Noon Day Bible Study
Mount Bethel Missionary Baptist Church
Bible Study
Facilitator: Dr. Jacques Boyd, Pastor
December 2, 2020
“God Dwells Among His People”
Exodus 20-40
Lesson Focus: The learner will focus on how God is establishing the covenant terms to direct His people in how-to live-in fellowship with Him since He will now dwell with them.
Main question: Why is it that we need to understand God’s Law if we’re going to understand God’s Grace?
Context
- Historical Context
mid 15th century B.C.E., at the foot of Mount Sinai
- Redemptive-Historical Context
Promises are being fulfilled!
Israel now directed how to be Yahweh’s people
Theme
God is establishing the covenant terms to direct His people in how-to live-in fellowship with Him since He will now dwell with them.
Covenant Obligations (Chapters 20-23)
The Ten Commandments (Chapter 20)
Where do commandments fit into a covenant of grace?
- The law teaches God’s people how to image Him
- Galatians 3:17-19: the law leads us to Christ
- Israel is already saved
Covenant Disobedience and Covenant Grace – Exodus 32-34
The Glory of God – Exodus 33:12-23
-
- Putting the LORD to the test | 17:2
- Worshiping other gods | Chap. 32
- Matthew 3-4 | The true Son of God
- God’s Glorious Motive
- 6:7 | “Then you will know…”
- 14:4, 7:3-4 | “I will harden Pharaoh’s heart”
- Revelation 1:5-6 | “To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, and has made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever! Amen.”
The Tabernacle – Exodus 25-31, 35-40:1-33
- Where atonement for sins is made
Hebrews 9:26
- Only through atonement for sins does anyone have
fellowship with God
John 14:6
- Where God reveals Himself
Hebrews 1:2
- Where God is reconciled with His people
Romans 5:11
- Where God’s glory dwells
John 1:14
- A physical place for the invisible God to manifest Himself
Colossians 2:9
- Where God can be known
John 14:7
Covenant Presence
Promised: Chapter 24
Realized: Exodus 40:34-38
The Climax of Redemptive-History So Far
A Study Outline for Exodus 20-40
- 20-23: Covenant Obligations
Ch. 20 Decalogue as standard for all of life
21:1-22:15 Social life
22:16-23:9 Moral life
23:10-23:33 Religious calendar
- 24: Covenant Ceremony (the promise to be with them)
- 25-31: Covenant Mtg. Place (tabernacle described)
- 32-34: Covenant Disobedience and Grace
Ch. 32- People break covenant; Moses intercedes
Ch. 33- Moses “sees” the glory of the LORD
Ch. 34- Covenant is renewed
- 35-40: Covenant Meeting Place Built
2. 40:34-38*: Covenant Presence of the Lord
*Notice the mirroring effect (a “chiasm”). Sections II and VI are related in terms of promise and fulfillment, and sections III and V are related in terms of directions and obedience. That puts section IV in the middle of this chiasm, making it a central and crucial part of the book. And inside Section IV there is another chiasm. Chapters 32 and 34 are related in terms of covenant broken and covenant restored, with chapter 33 being highlighted in the middle. What is interesting about chapter 33 is that that is where we most clearly see the gospel in this second half of Exodus: Moses intercedes for the sinners, and Moses himself is hidden in the cleft of the rock so that he won’t be destroyed by the glory of the LORD.