The Ten Commandments and the Book of the Covenant were read and written down. Then in verse 7, we are told that the Book of the Covenant was read again. It shows how important it is to read what God had stipulated again and again as a constant reminder. And once again, we see the people affirmed their commitment saying, “All that the Lord has spoken we will do, and we will be obedient!” Doubtless to say God expects obedience. We need to remember that it is good to affirm our commitment to God, but it is far better that we live it out. Let us not be people who say we will do and then fail to do it. Remember the Parable of the two sons which Jesus told. The first one promised to do what the father had instructed. Then failed to do it. But the second one who refused at first went out and did it afterwards. Jesus shows in that parable that doing is far better than merely giving mental assent. How wonderful it will be of us, not only to affirm our commitment to do the bidding of God, but also go all out to do as we have promised.
The seriousness of being obedient to God cannot be overemphasized. So, what ensured was that Moses sent the young men to offer sacrifices, and the blood was used to ratify the Covenant made. What cannot escape our notice is that young men were sent to do it. It shows us how needful it is to give to God while we are youthful. We offer to Him the best years of our life, not the fading ashes of our heart. Certainly not when our strength is waning, our breath abating and the duration of our life running out. Hear what Solomon said in Ecclesiastes 12:1, “Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years draw near when you will say, “I have no delight in them.””
What Moses did, he did it deliberately. He did not carelessly and flippantly go about the task. He seriously carried everything out with deliberateness. Three times the word “took” was used. The first time in verse 6 that he took “…half of the blood and put it in basins, and the other half of the blood he sprinkled on the altar.” Then in verse 7 he took the Book of the Covenant and read it. And again, in verse 8 we are told that he took the blood and sprinkled on the people. Moses did everything intentionally. How intentional have we lived for God? We live our life with deliberate choice and not leave it to chance. We must live our life with intentionality. Not only must we be intentional about our service to God, but like Moses, we need to do it without delay. We saw how quickly Moses responded. Discipleship and obedience to God must be an immediate thing.
Finally, we discover here that Covenant with God was a serious thing. It was sealed with blood. The blood was first sprinkled on the altar than on the people. It was the means by which the covenant was sealed. Notice what verse 8 says, “Behold the blood of the covenant, which the Lord has made with you in accordance with all these words.” God is seen here as the initiator. While there would always be two sides in a covenant, God has always been the initiator. This is true also in the New Covenant. The Bible makes it clear that God sent His Son and His blood was spilt for us while we were yet sinners. He died for us. The Covenantal intention is always about us living in a vibrant relationship with God. We can never live it fully without the basis of the atoning sacrifice Christ has made for us at Calvary. Worship has to do with the Word, but it has to do with a covenant relationship sealed with the precious blood of Christ. We are forever grateful to Christ and what He had done. We owe it to Him to live a glorious life for God, for without the shedding of His blood there will be no forgiveness of sin. His love knows no bounds!
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