God gave a message to Moses from the cloud that marked the place of His presence:
If ye will obey My voice indeed, and keep My covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto Me above all people: for all the earth is Mine: and ye shall be unto Me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. Exodus 19:5-6
Moses led the people forth to the base of the mountain where God proclaimed His law in a scene of grandeur.
And all the people saw the thundering, and the lightnings, and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking…And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we die. Ex. 20:18-19.
Jehovah revealed Himself as a majestic judge and lawgiver. Furthermore, as the compassionate guardian of His people who had:
- already made known Himself as their Guide and Deliverer
- brought them forth from Egypt, making a way for them through the sea, and overthrowing Pharaoh and his hosts
- thus shown Himself to be above all the gods of Egypt.
I am the Lord thy God, which has brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. Exodus 20:2
Law is Spoken
Moses charged the children of Israel to obey God.
Behold, I have taught you statutes and judgments, even as the Lord my God commanded me, that ye should do so in the land whether ye go to possess it. Keep therefore and do them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the nations, which shall hear all these statutes, and say, Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people. Deuteronomy 5:8.
The sacred precepts were spoken amid thunder and flame. God impressed His people with exhibitions of His power and glory.
So, they might never forget those scenes and keep the reverence for the Author of the law and the Creator of Heaven and earth. Nevertheless, it was more than the people of Israel could bear. They were overwhelmed with terror.
Moreover, as God’s Great Rule of right was presented before them, they realized as never before the offensive character of sin, and their own guilt in the sight of a holy God. They shrank away from the mountain in fear and awe. The multitude cried out to Moses:
Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we die. 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. Exodus 20:19-20
The law of God is truth – unchanging, eternal truth. It is holy, just and good. God’s law is a transcript of His own character and reflects the principles of His government. It is the standard of Christian character. His precepts are consistent with His attributes and His will.
The law of love is the foundation of the God’s government. God is love, and His law is love. Its two great principles are love to God and mankind. Love is the fulfilling of the law. Romans 13:20. It is by beholding that we become changed.
Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. 1 John 4:7-8
In His sacred precepts God has opened to men the perfection and holiness of His character. When Moses asked God – Show me Thy glory, the Lord answered – I will make all My goodness pass before thee. Exodus 33:18-19
Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly. . . . But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and
night. Psalm 1:1
It is only as the law of God is restored to its rightful position that there can be a revival of primitive faith and godliness among His professed people.
Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. Jeremiah 6:16.
Christ is a perfect revelation of God
No man hath seen God at any time, the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him. 1 John 1:18.
Philip saith unto him, Lord, show us the Father, and it sufficeth us. Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? He that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Show us the Father? Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works’ sake. John 14:8, 9, 11.
To those who receive Jesus and believe on Him, He gives power to become the sons of God.
Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. Matthew 22:37, 39
Christ came to our world to declare the character of God as it is represented in His holy law.
He was both the law and the gospel. God’s law looks into the secrets of the heart. Every act is judged by the motives that prompt it. Only that which is in accord with the principles of God’s law will stand in the judgment.
When those who claim to be children of God become Christlike in character, they will be obedient to God’s commandments. Clothed in the glorious apparel of Christ’s righteousness, they have a place at the King’s feast. They have a right to join the blood-washed multitude.
Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth. Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;
That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:
I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me. John 17 17-23.
Sourced writings: Ellen G White
King James Version Bible