God appeared in glory at Mount Sinai. The people were led by Moses to the very place where God had spoken from the flaming bush. But this time, not just a bush but the whole mountain was in flames! The earth shook; rocks broke open. But most dreadful of all was a sound more awesome than the crashing thunder: the sound of the voice of the living God.
The author of Hebrews describes the terror that scene: the mountain burning with fire, the darkness, gloom and storm (Heb 12:18-21). Then the heavenly trumpets sounded and God spoke. The people who heard those words begged that they might never again be exposed to such terror. They asked Moses to intervene for them. Let him ascend that fearful mountain and hear the voice of God!
In the great assembly at Sinai, God spoke to His people. He gave them His law in the context of His redemption. The Ten commandments begin with God's description of Himself as the Redeemer of Israel, "I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery." (Ex 20:2)
The great mistake of legalism is to detach the law of God from the God who gave it. The ten commandments are not an abstract code of duty hung in the void. The first commandment governs the rest, "You shall have no other gods before me." Assembled before the very presence of God, we must acknowledge God as God alone. We are to love Him with all our hearts, soul, strength and mind. We are to love Him with an exclusive love for our jealous God who seeks marital devotion. There are to be no rivals.
The demand of love has its source in God. the command for marital faithfulness, to not commit adultery points beyond itself to the faithful love of God for His people and His call for their jealous devotion in return. The love of God is where all true human love springs forth. Should this remind us that we can only truly love our neighbors when we first truly love God?
Refences:
Edmund Clowney, The Unfolding Mystery
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