The Response To The Ten Commandments

SERMON OUTLINE

• I. The Attitude Of Fear
• II. The Need For A Mediator

TRANSCRIPT

We have just finished our series of messages on the Ten Commandments which is taken from Exodus 20:1-17. After God had given the Ten Commandments with all its demands and requirements, now it was the Israelites' turn to respond. In the same way – each time we read the Word of God; we hear the Word of God being preached – we need to respond. What is our attitude toward the message? Do we understand the message? Will we obey or disobey the message? If we will obey, what steps are we taking to obey the message?

So here in these four verses – Exodus 20:18-21 – which is our text for tonight's message, we are going to see the response of the Israelites who had just received the Ten Commandments. The title of our message is 'The Response To The Ten Commandments'.

I. The Attitude Of Fear

Firstly, we see '[The] Attitude Of Fear' amongst the children of Israel. Let us begin with verse 18, "And all the people saw the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking: and when the people saw it, they removed, and stood afar off."

In order for us to better understand and appreciate this passage, it is good for us to look at one verse in the previous chapter. So let us turn to Exodus 19:8. I will read for you. Exodus 19:8, "And all the people answered together, and said, All that the Lord hath spoken we will do. And Moses returned the words of the people unto the Lord." Remember God was about to give the Ten Commandments. 'And the people promised, "All that the Lord hath spoken we will do"' (Exodus 19:8a). In other words, they promised to obey.

'Then God commanded the people to sanctify themselves. And boundaries were set around Mount Sinai. Anyone who broke through those boundaries would be destroyed. The glory of God descended on the mountain, that was why it was called 'the holy mountain'. And only Moses and Aaron were allowed to come up the mountain. All the rest were forbidden. There would be this tendency for the people to break through those boundaries, thinking that, 'Well, if Moses and Aaron can approach the mountain, so can we'. But when the people heard and saw – the awesome display of thunder, lightning, trumpet sound, and smoke – they trembled with fear' (Exodus 19:8b-25).

So when we come to Exodus 20:18, this was the second time the people heard and saw – the awesome display of thunder, lightning, trumpet sound, and smoke – and they also trembled with fear. But the interesting thing is that this time around, they themselves spontaneously kept their distance from the mountain without the need of being reminded to keep away from the boundaries.

What was the difference between these two occurrences? Same lightning, thunder, trumpet sound, and smoke. But the second time, they were so fearful that they kept their distance without the need to be warned a second time. One thing for sure, it was because of the Law.

God had given to them His Law, as in the Ten Commandments. He expected them to obey all of them all the time and this terrified them. Remember, 'they had promised that they would do whatever God said' (Exodus 19:8a). But as soon as they found out the demands and requirements of the Law, they were terrified. At this point in time, it was just the hearing of the Law and it already terrified them. Why? Because they realized that they could not keep up with the Law; they could not obey its demands and requirements perfectly, and there would be serious consequences when they broke the laws.

So – when they heard and saw the thunder, lightning, trumpet sound, and smoke – they trembled at the thought of what it would be like when they stood before the Almighty God to face His judgment.

If simply hearing the Law was such a terrifying experience then how terrifying it would be to meet God after breaking it. This is what we need to ask ourselves as we have just finished our series of messages on the Ten Commandments, and for that matter, each time we hear the Word of God: 'Does it strike fear in our hearts that we are expected to obey what God says, and there are serious consequences if we disobey and do not do according to His instructions?' One day, we have to stand before this Awesome God to give an account; how we have disobeyed His Word.

Some people think that God will accept them because generally, they play by the rules. Most of the time, they try to obey the commandments. So, sometimes they do break some of the commandments. It is alright. Because generally-speaking, they try to obey most of the commandments. Others think that some of the commandments are important, while others are not important. Yet others think that it is impossible anyway to obey God's commandments, so God will understand. All these are misconstrued ideas about God's expectation of us obeying His commandments. God expects us to obey all His commandments and all the time.

Dear friend, if you and I search our hearts sincerely, we are prone to break the Ten Commandments. We like to serve other gods. We tend to put ourselves before God. We use bad language. We resist authority. We lust after sexual immorality. We take things belonging to others. And we tear people down with our words or sometimes even with our actions, and so forth.

Since the Fall, no man is able to keep the commandments of God perfectly. We break them on a daily basis whether in our thoughts, in our speech, or in our actions. Hearing the commandments with all its demands and requirements — and understanding our inability to keep them — should strike fear in our hearts. So, the people were terrified. And what did they do when they were terrified?

II. The Need For A Mediator

Our second point is they saw 'The Need For A Mediator'. Look at verse 19, "And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we die." Whenever people get into trouble, one of the first things they would do is to hire a lawyer. This was exactly what the people did. As soon as they heard the demands and requirements of the Law, they immediately asked Moses to be their representative; their mediator. Therefore, they said to him, 'You speak to us, and we will hear: but do not let God speak to us, or else we die.'

Oftentimes, we hear people say things like 'If only God could speak to me directly'; or 'How I wish God would speak to me personally', or "If only God would show Himself to me, then I will believe." Have you heard people say such things? People who make such requests really have no idea what they are asking because anyone who has ever caught a glimpse of God's glory, even the slightest glimpse, their hearts would be filled with fear. Our God is an awesome and powerful God whose holiness would strike fear in the hearts of sinners. So, sinners who say, "If only God would appear to me," do not really understand what they are requesting.

Now, it does not mean that the children of Israel did not want to hear God's Word. They wanted to hear God's Word. They knew that God's Word contained blessings when they obey and curses when they disobey. But they also knew that they were required to respond with absolute obedience. And — as sinful men and women — they could never respond with absolute obedience. So they needed someone to represent them when they fell short of the requirements.

Therefore, the Israelites were right to ask for a mediator. A ‘mediator’ is someone who stands in the gap to bring two parties together. That was what they needed. Someone to represent, stand, between God and them. Someone to represent them before God and to represent God before them. Someone to speak on behalf of God because they could not bear to hear His voice. They were terrified.

From the beginning, God had already provided Moses to be their mediator at the Burning Bush. Ever since then, the prophet had been speaking for God and speaking to God on their behalf. In the past, there were times when they questioned and challenged the authority of Moses. They did not willingly accept him as their mediator. But when God revealed His Law, they finally understood their real need for someone to represent them; someone to mediate on their behalf. In their fear, they begged Moses to be their mediator.

So, the Law did something — in their hearts — something amazing. It exposed their sins. And they realized how they had sinned against God. They could not stand before God. Otherwise, they would die. They needed someone to represent them. The Law cannot save. No one can keep the Law perfectly. James 2:10 says, "For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all."

The Law reveals our sins and points us to the need of a mediator. A mediator has certain responsibilities, duties, and characteristics. Let us see how Moses fulfilled his calling as the mediator for the Israelites. Look at verse 20, 'And Moses said unto the people, Fear not: for God is come to prove you, and that his fear may be before your faces, that ye sin not.'

Firstly, as their mediator, Moses had to comfort and assure them: 'Do not fear’. But how can they not be fearful? Well, as their mediator, Moses had to explain the Law — God's intention in giving the Law — not to destroy them but to save them. It was God's intention to prove them; to test them, that they would have this reverential fear for Him, that they would not sin against Him.

As their mediator, Moses had to represent them before God. Verse 21, 'And the people stood afar off, and Moses drew near unto the thick darkness where God was.' The thick darkness speaks of the mysterious majesty of God's being. Who dares to enter the thick darkness where God is? Only the mediator. This is what the mediator does: he enters into God's presence on behalf of the people. All the people were afraid and stood afar off; only Moses is able to enter into God's presence because he was chosen to mediate for the people.

As their mediator, Moses had to make atonement for their sins as well as for his own sin. Later on, in chapter 24, after the sacrifices were offered to God, Moses sprinkled the blood of the Lamb on them.

As their mediator, Moses had to intercede for the people. He pleaded with God not to destroy them whenever they sinned. As their mediator, Moses was willing to lay down his life for them. Later on, the Israelites broke God's Law by worshipping the golden calf, and he prayed to God, "Please forgive them; if not, blot me, I pray thee, from thy book which thou hast written" (Exodus 32:32).

But even if Moses were to die a million times, he could not save the people; he could not provide the forgiveness of sins. Moses, as a mediator of the Old Testament; the Old Covenant, was a type pointing to the Mediator with a capital ‘M’ — in the New Testament; the New Covenant — which is Christ.

Dear friend, like the Israelites, you and I have sinned against God. We have broken His commandments not just once, but many times. If we could keep the commandments perfectly, we could be saved by it. But the problem is, we cannot keep it perfectly, and because we cannot keep it perfectly, the Law condemns us. Like the Israelites, we should be standing at a distance trembling with fear; we should be crying out for a Mediator.

This is how the Law leads us to the Gospel. The Law condemns us so that we start looking to the Mediator. And God has provided Jesus Christ. Jesus did what the Law could not do, and that is to save us. He died to pay the penalty for breaking the Law. Jesus is the only Mediator we will ever need. That is why 1 Timothy 2:5 says, "For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time."

In the Old Testament, Moses was a great mediator. But whatever mediation he offered was limited by the fact that he himself was a lawbreaker. He himself was a sinner. He himself needed to atone for his own sins. He himself could not offer the perfect obedience to the Ten Commandments. Only Jesus Christ alone kept the Ten Commandments perfectly. He himself was not all-knowing; he could only intercede and plead based on what he knows. Only Christ alone is all-knowing. In Christ Jesus, we have a better Mediator — a superior Mediator — the Mediator of a better covenant.

So this was explained to us in the New Testament in the Book of Hebrews 12:18-24. Maybe you can turn with me. Hebrews 12:18-24. Hebrews 12:18-19, "For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest, And the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which voice they that heard intreated [to ‘intreat’ means to plead or to beg] that the word should not be spoken to them any more:” Verse 20, “For they could not endure that which was commanded, And if so much as a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned, or thrust through with a dart:” If God would not endure anyone who trespass beyond the boundaries of the mountain, how much more He would not endure those who transgressed His Law.

Verse 21, “And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake:” So, not only the children of Israel were afraid. Even Moses himself was exceedingly afraid. Verse 22a, “But ye” referring to the Christians. In other words, ‘You Christians have not come to a mountain that can be touched. You have not come to Mount Sinai that is burning with fire; filled with thunder, lightning, darkness, and storm. “[But you] are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect” (Hebrews 12:22b-23).

The “heavenly Jerusalem… the city of the living God” is where all the believers who belong to the invisible universal church in Heaven will dwell forever and ever, whose names are written in the Book of Life. But how is that possible? Verse 24, “[Because they have come] to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling.”

Dear friend, indeed, if we are true believers, it means we have realized that we have broken the laws of God. The Law reveals to us our sins. And the penalty of sin is death; physical death, spiritual death, and eternal death. The Law points us to the Lord Jesus Christ who died on the cross of Calvary. And through His blood; through His resurrection, He is able to provide the forgiveness of sins. We have embraced Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. We have come to Him in repentance and in faith. He is our Mediator. And He is a superior Mediator.

Remember, moments ago, we said that there are certain responsibilities, duties, and characteristics of a mediator. As our Mediator, Jesus explained to us the Law as well as the Word of God. Remember Jesus said, "Think not that I have come to destroy the law, or the prophets: [referring to the Old Testament Scripture] I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled" (Matthew 5:17-18). And Jesus also said in Matthew 24:35, "Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away."

My words referring to the entire Old and New Testaments.

As our Mediator, Jesus represents us before God. That is why we pray in His name. That is why we always end our prayers with "in Jesus' name." As our Mediator, Jesus laid down His life for us once and for all, and He is the atonement for our sins. He is the unblemished Lamb of God. We are washed by His precious blood in our justification.

Today, we are still being washed by His precious blood in our sanctification. He cleanses us by His blood. As our Mediator, even right now, Jesus is interceding for you and me. The reason why we are not consumed in our sins is because we have a great High Priest interceding for us. As our Mediator, Jesus comforts us, He assures us. Jesus said, "Let not your hearts be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also" (John 14:1-3). And Jesus said, "No man can pluck you out of my hand" (John 10:28). Once we are safe, we are safe forever. We cannot lose our salvation because of our Mediator, the superior Mediator.

Today, when we hear the Word of God, our hearts are stricken with fear, but not the abject fear of facing judgment or condemnation, but the reverential fear for God.

Today as we obey the Ten Commandments, we obey not out of fear — not to be saved because we are already safe if we are true believers — but out of love for our Mediator. We want to glorify Him, not dishonor Him. We want to live our lives with this one purpose and one purpose only: to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever. Jesus said, "If you love me, keep my commandments" (John 14:15).

So — our response to the Ten Commandments, and for that matter, each time we hear the Word of God; the message of God — our response is ‘Yes, Lord, we love you. And we will keep your commandments.’ May this be our response to the Word of God, to the commandments of God, to His instructions. We love Him because He first loved us (1 John 4:19).

Let us pray. Our Father in heaven, we thank you for allowing us to consider these four verses, how we ought to respond. Just like the Israelites, they responded to the Ten Commandments. As soon as they found out the demands and requirements, they were terrified. They saw the need for a mediator. Just as each time we hear Thy Word, we learn of Thy commandments, all Thy demands and requirements, and understanding our inability to keep them, we look to the Mediator.

But we look to a superior Mediator, the Mediator of a better covenant, and that is our Lord Jesus. He is our Mediator. We love Him, and so today we will obey His Word, not out of fear, the abject fear of amazing judgment or condemnation, but the reverential fear for Him. And we love Him because He first loved us. And we want to obey His Word, His commandments, His instructions because we want to glorify Him. O Lord, let this be our response to Your commandments, to Thy Word, to Thy instructions. Yes, Lord, we will keep, we will obey, because we love Thee. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

THE BOOK OF EXODUS

God’s Prophecy and Promise Had Come To Pass

God’s Prophecy and Promise Had Come To Pass

Exodus 1:1-7

From Prosperity to Persecution

From Prosperity to Persecution

Exodus 1:8-14

God’s Protection in the Midst of Adversities

God’s Protection in the Midst of Adversities

Exodus 1:15-21

The Faith of Jochebed

The Faith of Jochebed

Exodus 1:22-2:10

Moses in Egypt

Moses in Egypt

Exodus 2:11-15

Moses in the Desert of Midian

Moses in the Desert of Midian

Exodus 2:16-25

Moses and the Burning Bush

Moses and the Burning Bush

Exodus 3:1-9

Who Are You?

Who Are You?

Exodus 3:10-15

Who Am I?

Who Am I?

Exodus 3:10-15

God’s Message to Israel and Egypt

God’s Message to Israel and Egypt

Exodus 3:16-22

What If They Still Don’t Believe?

What If They Still Don’t Believe?

Exodus 4:1-9

Send Someone Else

Send Someone Else

Exodus 4:10-17

Moses’ Return to Egypt

Moses’ Return to Egypt

Exodus 4:18-20

When Things Seemed to Get Better, They Got Worse

When Things Seemed to Get Better, They Got Worse

Exodus 5:10-21

When We Have Done Everything Right, and Yet Trouble Comes

When We Have Done Everything Right, and Yet Trouble Comes

Exodus 5:22-6:5

Having to Learn the Same Lesson Twice

Having to Learn the Same Lesson Twice

Exodus 6:6-12

Faithful or Unfaithful

Faithful or Unfaithful

Exodus 6:13-27

What God Wants Is Our Faithfulness and Obedience

What God Wants Is Our Faithfulness and Obedience

Exodus 6:28-7:7

The First Plague - The River of Blood

The First Plague - The River of Blood

Exodus 7:14-25

The Second Plague - The Frogs

The Second Plague - The Frogs

Exodus 8:1-15

The Third Plague

The Third Plague

Exodus 8:16-19

The Fourth Plague

The Fourth Plague

Exodus 8:20-32

The Fifth Plague

The Fifth Plague

Exodus 9:1-7

The Sixth Plague

The Sixth Plague

Exodus 9:8-12

The Seventh Plague

The Seventh Plague

Exodus 9:13-35

The Eighth Plague

The Eighth Plague

Exodus 10:1-20

The Tenth Plague

The Tenth Plague

Exodus 11:1-10

The First Passover

The First Passover

Exodus 12:1-13

The Feast of the Unleavened Bread

The Feast of the Unleavened Bread

Exodus 12:14-28

Departure From Egypt

Departure From Egypt

Exodus 12:29-42

This Do In Remembrance of Me

This Do In Remembrance of Me

Exodus 12:43-51; 1 Corinthians 11:23-32

Message 2: What is Church to you? My Covenantal Family!

Message 2: What is Church to you? My Covenantal Family!

Exodus 12:48-49, Colossians 2:11-12

Redemption and Consecration

Redemption and Consecration

Exodus 13:1-2, 11-16

Precious Lord, Take My Hand

Precious Lord, Take My Hand

Exodus 13:17-22

Between the Desert and the Red Sea

Between the Desert and the Red Sea

Exodus 14:1-14

Crossing the Red Sea

Crossing the Red Sea

Exodus 14:15-31

The Song of Praise

The Song of Praise

Exodus 15:1-21

Will You Obey Or Not?

Will You Obey Or Not?

Exodus 15:22-27

The Danger of a Complaining Spirit

The Danger of a Complaining Spirit

Exodus 16:1-3

God’s Response to Israel’s Complaints

God’s Response to Israel’s Complaints

Exodus 16:1-10

The Test of Faith

The Test of Faith

Exodus 16:11-20

Lessons About the Sabbath

Lessons About the Sabbath

Exodus 16:21-36

Do Not Test God

Do Not Test God

Exodus 17:1-17

Lift Up Your Hands

Lift Up Your Hands

Exodus 17:8-16

The Blessedness of Reunion

The Blessedness of Reunion

Exodus 18:1-12

Why Do We Have Leaders?

Why Do We Have Leaders?

Exodus 18:13-27

I Will Carry You On Eagles’ Wings

I Will Carry You On Eagles’ Wings

Exodus 19:1-6

Approach God Fearlessly or Fearfully

Approach God Fearlessly or Fearfully

Exodus 19:7-15

God Reached Out And Spoke

God Reached Out And Spoke

Exodus 19:16-25

Thou Shalt Have No Other Gods

Thou Shalt Have No Other Gods

Exodus 20:1-3

Thou Shalt Not Make Graven Images

Thou Shalt Not Make Graven Images

Exodus 20:4-6

Thou Shalt Not Dishonour God’s Name

Thou Shalt Not Dishonour God’s Name

Exodus 20:7

Thou Shalt Keep The Sabbath Day

Thou Shalt Keep The Sabbath Day

Exodus 20:8-11

Honour Thy Father And Thy Mother

Honour Thy Father And Thy Mother

Exodus 20:12

Thou Shalt Not Kill

Thou Shalt Not Kill

Exodus 20:13

Thou Shalt Not Commit Adultery

Thou Shalt Not Commit Adultery

Exodus 20:14

Thou Shalt Not Steal

Thou Shalt Not Steal

Exodus 20:15

Thou Shalt Not Lie

Thou Shalt Not Lie

Exodus 20:16

Thou Shalt Not Covet

Thou Shalt Not Covet

Exodus 20:17

The Response To The Ten Commandments

The Response To The Ten Commandments

Exodus 20:18-21

How God Wants Us To Worship Him

How God Wants Us To Worship Him

Exodus 20:22-26

Why Would God Allow Slavery?

Why Would God Allow Slavery?

Exodus 21:1-11

The Punishment Fits The Crime — a life for a life

The Punishment Fits The Crime — a life for a life

Exodus 21:12-17

The Punishment Fits The Crime — an eye for an eye

The Punishment Fits The Crime — an eye for an eye

Exodus 21:18-36

The Punishment Deters The Crime — property laws

The Punishment Deters The Crime — property laws

Exodus 22:1-15

The Character Of God

The Character Of God

Exodus 22:16-20

Reaching Out To The Down-And-Out

Reaching Out To The Down-And-Out

Exodus 22:21-24

The Compassion, Authority & Holiness Of God

The Compassion, Authority & Holiness Of God

Exodus 22:25-31

Truth Cannot Be Subjected To Anything But Truth

Truth Cannot Be Subjected To Anything But Truth

Exodus 23:1-9

Remember Who God Is

Remember Who God Is

Exodus 23:10-19

What Must We Do To Have Victory

What Must We Do To Have Victory

Exodus 23:20-33

How We Ought To Worship God

How We Ought To Worship God

Exodus 24:1-4, 7

On What Basis Can We Approach His Majesty?

On What Basis Can We Approach His Majesty?

Exodus 24:4-8

Responding To God’s Invitation

Responding To God’s Invitation

Exodus 24:9-18

The Right Attitude Of Giving

The Right Attitude Of Giving

Exodus 25:1-8

There I Will Meet You

There I Will Meet You

Exodus 25:9-22

Physical Or Spiritual Bread, Which Is More Important?

Physical Or Spiritual Bread, Which Is More Important?

Exodus 25:23-30

If Thy Presence Go Not with Me, Carry Us Not Up Hence

If Thy Presence Go Not with Me, Carry Us Not Up Hence

Exodus 33:12-23