Monday 12 August 2013

Background

Verses 18-19 are referring to Mount Sinai, as described in Exodus19:12-13. This passage compares the approach of the Israelitesto Mount Sinai with the approach of Christians to the heavenlyMount Zion; the city of God. Mount Sinai was where the old covenantbetween God and people was formed with the ten Commandments (Exodus20) and Mount Zion is a picture of life in the new covenantcreated through the sacrifice and resurrection of Jesus. In verse22 this picture of the new covenant is named in three differentways (Mount Zion, the city of the living God and the heavenlyJerusalem) and all refer to the kingdom of heaven rather than tothe earthly Mount Zion.

There is a strong contrast between the first mountain and thesecond mountain, which demonstrates the total significance ofJesus. The writer is, in a very visual and powerful way, aiming toconvince his Jewish Christian audience of the worth of continuingwith the Christian faith rather than reverting back to Judaism.

The descriptions of Mount Sinai in verses 18-19 also create animpression of impersonal forces such as fire, darkness and storm.The 'voice speaking words' is not given an identity in thispassage, although we know from cross referencing with Exodus19 that it was God. God is not seen by the people; theirencounter is of a voice coming from a mountain enveloped in fireand smoke. Moses went to the top of the mountain and met who theywere talking to, but for the rest of the Israelite people God was,at this point, both distant and unknowable.

On the other hand verse 22 speaks of the "city of the livingGod". God is alive and in the city - present, close and knowable.This description is full of person-centred details including nameswritten down, countless angels, the spirits of the righteous madeperfect (perhaps the people of faith listen in Hebrews 11) and thereader themselves, with the emotive words "you have come" repeatedover and over. God and God's own family are together on themountain.

To Ponder

• How do you feel about the descriptions of a place where God isas being "a blazing fire, and darkness, and gloom and a tempest"(v. 18) and of the people wishing that from God "that not anotherword be spoken" (v. 19)?

• Picture yourself and God. After doing this go on to answer thequestion: Where was God in relation to you? Distant or close? Knownor unknown?