Altars. What are they for the modern person? Some speak of “a fresh altar experience” as a direct application of this passage. Others might suggest that this passage doesn’t apply to us today.
But if we believe that all of the Bible is God’s word, this passage is also part of it, and it will surely challenge what we know about Christianity and about our God. Have you felt like your Christian walk is all about setting up altars to remember the Christian experience? Is your Christianity defined by your experience rather than God’s Word and God’s law? It is to these views and in this context that God speaks to us today through these words in Exo 20:22-26.
(A) A Talking God: On Mt Sinai then, through the Bible now (Exo 20:22)
This section in Exo 20:22 begins in a similar way with Exo 20:1 — God speaks. But in Exo 20:1, God tells them what He has done for them. In Exo 20:22, He says “you have seen” and refers to an earlier encounter, the section in Exo 20:1-21. In the verses in Exo 20:1-21, the people were afraid and did not want God to speak to them directly, but only through Moses (c.f. Exo 20:19). Thus, in Exo 20:22, God spoke through Moses the mediator. God told Moses what to say to the people, and reminded them of who they had just heard. They were to remember the fear that they felt and how they responded to God’s voice.
We might think that God was there for the Israelites and they could respond directly but this is different for us today. We cannot see God nor hear His voice directly. Some of us might also say “if only God spoke to me, I will obey”. If God showed up tonight and if you heard God’s voice, what would your response be? But God speaks to us today too! He speaks to us from the Bible. We think that God’s Word is just a book, and the Bible is just an app on our phone. We approach His word casually and think of it as good. But God’s word is holy and righteous.
Some of us might even think we care a lot about God’s Word. We may want to find ways to help people come to God’s Word with reverence and fear. But when we read God’s Word with people without repentance and change in heart, talking about sin more than repenting of it, that might be a sign of carelessness. Have you been flippant and careless? How do you respond to God’s laws and commands
We come before a talking God. Back then He spoke at SInai. Today, He speaks through the Bible.
(B) God-ward Laws Reiterated: Worship God Exclusively, Distinctly, and Correctly (Exo 20:23-26)
Exo 20:23 seems to be a rehash of the first three commandments. Repetitions in the Bible are important. When God repeats Himself, it is a signal for us to pay attention because every word in the Bible is there for a reason. How are we to understand this repetition then?
We saw last week that the first 2 commandments spoke of worshipping God distinctly and exclusively. and Exo 20:23 is an extension of these commandments. The pagan religions involved the making of idols from silver and gold. Here, God is telling the people to worship Him differently. Our God is different. He is unique and the only one worthy of this exclusive worship.
God is a God that doesn’t tolerate idolatry. Idolatry is whatever we worship, whatever we put in place of God. We know these things and some of us also teach these things. But maybe we can come before God’s word together and reflect.
What am I hoping for? What are you dreaming of? What happens if you never get it? What happens if God takes my dream and give it someone else?
What are you relying on for comfort, strength, confidence, self-worth? Who or where do these things come from -- family, job, ministry, church, relationship? Where do these things come from?
What gives my life meaning? If I lose ______, my life becomes meaningless?
What occupies my time? How do I spend my time?
What sparks joy in your life?
Beyond just rules, this passage reminds us that we are called to live in a certain way! How distinct a people will we be if God were our all! What a people will we be if, in the face of losing everything, we say, through tears, “All I have is Christ!” God’s people are to worship Him in a way that shows how God is distinct, unique, exclusive and beautiful.
God also gives His people very practical altar laws in Exo 20:24. They were to make it with earth or dirt, and it was where they sacrificed burnt and peace offerings. The burnt offerings are for atonement (c.f. Lev 1:4-5), and the peace offerings are for fellowship and dwelling (c.f. Lev 7). They also could not build of it with hewn stones (Exo 20:25). There is a reason for these. Unlike the other pagan cultures, they were to build the altars simply with earth. It wasn’t to be made of gold or precious things. It wasn’t to be high, on hewn stones, lest their priests be exposed when he climbs.
God has very practical instructions for worship! God talks about worshipping Himself correctly. He defines how we are to come to Him in worship. He wants to be worshipped in a distinctly manner, purely, exclusively and simply.
What this means is that there is also a wrong way of worshipping God. People put up altars to commemorate their experience of God. But here, the altars is for God. The people were to put up sacrifices and to remember who God is as they approached Him. He defines the altars we sacrifice and worship Him on, not us. This point of the altar is also given in the text in Exo 20:24b. The goal of an altar is that God may come to us and bless us. This is consistent with what He has been doing throughout Exodus -- to rescue His people to Himself in order to bless them. This is the point of the offerings, for this holy God cannot dwell with unholy people. The offerings are so that God can come with us, and we have peace with God. This is God’s consistent plan and we see the gospel! The pattern of Exodus is consistent with the pattern of the gospel.
How do we respond to a God who is the sacrifice of atonement? Run to the cross and don’t merely “set up altars” to commemorate experiences. We do not need a fresh altar experience. All we need is Christ, in whom our sins are atoned for, and so that Christ can dwell with us.
(C) The Pattern of Altars: God’s Word, Sacrifice, Atonement, Worship and Obedience
Exodus 20 isn’t the first time that altars have been mentioned. In fact, in many instances in Genesis, altars have been used by God’s people. What is the pattern?
We see that altars don’t just mark experiences or places. Altars always come with God’s presence, word and promises. It comes with God showing up and intervening, with forgiveness, blessing and worship. Altars have always come with people’s obedience. When God said something, His people responded in obedience!
This section on laws regarding worship and sacrifices isn’t just ancient words for an ancient people. We’ve seen how God’s law is Him revealing Himself to us. Together with the law, we are also shown how we are to respond to Him in worship, with sacrifice. In fact, the Bible goes on to tell us that obedience of God’s Word and His law is God dwelling in us. We will not understand God’s grace and mercy without understanding God’s law. Rom 12:1-2 and Heb 13:15-16 teaches us that gospel fruit is not experience but results in changed lives.
Today, we have heard God’s word and we hold God’s word in our hands, but how many of us come to Him flippantly and carelessly. We come when it’s convenient, at our own comfort. How are we to come to a God who calls us to Himself, calls us to obedience and also provides a way to come to Him?