Exodus 19:8

_AND MOSES CAME AND CALLED FOR THE ELDERS OF THE PEOPLE, AND LAID BEFORE THEIR FACES ALL THESE WORDS WHICH THE LORD COMMANDED HIM._ Moses came and called for the elders. The message was conveyed to the mighty multitude through their elders, who doubtless instructed them in the conditions required. Their unanimous acceptance was conveyed through the same channel to Moses, and by him reported to the Lord. Ah, how much self-confidence did their language betray!-how little did they know what spirit they were of! But without reference to the moral weaknesses of humanity, which, alas, were but too conspicuously displayed in their sad failures to act up to their promise, the response, "all that the Lord hath spoken we will do," was a declaration of the national acceptance of the constitution. Here is what has been aptly called by Lowman ('Civ. Gov. of the Heb.,' 100: 1), 'the original contract...

8._And all the people answered. _We shall see in its proper place why God employed Moses as a messenger to carry backwards and forwards the commands and replies; now he merely relates what all the people answered, viz., that they would be obedient in all things. It was not a part, but the whole of the people who promised this, and the reply was unreserved, declaring that they would do whatsoever God required. Yet soon after they relapsed into their natural mind, and kept not their promise even in the smallest degree. Still we may believe that they spoke without dissembling; but that, although without any intention of deceiving God, they were carried away by a kind of headlong zeal, and deceived themselves. Nor was it the object of Moses to tell them in reproach that they had lied to God, or deceitfully boasted with their lips what they did not feel in their hearts; but, by stating how re...

1-8 Moses was called up the mountain, and was employed as the messenger of this covenant. The Maker and first Mover of the covenant, is God himself. This blessed charter was granted out of God's own free grace. The covenant here mentioned was the national covenant, by which the Israelites were a people under the government of Jehovah. It was a type of the new covenant made with true believers in Christ Jesus; but, like other types, it was only a shadow of good things to come. As a nation they broke this covenant; therefore the Lord declared that he would make a new covenant with Israel, writing his law, not upon tables of stone, but in their hearts, Jeremiah 31:33; Hebrews 8:7. The covenant spoken of in these places as ready to vanish away, is the national covenant with Israel, which they forfeited by their si...

Verse Exodus 19:8. _AND ALL THE PEOPLE ANSWERED, C._] The people, having such gracious advantages laid before them, most cheerfully consented to take God for their _portion_ as he had graciously promised to take them for his _people_. Thus a covenant was made, the parties being mutually bound to each other. _MOSES RETURNED THE WORDS_] When the people had on their part consented to the covenant, Moses appears to have gone immediately up to the mountain and related to God the success of his mission; for he was now on the mount, as appears from Exodus 19:14....

ALL THAT THE LORD ... - By this answer the people accepted the covenant. It was the preliminary condition of their complete admission into the state of a royal priesthood....

EXPOSITION THE FIRST COVENANT BETWEEN GOD AND ISRAEL. AS Moses, having reached the foot of Sinai, was proceeding to ascend the mountain, where he looked to have special revelations from God, God called to him out of the mountain, and required a positive engagement on the part of the people, before he would condescend to enter into further direct relations with them. If, through gratitude for what had been done for them in the deliverance from Egypt, and since, they would solemnly engage to obey God and keep the covenant that he should make with them (Exodus 19:5), then a fresh revelation should be made, and fresh engagements entered into; but not otherwise. Moses communicated the message to the people through the alders, and rece

AND ALL THE PEOPLE ANSWERED TOGETHER,.... By their heads and representatives, the elders, summoned before Moses, to whom he declared the whole will of God; or this being communicated by them to their respective tribes and families, they were all of one mind; there was not a contradicting voice among them, they all gave the same answer, or all united in returning for answer what follows: ALL THAT THE LORD HATH SPOKEN WE WILL DO; obey his voice in all things he directs unto, or commands to be done, and keep the covenant he should make with them, and observe whatever was required on their parts; which was well spoken, if with the heart, and if, under a consciousness of their own weakness, they had expressed their desire of dependence upon the grace of God to enable them to perform, see Deuteronomy 5:28. The Septuagint version adds, "and we will hear", or be obedient, a

WE WILL DO The Fifth Dispensation: Law. This dispensation extends from Sinai to Calvary -- from Exodus to the Cross. The history of Israel in the wilderness and in the land is one long record of the violation of the law. The testing of the nation by law ended in the judgment of the Captivities, but the dispensation itself ended at the Cross. (1) Man's state at the beginning (Exodus 19:1). (2) His responsibility (Exodus 19:5); (Exodus 19:6); (Romans 10:5). (3) His failure (2 Kings 17:7); ...

EXODUS 19. AWFUL REVELATION OF GOD IN FIRE AND CLOUD. Exodus 19:1 a P, Exodus 19:2 b - Exodus 19:3 a E, Exodus 19:3 b - Exodus 19:6 Rd, Exodus 19:7 a E, Exodus 19:11 b - Exodus 19:13 J, Exodus 19:14 E,...

RETURNED. Moses' second ascent, verses: Exodus 19:8. See note on Exodus 19:3....