God, What Do You Want of Me?

Scriptural Text:

750 Engaging Illustrations for Preachers, Teachers and Writers 113: Covenant

Bruce Shelley in Christian Theology in Plain Language, writes:

In modern times we define a host of relations by contracts. These are usually for goods or services and for hard cash. The contract, formal or informal, helps to specify failure in these relationships.

The Lord did not establish a contract with Israel or with the church. He created a covenant. There is a difference.

Contracts are broken when one of the parties fails to keep his promise. If, let us say, a patient fails to keep an appointment with a doctor, the doctor is not obligated to call the house and inquire, “Where were you? Why didn’t you show up for your appointment?” He simply goes on to his next patient and has his appointment-secretary take note of the patient who failed to keep the appointment. The patient may find it harder the next time to see the doctor. He broke an informal contract.

According to the Bible, however, the Lord asks: “Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you!” (Isa. 49:15).

The Bible indicates the covenant is more like the ties of a parent to her child than it is a doctor’s appointment. If a child fails to show up for dinner, the parent’s obligation, unlike the doctor’s, isn’t canceled. The parent finds out where the child is and makes sure he’s cared for. One member’s failure does not destroy the relationship. A covenant puts no conditions on faithfulness. It is the unconditional commitment to love and serve.

Bruce Shelley in Christian Theology in Plain Language, writes:

In modern times we define a host of relations by contracts. These are usually for goods or services and for hard cash. The contract, formal or informal, helps to specify failure in these relationships.

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This is the great lesson of this passage of Scripture. It is the lesson of: The Law and the Promises of God (The Mosaic Covenant) (Part 1): God's Great Call—A Call to Total Commitment, .

1.  The setting and basis for the covenant (v.1-4).

3.  The call to sanctification (v.10).

4.  The call to reverence and to fear God's holy presence (v.11-15).

In modern times we define a host of relations by contracts. These are usually for goods or services and for hard cash. The contract, formal or informal, helps to specify failure in these relationships.

Preacher's Outline and Sermon Bible - Commentary - The Preacher's Outline & Sermon Bible – .In modern times we define a host of relations by contracts. These are usually for goods or services and for hard cash. The contract, formal or informal, helps to specify failure in these relationships.

The Lord did not establish a contract with Israel or with the church. He created a covenant. There is a difference.

Contracts are broken when one of the parties fails to keep his promise. If, let us say, a patient fails to keep an appointment with a doctor, the doctor is not obligated to call the house and inquire, “Where were you? Why didn’t you show up for your appointment?” He simply goes on to his next patient and has his appointment-secretary take note of the patient who failed to keep the appointment. The patient may find it harder the next time to see the doctor. He broke an informal contract.

picture the Israelites at the foot of Mt. Sinai, over three million people camped at the foot of the mountain. Remember, it had been only three months since the miraculous deliverance from Egypt, only three months since God had delivered His people from four hundred years of Egyptian slavery. In the minds of the Israelites, the Promised Land was only a few more days away. Once they arrived, they could then get on with their lives.

Norman Geisler: "Duty follows deliverance. Complete redemption involved more than getting Israel out of Egypt. It also involved getting 'Egypt' (i.e., the world) out of them." 

"Duty follows deliverance. Complete redemption involved more than getting Israel out of Egypt. It also involved getting 'Egypt' (i.e., the world) out of them." 

How was God going to get "Egypt" (the spirit of the world) out of His people? Two things were necessary.

Two things were necessary. First, God had to give them His law. God had to...

First, God had to give them His law. God had to... •  describe how they were to live •  tell them what to do and what not to do •  spell out exactly how life was meant to be lived

•  describe how they were to live

•  tell them what to do and what not to do

•  spell out exactly how life was meant to be lived

Second, God had to give them His very own presence—a special manifestation—to help them obey His commandments, to guide them as they journeyed throughout life to the promised land of God.

Simply stated, God had to issue a call to His people, a call to enter a covenant with Him. That covenant was the law of God, the great commandments of God that are known as the Mosaic Covenant.

the call of God is demanding. God's call is... •  to a life of obedience •  to a life of trust •  to a life of self-denial •  to a life of faith and assurance •  to a life of commitment

Therefore God’s call is a Great Call—A Call to Total Commitment, in light of this for our understanding

•  to a life of obedience

What God want of me and you? The call to obedience (v.5-9).

•  to a life of trust

It’s Time to Pay Up ‘You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. ESV

•  to a life of self-denial

ESV ‘You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself.

•  to a life of faith and assurance

God's people lacked nothing as they journeyed through the wilderness of the desert. The LORD was guiding and meeting all their needs day by day. It was as though they were being carried along on the wings of an eagle.

•  to a life of commitment

The point is this: it had been fifty days since God had saved and redeemed Israel from the evil world of Egypt. For fifty long days God had been guiding and delivering His people through trial after trial.

Now, it was time for God's people to make a commitment to Him... • a life-long agreement • a life-long covenant

The covenant was not to be a covenant between equals. God and man were not to sit down together and work out an agreement between themselves. The covenant of law about to be given to man

• a life-long agreement • a life-long covenant

1. The covenant of law was conditional ().

The covenant was just like the covenant of a king (a lord, a master) that was being given to his subjects for their benefit. If they kept the covenant, they would be greatly blessed; if they broke the covenant, they would be condemned.

2. God made three great promises to His people if they obeyed His covenant, His laws.

a. God's people would be special "treasures" to Him.

The Hebrew means select, choice, prized, precious, something held dear.

The person who obeys God, who keeps God's commandment, is.... • God's personal possession • God's precious treasure • God's choice property

"For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God: the LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth" ().

"For the LORD'S portion is his people; Jacob is the lot of his inheritance" ().

"For the LORD hath chosen Jacob unto himself, and Israel for his peculiar treasure" ().

"And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him" ().

"Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works" ().

"But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light" ().

b. God's people would be a "kingdom of priests" to Him ().

The person who obeys God becomes both a king and priest to God.

The promise is clear: the obedient person is victorious over all the enemies of life as he marches to the promised land.

The obedient person stands as a priest before God; therefore, when he needs help, he has open access, an open door into God's presence. He cries to God for help and God helps him. Moreover, as a priest, the obedient person is God's witness (His missionary) to the unbelievers of the world.

"By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God" ().

"For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need" ().

"Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ" ().

"But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light" ().

"But ye shall be named the Priests of the LORD: men shall call you the Ministers of our God" ().

"Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years" ().

c. God's people would be a "holy nation" of people ().

The word "holy" means to be sanctified, separate, different, pure, righteous within and without, totally consecrated to God and His mission upon earth.

The word "holy" means to be sanctified, separate, different, pure, righteous within and without, totally consecrated to God and His mission upon earth.

If we obey God and keep His commandments, we become... • the "personal possession" of God • the "precious treasure" of God • the "choice property" of God • a king to God • a priest to God • a holy— sanctified, pure, righteous, consecrated— people to God

"For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God: the LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth" ().

"For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God, and the LORD hath chosen thee to be a peculiar [treasured] people unto himself, above all the nations that are upon the earth" ().

"What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's" ().

"Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ" ().

"And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen" ().

"And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth" ().