Deuteronomy 5:5 (I stood between the LORD and you at that time, to show you the word of the LORD: for you were afraid by reason of the fire… I. MEDIATION IN GENERAL. Mediation has a God-ward side and a man-ward side. The requirements of God's holiness - the needs of man's heart. 1. On God's side, communion with sinners can only be maintained on terms which uphold righteousness and law, and do not derogate from the sanctity of the Divine character. 2. On man's side, there is (1) the feeling of weakness and finitude, awakening terror in presence of the Infinite (vers. 25-27). (2) The feeling of sin, giving rise to the craving for a holier one to stand between him and God. (3) The feeling of need - the soul's longing for fellowship with God; giving rise to the desire for one to mediate in the sense of making peace, of bringing about reconciliation (Job 16:2 l). II. THE MEDIATION OF MOSES A TYPE OF THAT OF CHRIST, We trace the resemblance: 1. In his willingness to mediate. So did Jesus most willingly undertake to stand between God and sinners (Hebrews 10:5-10). 2. In his acceptance as mediator (ver. 28). So was Christ called to this office by the Father, invested with all the powers necessary for the right discharge of its duties, and accepted in the discharge of them (Isaiah 49:8; Matthew 3:17; Matthew 17:5; Hebrews 5:4-11). 3. In the work he did. (1) Conveying God's words to the people (cf. John 17:6-9). (2) Conveying the people's words to God (ver. 27). Jesus is in like manner the medium through whom prayer, worship, etc., ascend to the Father (Ephesians 3:18; Hebrews 4:14-16). (3) Frequently interceding for them, and obtaining pardon for their sins (Exodus 32:11-15; Numbers 14:13-21, etc.). So does Jesus ever live to intercede for us, and advocate our cause (Romans 8:34; 1 John 2:1). (4) Even, on one notable occasion, offering himself as a sacrifice for their sin (Exodus 32:32). What Moses would have done, had it been possible so to save the people from destruction, Christ did (Galatians 3:13, etc.). - J.O. Parallel Verses KJV: (I stood between the LORD and you at that time, to shew you the word of the LORD: for ye were afraid by reason of the fire, and went not up into the mount;) saying, |
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