THE HOPE OF ISRAEL - The Preterist Archive

CHAPTER V
GOD'S WARNINGS THROUGH MOSES TO His EARTHLY
PEOPLE.
God's first
covenant with Israel was very broad in
scope, but was conditional in character; that is to say,
the performance of its promises by Jehovah was dependent
upon certain express conditions, which the Israelites
bound themselves to fulfil. Here are the terms
of that covenant, as proposed by God and agreed to
by "all the people" :
"Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed
and keep my covenant" note the condition
"then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto
me above all people; for all the earth is mine.
And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests,
and an holy nation" (Ex. 19 :5, 6)
.
Here are three things which, upon the express conditions
of obedience and fidelity on the part of the
children of Israel, God promised to make of that people :
first, a peculiar treasure to Himself ; second, a kingdom
of priests; third, a holy nation. There was no promise
of earthly territory in that Sinaitic covenant.
Thereupon Moses, in his character of mediator of
that covenant, called for the elders of the people and
laid before their faces all these words which the Lord
commanded him. "And all the people answered together,
and said, All that the Lord hath spoken we
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