A Fragment on Exod. 24 In this magnificent chapter, we have a sample of true rest in the love of God, and in the blood of atonement. The elders of Israel had passed through the most profound exercises of heart and conscience beneath the thundering mount. They, like Moses, had quaked under the dread exhibition of the inflexible holiness of the God of Israel, and were in little danger of entering into any false rest, in the presence of the One who had solemnly dealt with their hearts and consciences. Now, this is just what we need in this day of carnal indifference and sluggish ease.
In chapter 19, the elders were down in the camp, amid human infirmity and human defilement. In chapter 24, they are seen on the mount with God. No defilement there; but “under his feet, as it were, a paved work of a sapphire stone, and, as it were, the body of heaven in clearness.” What a contrast! What wide extremes! What opposite points in the moral world! How could they ever be harmonized? By what wondrous path could the soul make its way, from the defiled camp of Israel, upward to that sapphire mount, where Jehovah sat in awful majesty, fearful in holiness! “The altar under the hill” furnishes the reply; the blood of atonement stood between the camp beneath, and the mount above, and the elders could enter into its value, and in so doing, pass onward, in holy boldness, into the very presence of God, and there eat and drink in unbroken repose of spirit.
Here is true peace for the conscience; not the peace of carnal indifference; not the tranquility arising from an easy placid temperament; but that profound peace which flows from having every wound inflicted by the thunderbolts of Sinai healed by the blood of atonement. When we really know the value of the cross, we can
“Climb those higher skies,
Where storms and tempests never rise.”
What power there is in the words, “they saw the God of Israel!” They had seen the lightnings, and heard the thunder’s distant roar, when God addressed Himself to man’s legal heart; but now they saw Himself. The precious blood had hushed the loud roar of the thunder, and dispersed the clouds, of which Jehovah had formed His chariot, and now they behold Him in a chariot paved with love. How exquisite! How tranquillizing!
We want more real rest of heart in Christ Himself, in His matchless grace, His unrivaled perfections. We rest satisfied with far too low a character of communion. We must seek fellowship with our Jesus, not merely for what He has, but for what He is. “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
“Oh! all ye wise, ye rich, ye just,
Who the blood-doctrine have discussed,
And judged it mean and slight;
Grant but I may—the rest’s your own—
In shame and poverty sit down
At this one well-spring of delight.