Mountains and Covenants

Hebrews 12:18-24 paints a graphic picture of the relationship between the covenants (testaments) of Scripture by using the metaphor of mountains. The first mountain of Scripture is Mt Sinai, where God covenanted with Israel after calling them out of Egypt, gave them the law, drew near to them (sort of), yet commanded them to not touch the mountain lest they die. The mountain itself was engulfed in fire, darkness, whirlwinds, clouds, lightning, gloom, and loud trumpet calls. Even Moses, the “friend of God” physically trembled he was so afraid. And the people begged that God not speak to them anymore otherwise they would die (Ex 19:12; 20:18-19). This historical experience of Israel before God, underneath a covenant based on their own acts of righteousness to maintain God’s blessing, showed us what it’s like to draw near to God without a mediator, still in our sin.

Peter Carlson sent me this picture today which is way cooler than the lame illustration I showed on Sunday. It’s a picture of a lightning storm generated by a Chilean volcano. I think this gives us a better idea of what Mt Sinai would have looked like during the establishing of the first covenant.

It also helps us freshly appreciate the fact that Christians haven’t come to that kind of "mountain!" (Heb 12:18). They have come to the mountain of the new covenant: Mt Zion, a heavenly Jerusalem, “to innumerable angels in festal gathering, and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel” (Heb 12:22b-24).

Praise God that fear has given way to joy, gloom has given way to “festal gathering,” death has given way to life, and untouchability has given way to the one who came to touch lepers and dine with sinners. Praise God for establishing a new covenant with us that depends solely on his work on the cross alone, not ours! Praise God that we’ve been called to this “mountain” of the gospel!

Thanks for the picture Peter!

Chris