Exodus 19

Name: Text:

INSTRUCTIONS: In your small group, you will have 5 minutes to present on each of your texts. For each of your assigned texts, please respond to the questions below and provide 10 copies of this one-page handout (front and back) that will assist your group in offering productive feedback. New participants and those who would like assistance with these questions should visit simeontrust.org/prepare/ to find additional information about each of these concepts.

1. How has the author organized the text? Answer this question in two ways: 1) show the author’s structure with sections and verse references, and 2) explain how you arrived at this structure.

Historical Context 1-2

Moses gives us a timeline and the geographical location of the passage.

Covenant Established 3-8

Moses follows covenantal structure in this section

Preamble and prologue 19.4 (identifying the parties of the covenant)

Stipulations and promises 19.5-6 (which also alludes back to when God told Abraham that he would make him a great nation)

Israel agrees to enter into covenant with YHWH 9.7-8

The People Prepare to Meet God 9-15

Being in Covenant with God’s people mean to be in relationship with God (to worship God).

God explains what sort of access they have by explaining how they are to come to him.

The People Come to Meet God 16-25

After the two day preparation the people now come to meet with God (16-19)

God speaks to his people through Moses (20-25)

Stipulations and promises 19.5-6 (which also alludes back to when God told Abraham that he would make him a great nation)

2. How is the meaning of your text informed by its context? Answer this question using 1) the immediate context (the closest passages on both sides of your text), 2) the context of the whole book, and 3) the historical context.

Immediate Context

Chapters 16-17 narrates the travels of Israel after crossing the Red Sea to Mount Sini (which is the location of chapter 19)

Chapter 18 contains the story of Jethro giving Moses advice on how to manage the people. The 70 Elders are established in this chapter and play a role in chapter 19-24

Chapters 20-24 continue the story of the God’s covenant being established with Israel.

The Context of the Whole Book

Redemption from Slavery

These chapters chronicle the historical context of Israel along with the life of Moses. God redeems Israel through the Exodus and guides them to Mount Sini which is the geographical location for the rest of the book. They stay at Sini for ten months and nineteen days (see )

ten months and nineteen days (see )

Ch. 2-4- Birth and calling of Moses

Douglas K. Stuart, Exodus (vol. 2; The New American Commentary; Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2006), 420.

Ch. 5-6 Moses and Pharaoh

Ch.

Covenant with YHWH

(Plagues/Exodus)

The Mosaic covenant in introduced in chapter 19

The covenant is then explained in chapters 20-23

The covenant is then confirmed in chapter 24

Stipulations and promises 19.5-6 (which also alludes back to when God told abraham that he would make him a great nation)

Worship of YHWH

Exodus 13-

Now that the people of Israel are in covenant with YHWH hey lays out how they are to worship him.

Ark of the covenant

Tabernacle

Proper clothing

Etc.

Chapter 32-34 we see a breaking of the covenant through false worship followed by YHWH being faithful to the covenant and thus bring the people back into covenant through covenant renewal

Historical Context

The covenant established with Moses harkens back to the Abrahamic covenant - that God would make a great nation from Abraham’s seed ()

Abraham’s “seed” went to Egypt and where there for 400 years (as foretold to Abraham in )

After the 400 years of affliction the nation of Israel was born through the waters of the Red Sea thus fulfilling the promises to Abraham.

Now that the God has his people, is God making his covenant with his people.

3. What is the main idea and/or aim that the author is communicating to his audience? Answer this question with one simple sentence.

We meet God through covenant.

4. What are a few ways that your text relates to or anticipates the gospel (i.e., the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ)? How would you incorporate one of these connections into your sermon?

Access to God was limited on Mount Sini. Yet the blood of Jesus has given us full access to Mount Zion (Hebrew 12:18-24)

The Cloud which was the Spirit of God descended upon God’s dwelling place, Just as the Spirit of God descends on God’s dwelling place on earth (His Church)

God’s covenant made them a kingdom of priests and a holy nation, as the new covenant makes us a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.

God unites to his people through covenant, we have been united to Christ through the new covenant of his blood.

God’s covenant includes washing (baptism) and a meal (24.11) (communion)

God reveals himself in his glory through the cloud, Jesus reveals himself in glory through a cloud (transfiguration)

5. What is your primary argument in your sermon? Answer this question by showing the implications and/or applications for both the unbeliever and the believer?

We come into the presence of God through the covenant of Christ.

6. What is your homiletical outline?

6. What is your homiletical outline?

God has made you into a holy nation

God has called you to be a holy people

God has brought you into his holy presence