preaching since July. While it is possible that some of you have watched some of those sermons, it is unlikely that all of you have watched all of them. I need to quickly create the context. Hebrews 11 takes us through the superstars of the Old Testament. If you study that chapter, you will discover ordinary people making extraordinary decisions to trust the Lord and lean into a promise they would never fully experience.

While Hebrews 11 tells the narrative of other people, Hebrews 12 flips the direction of the camera and focuses on ourselves. In verses 1-17, we learn how to run the race that is set before us, we are reminded to keep our eyes on Jesus, we are instructed to cherish the refinement of our life and guard the contents of our character. Our endurance invites the majesty and glory of Jesus Christ to be revealed all around us.

Hebrews 12:18-29 visits two hills and then calls for a response.

Years ago, part of my pastoral responsibilities was to lead every church meeting that took place; staff, elders, church council, congregation business, town hall Q&As, etc. From time to time, there would be places in those conversations that I would interrupt and ask if that hill was worth permanently planting the flag of your life on. Because being biblical matters, I think there is wisdom in using caution and discernment about when and where we’re willing to take hard stands on an issue.

I have been part of churches that have planted on flags on both hills. This morning, I want us to see how we view the Lord impacts which hill we’re going to plant flags on.

The hill of obligation

Hebrews 12:18–21 ESV

18 For you have not come to what may be touched, a blazing fire and darkness and gloom and a tempest 19 and the sound of a trumpet and a voice whose words made the hearers beg that no further messages be spoken to them. 20 For they could not endure the order that was given, “If even a beast touches the mountain, it shall be stoned.” 21 Indeed, so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, “I tremble with fear.”

The book of Hebrews was written to Jewish Christians that would have memorized the Torah at a young age (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy). Every year they would celebrate the Passover and remember the exodus from Egypt and they would scroll through ancient history and memorialize the important highlights. They would honor Mount Sinai as one of those important places. On top of Mount Sinai is where God met with Moses and wrote the Ten Commandments with his finger. At the bottom of Mount Sinai is where Israel released its rebellion as a nation and formed a golden calf to worship.

The original reader would have stopped at these verses, and remembered Exodus 19. Maybe the reader would have said, “Thank you, Jesus. Thank you that you have redeemed me with something better and more powerful than the system my ancestors were bound with. Thank you that I don’t have to be scared to approach you.

I want to read Exodus 19:10–20 - “the Lord said to Moses, “Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow, and let them wash their garments and be ready for the third day. For on the third day the Lord will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people. And you shall set limits for the people all around, saying, ‘Take care not to go up into the mountain or touch the edge of it. Whoever touches the mountain shall be put to death. No hand shall touch him, but he shall be stoned or shot; whether beast or man, he shall not live.’ When the trumpet sounds a long blast, they shall come up to the mountain.” So Moses went down from the mountain to the people and consecrated the people; and they washed their garments. And he said to the people, “Be ready for the third day; do not go near a woman.” On the morning of the third day there were thunders and lightnings and a thick cloud on the mountain and a very loud trumpet blast, so that all the people in the camp trembled. Then Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet God, and they took their stand at the foot of the mountain. Now Mount Sinai was wrapped in smoke because the Lord had descended on it in fire. The smoke of it went up like the smoke of a kiln, and the whole mountain trembled greatly. And as the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke, and God answered him in thunder. The Lord came down on Mount Sinai, to the top of the mountain. And the Lord called Moses to the top of the mountain, and Moses went up.

Israel devoted three days to get ready for church. The preparation process was the highest priority, because Israel wasn’t allowed to step into God’s presence without death being the result. “Whoever touches the mountain shall be put to death.” I imagine Mount Sinai having this volcanic look to it that might be nice to see from a distance, but became more ferocious as you walked closer. In that moment, stepping into God’s presence may have meant witnessing weather patterns that would make most people run the other direction and seek shelter. The sounds grew louder and louder and louder. All the effort in the world would not allow them to meet the standard or the expectation.

Fear and anxiety took over the situation. Israel (Exodus 20:19) said to Moses, “You speak to us, and we will listen; but do not let God speak to us, lest we die.”

At the hill of obligation, Israel got tired of waiting. Exodus 32 tells us they convinced Aaron to form a golden calf and create their own god. Moses came down from Mount Sinai, shattered the Ten Commandments and fasted for 40 days and 40 nights. Deuteronomy 9:19 says Moses was afraid of the anger and hot displeasure that the Lord bore against Israel, so that he was ready to destroy them.

At Mount Sinai, there were rules, fear, judgment and death. Moses has a new list of rules today. I’m so excited that God is giving us more things we can’t do. There is no fun allowed today because we really need to stay on God’s good side. I guess we have no choice but to follow the list and abide by those obligations, but do we ever get to truly feel God’s love? Some Christians plant their flag at the hill of obligation because that’s the only Jesus they have ever known. I grew up in a church that had a long list of rules. Wear certain clothes. Carry a certain Bible version. Attend a certain Christian school. Sing out of a certain hymn book.

While a list of rules makes a lot of people happy, it can be hard for others to feel experience love and grace. From my experience, viewing God with a ‘hill of obligation’ perspective was torturous. It took years for the Lord to re-program what I thought it meant to follow Jesus and learn why I should invite others to become a Christian.

Before we move on to the second hill, there is a sweet nugget of encouragement. Look at verse 18 - you have not come. Fellow believer, your spiritual identity is NOT found at the hill of obligation. Fear, judgment and death is not the story the Lord is writing upon your life. The story he IS writing is full of grace, mercy, love and redemption.

Let’s look at the hill of adoration.

The hill of adoration

Hebrews 12:22–24 ESV

22 But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, 23 and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, 24 and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.

Mount Zion was a real place in the Old Testament. Prior to Israel conquering Jerusalem, it was home to the Jebusites. 2 Samuel 6 tells us after David acquired Jerusalem, “they brought the ark of the Lord and set it in its place, inside the tent that David had pitched for it. And David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the Lord.” From that time forward, Zion had been considered the earthly dwelling place of God.

Psalm 132:13–14 - “For the Lord has chosen Zion; he has desired it for his dwelling place: “This is my resting place forever; here I will dwell, for I have desired it.””

Isaiah 46:13 - “I bring near my righteousness; it is not far off, and my salvation will not delay; I will put salvation in Zion, for Israel my glory.””

Revelation 14:1 - “Then I looked, and behold, on Mount Zion stood the Lamb, and with him 144,000 who had his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads.”

For the reader of Hebrews, as much as Mount Sinai represents the Law, Mount Zion represent a new covenant of salvation through grace. Galatians 3 tells us angels were present at Mount Sinai and even they had a different role.

Fellow believer, Mount Zion allows us to freely come into God’s presence without the trepidation of Mount Sinai. The hill of adoration brings us to a rich experience with the Father.

The hill of adoration isn’t just about experiencing God’s presence on earth, it’s also about spending eternity in heaven with the Lord. It’s about experiencing Revelation 5:11–12 - “Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!””

The hill of adoration is about experiencing oneness with Jesus Christ, who intercedes on our behalf. It’s about experiencing the fullness of the sprinkled blood that allows grace, mercy, redemption, faith, love, hope and all rest of God’s attributes to be poured into our lives daily.

Every time I am gathered with fellow believers, I want to experience the hill of adoration.

As you reflect on Hebrews 12:18–24, which hill more closely represents your current relationship with God—the hill of obligation or the hill of adoration? What experiences have shaped that view?

The response of obedience

Hebrews 12:25–29 ESV

25 See that you do not refuse him who is speaking. For if they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape if we reject him who warns from heaven. 26 At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.” 27 This phrase, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of things that are shaken—that is, things that have been made—in order that the things that cannot be shaken may remain. 28 Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, 29 for our God is a consuming fire.

Our biblical response should be overwhelmingly clear.

Look at verse 25. See that you do not refuse him who is speaking. At the hill of obligation, an entire generation of hard-hearted, rebellious adults had to die before Israel could reach the Promised Land.

Look at verse 28. A cultivated heart that continues to listen and remain at the hill of adoration, also worships with reverent, awe-filled undelayed gratitude.

How does your view of God affect the way you worship, pray, or respond to conviction?