patriarchs and prophets-第67节

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He　had　permitted　this；　for　it　gave　him　an　opportunity　to　instruct　them；　as
he　said；　〃I　do　make　them　know　the　statutes　of　God；　and　His　laws。〃　But　Jethro
remonstrated　against　this；　saying；　〃This　thing　is　too　heavy　for　thee；　thou
art　not　able　to　perform　it　thyself　alone。〃　〃Thou　wilt　surely　wear　away；〃　and
he　counseled　Moses　to　appoint　proper　persons　as　rulers　of　thousands；　and
others　as　rulers　of　hundreds；　and　others　of　tens。　They　should　be　〃able　men；
such　as　fear　God；　men　of　truth；　hating　covetousness。〃　These　were　to　judge　in
all　matters　of　minor　consequence；　while　the　most　difficult　and　important
cases　should　still　be　brought　before　Moses；　who　was　to　be　to　the　people；
said　Jethro；　〃to　God…ward；　that　thou　mayest　bring　the　causes　unto　God：　and
thou　shalt　teach　them　ordinances　and　laws；　and　shalt　show　them　the　way
wherein　they　must　walk；　and　the　work　that　they　must　do。〃　This　counsel　was
accepted；　and　it　not　only　brought　relief　to　Moses；　but　resulted　in
establishing　more　perfect　order　among　the　people。

The　Lord　had　greatly　honored　Moses；　and　had　wrought　wonders　by　his　hand；　but
the　fact　that　he　had　been　chosen　to　instruct　others　did　not　lead　him　to
conclude　that　he　himself　needed　no　instruction。　The　chosen　leader　of　Israel
listened　gladly　to　the　suggestions　of　the　godly　priest　of　Midian；　and
adopted　his　plan　as　a　wise　arrangement。

From　Rephidim　the　people　continued　their　journey；　following　the　movement　of
the　cloudy　pillar。　Their　route　had　led　across　barren　plains；　over　steep
ascents；　and　through　rocky　defiles。　Often　as　they　had　traversed　the　sandy
wastes；　they　had　seen　before　them　rugged　mountains；　like　huge　bulwarks；
piled　up　directly　across　their　course；　and　seeming　to　forbid　all　further
progress。　But　as　they　approached；　openings　here　and　there　appeared　in　the
mountain　wall；　and　beyond；　another　plain　opened　to　view。　Through　one　of　the
deep；　gravelly　passes　they　were　now　led。　It　was　a　grand　and　impressive
scene。　Between　the　rocky　cliffs　rising　hundreds　of　feet　on　either　side；
flowed　in　a　living　tide；　far　as　the　eye　could　reach；　the　hosts　of　Israel
with　their　flocks　and　herds。　And　now　before　them　in　solemn　majesty　Mount
Sinai　lifted　its　massive　front。　The　cloudy　pillar　rested　upon　its　summit；
and　the　people　spread　their　tents　upon　the　plain　beneath。　Here　was　to　be
their　home　for　nearly　a　year。　At

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night　the　pillar　of　fire　assured　them　of　the　divine　protection；　and　while
they　were　locked　in　slumber；　the　bread　of　heaven　fell　gently　upon　the
encampment。

The　dawn　gilded　the　dark　ridges　of　the　mountains；　and　the　sun's　golden　rays
pierced　the　deep　gorges；　seeming　to　these　weary　travelers　like　beams　of
mercy　from　the　throne　of　God。　On　every　hand　vast；　rugged　heights　seemed　in
their　solitary　grandeur　to　speak　of　eternal　endurance　and　majesty。　Here　the
mind　was　impressed　with　solemnity　and　awe。　Man　was　made　to　feel　his
ignorance　and　weakness　in　the　presence　of　Him　who　〃weighed　the　mountains　in
scales；　and　the　hills　in　a　balance。〃　Isaiah　40：12。　Here　Israel　was　to
receive　the　most　wonderful　revelation　ever　made　by　God　to　men。　Here　the　Lord
had　gathered　His　people　that　He　might　impress　upon　them　the　sacredness　of
His　requirements　by　declaring　with　His　own　voice　His　holy　law。　Great　and
radical　changes　were　to　be　wrought　in　them；　for　the　degrading　influences　of
servitude　and　a　long…continued　association　with　idolatry　had　left　their　mark
upon　habits　and　character。　God　was　working　to　lift　them　to　a　higher　moral
level　by　giving　them　a　knowledge　of　Himself。




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　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Chapter　27

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　The　Law　Given　to　Israel


Soon　after　the　encampment　at　Sinai；　Moses　was　called　up　into　the　mountain　to
meet　with　God。　Alone　he　climbed　the　steep　and　rugged　path；　and　drew　near　to
the　cloud　that　marked　the　place　of　Jehovah's　presence。　Israel　was　now　to　be
taken　into　a　close　and　peculiar　relation　to　the　Most　Highto　be
incorporated　as　a　church　and　a　nation　under　the　government　of　God。　The
message　to　Moses　for　the　people　was：

〃Ye　have　seen　what　I　did　unto　the　Egyptians；　and　how　I　bare　you　on　eagles'
wings；　and　brought　you　unto　Myself。　Now　therefore；　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。〃

Moses　returned　to　the　camp；　and　having　summoned　the　elders　of　Israel；　he
repeated　to　them　the　divine　message。　Their　answer　was；　〃All　that　the　Lord
hath　spoken　we　will　do。〃　Thus　they　entered　into　a　solemn　covenant　with　God；
pledging　themselves　to　accept　Him　as　their　ruler；　by　which　they　became；　in　a
special　sense；　the　subjects　of　His　authority。

Again　their　leader　ascended　the　mountain；　and　the　Lord　said　unto　him；　〃Lo；　I
come　unto　thee　in　a　thick　cloud；　that　the　people　may　hear　when　I　speak　with
thee；　and　believe　thee　forever。〃　When　they　met　with　difficulties　in　the　way；
they　were　disposed　to　murmur　against　Moses　and　Aaron；　and　accuse　them　of
leading　the　hosts　of　Israel　from　Egypt　to　destroy　them。　The　Lord　would　honor
Moses　before　them；　that　they　might　be　led　to　confide　in　his　instructions。

God　purposed　to　make　the　occasion　of　speaking　His　law　a　scene　of　awful
grandeur；　in　keeping　with　its　exalted　character。　The　people　were　to　be
impressed　that　everything　connected　with　the　service　of　God　must　be　regarded
with　the　greatest　reverence。

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The　Lord　said　to　Moses；　〃Go　unto　the　people；　and　sanctify　them　today　and
tomorrow；　and　let　them　wash　their　clothes；　and　be　ready　against　the　third
day：　for　the　third　day　the　Lord　will　come　down　in　the　sight　of　all　the
people　upon　Mount　Sinai。〃　During　these　intervening　days　all　were　to　occupy
the　time　in　solemn　preparation　to　appear　before　God。　Their　person　and　their
clothing　must　be　freed　from　impurity。　And　as　Moses　should　point　out　their
sins；　they　were　to　devote　themselves　to　humiliation；　fasting；　and　prayer；
that　their　hearts　might　be　cleansed　from　iniquity。

The　preparations　were　made；　according　to　the　command；　and　in　obedience　to　a
further　injunction；　Moses　directed　that　a　barrier　be　placed　about　the　mount；
that　neither　man　nor　beast　might　intrude　upon　the　sacred　precinct。　If　any
ventured　so　much　as　to　touch　it；　the　penalty　was　instant　death。

On　the　morning　of　the　third　day；　as　the　eyes　of　all　the　people　were　turned
toward　the　mount；　its　summit　was　covered　with　a　thick　cloud；　which　grew　more
black　and　dense；　sweeping　downward　until　the　entire　mountain　was　wrapped　in
darkness　and　awful　mystery。　Then　a　sound　as　of　a　trumpet　was　heard；
summoning　the　people　to　meet　with　God；　and　Moses　led　them　forth　to　the　base
of　the　mountain。　From　the　thick　darkness　flashed　vivid　lightnings；　while
peals　of　thunder　echoed　and　re…echoed　among　the　surrounding　heights。　〃And
Mount　Sinai　was　altogether　on　a　smoke；　because　the　Lord　descended　upon　it　in
fire：　and　the　smoke　thereof　ascended　as　the　smoke　of　a　furnace；　and　the
whole　mount　quaked　greatly。〃　〃The　glory　of　the　Lord　was　like　devouring　fire
on　the　top　of　the　mount〃　in　the　sight　of　the　assembled　multitude。　And　〃the
voice　of　the　trumpet　sounded　long；　and　waxed　louder　and　louder。〃　So　terrible
were　the　tokens　of　Jehovah's　presence　that　the　hosts　of　Israel　shook　with
fear；　and　fell　upon　their　faces　before　the　Lord。　Even　Moses　exclaimed；　〃I
exceedingly　fear　and　quake。〃　Hebrews　12：21。

And　now　the　thunders　ceased；　the　trumpet　was　no　longer　heard；　the　earth　was
still。　There　was　a　period　of　solemn　silence；　and　then　the　voice　of　God　was
heard。　Speaking　out　of　the　thick　darkness　that　enshrouded　Him；　as　He　stood
upon　the　mount；　surrounded　by　a　retinue　of　angels；　the　Lord　made　known　His
law。　Moses；　describing　the　scene；　says：　〃The　Lord

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　305

came　from　Sinai；　and　rose　up　from　Seir　unto　them；　He　shined　forth　from　Mount
Paran；　and　He　came　with　ten　thousands　of　saints：　from　His　right　hand　went　a
fiery　law　for　them。　Yea；　He　loved　the　people；　all　His　saints　are　in　Thy
hand：　and　they　sat　down　at　Thy　feet；　every　one　shall　receive　of　Thy　words。〃
Deuteronomy　33：2；　3。

Jehovah　revealed　Himself；　not　alone　in　the　awful　majesty　of　the　judge　and
lawgiver；　but　as　the　compassionate　guardian　of　His　people：　〃I　am　the　Lord
thy　God；　which　have　brought　thee　out　of　the　land　of　Egypt；　out　of　the　house
of　bondage。〃　He　whom　they　had　already　known　as　their　Guide　and　Deliverer；
who　had　brought　them　forth　from　Egypt；　making　a　way　for　them　through　the
sea；　and　overthrowing　Pharaoh　and　his　hosts；　who　had　thus　shown　Himself　to
be　above　all　the　gods　of　EgyptHe　it　was　who　now　spoke　His　law。

The　law　was　not　spoken　at　this　time　exclusively　for　the　benefit　of　the
Hebrews。　God　honored　them　by　making　them　the　guardians　and　keepers　of　His
law；　but　it　was　to　be　held　as　a　sacred　trust　for　the　whole　world。　The
precepts　of　the　Decalogue　are　adapted　to　all　mankind；　and　they　were　given
for　the　instruction　and　government　of　all。　Ten　precepts；　brief；
comprehensive；　and　authoritative；　cover　the　duty　of　man　to　God　and　to　his
fellow　man；　and　all　based　upon　the　gre