Daily Devotions
Exodus
"I have sworn and confirmed that I will keep Your righteous judgments." Psalm 119:106
Text: Exodus 24 : 8
BLOOD SPRINKLED ON THE ALTAR
Blood had taken on a deeper symbolic meaning for the children of Israel. They watched with fascination as Moses sprinkled the altar with blood! The stone altar was now dedicated for the purpose of worship!
BLOOD OF THE COVENANT
Moses went on to apply the symbolic significance of the blood in two other ways. The first came by way of explanation.
“And Moses took the blood, sprinkled it on the people, and said,
‘This is the blood of the covenant which the LORD has made
with you according to all these words.”
EXODUS 24:8
Just as God had given a Covenant to Abraham, so He had now given a Covenant to the children of Israel! The Sinaitic Covenant was essentially an extension of the Abrahamic Covenant. It did not abrogate what God had promised Abraham. The Sinaitic Covenant was an elaboration of the old Abrahamic Covenant.
Was the Sinatic Covenant going to be as significant as the Abrahamic Covenant? The children of Israel need not have worried. This Covenant was fully ratified by “the blood of the Covenant”. The blood-sacrifice offered to the Lord that day was symbolic in more ways than one. Through the shedding of blood, the Sinaitic Covenant was confirmed! It was valid and it would stand forever as a sacred treaty between God and Israel!
BLOOD SPRINKLED ON THE PEOPLE
The second application was more dramatic. Moses actually sprinkled the blood on the worshippers! This too was most symbolic:-
1. The cleansing of the sins of the people
Sins would always create barriers between God and man! But through the shedding of blood, atonement was made for the propitiation of man’s sins! Man stood washed and cleansed in the sight of God because of the shed blood!
2. The sanctification of the people
The blood also represented an important fact! The people stood “sanctified” before the Lord! They had been declared “holy” by the Lord through His mercy!
CONFIRMATION OF THE COVENANT RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD
Moses emphasized this vital truth in his word of exhortation.
“The LORD has made with you according to all
these words.”
EXODUS 24:8B
The Book of the Covenant was NOT something Moses contrived! All the words that he had read from the Book of the Covenant came from the LORD Himself!