Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation

Exodus 19:1-25

On the first day of the third month after the Israelites left Egypt—on that very day—they came to the Desert of Sinai.

Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites.

On the morning of the third day there was thunder and lightning, with a thick cloud over the mountain, and a very loud trumpet blast. Everyone in the camp trembled.

The Lord descended to the top of Mount Sinai and called Moses to the top of the mountain. So Moses went up and the Lord said to him, “Go down and warn the people so they do not force their way through to see the Lord and many of them perish. Even the priests, who approach the Lord, must consecrate themselves, or the Lord will break out against them.”

As God promised, Moses brings God's people to him at Mt Sinai. Here God will establish his covenant with the nation. Thunder, fire, earthquake, and lighting herald God's presence and demonstrate his power explains why; compare Elijah's experience in the same place (1 King 19L8) and the contrast drawn in Hebrew. The Lord God, holy, awesome, unapproachable, speaks.

Why?

We are the kingdom of priests and a holy nation for we belong to the Lord, our nation is in heaven.

God's appearance with thunder, earthquake... shows God's power and honor beyond all in the world.

Everyone has to consecrate himself to see the Lord.

How?

Today is the day of the Lord, the Sunday, I have to consecrate myself to worship the Lord.