Contrast Of Two Mountains (Hebrews 12:18-29, Psalm 46:1-11)
Rev. William L. Barron, February 20, 2022Part of the Morning Worship at North Greenville Church series, preached at a Sunday Morning service
God cares about our worship, so what's it all about? The writer of Hebrews shows us that the angels are lesser than Jesus, Moses is lesser than Jesus, and the high priest is lesser than Jesus. Why would anyone forsake the corporate worship of Jesus? He compares the importance of worship as a comparison between two mountains: Mt. Sinai and Mt. Zion. At Mt. Sinai, the Israelites received the Ten Commandments as instructions on how God expected them to live. What does it mean that we have an awesome God? That He is a consuming fire? He is, but more than that, He is longsuffering with us. It is hard for us to conceive of the depth of His forbearance. Awesome means both wonderful and fearful. The moral law was and is corrupted by legalism, which waters down the law, such that the Pharisees, for example, believed that they actually "kept" the law. Jesus taught us that the heart of the moral law was also commanded of us, yet that we could not keep it. Mt. Sinai shows us how frail and weak we are. In contrast, Mt. Zion shows us that Jesus' firstborn, or followers of Jesus, are secure in Him. Jesus was judged for our vindication, and this was a good judgment for us. God is everywhere, including in hell, where He is carrying out His judgment. God, not Satan, is punishing unbelievers. Jesus is the mediator of a new covenant. While animals shed the blood of the old covenant (Mt. Sinai), Jesus shed the blood of the new covenant (Mt. Zion). Why would the Jews want to go back to Sinai, when the Mediator is at Mt. Zion? Jesus is the only way to God. All the things of earth will pass away. We are called to love with obedience. The God of the old testament is the same God of the new testament. We are called to a holy relationship with God in love and obedience. Thus, He is worthy to be worshiped.
| Earlier: | Same day: | Later: |
|---|---|---|
| « Do Not Grow Weary | None | Let Love... » |
Hebrews 12:18–29 (Listen)
18 For you have not come to what may be touched, a blazing fire and darkness and gloom and a tempest 19 and the sound of a trumpet and a voice whose words made the hearers beg that no further messages be spoken to them. 20 For they could not endure the order that was given, “If even a beast touches the mountain, it shall be stoned.” 21 Indeed, so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, “I tremble with fear.” 22 But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, 23 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, 24 and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.
25 See that you do not refuse him who is speaking. For if they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape if we reject him who warns from heaven. 26 At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.” 27 This phrase, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of things that are shaken—that is, things that have been made—in order that the things that cannot be shaken may remain. 28 Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, 29 for our God is a consuming fire.
(ESV)
Psalm 46 (Listen)
To the choirmaster. Of the Sons of Korah. According to Alamoth. A Song.
46:1 God is our refuge and strength,
a very present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way,
though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,
3 though its waters roar and foam,
though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah
4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
the holy habitation of the Most High.
5 God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved;
God will help her when morning dawns.
6 The nations rage, the kingdoms totter;
he utters his voice, the earth melts.
7 The LORD of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah
8 Come, behold the works of the LORD,
how he has brought desolations on the earth.
9 He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;
he breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
he burns the chariots with fire.
10 “Be still, and know that I am God.
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth!”
11 The LORD of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah
(ESV)