Exodus 19:9 - Meaning and Application

Here God tells Moses that he will come down on Mount Sinai in a visible display of glory, wrapped in a thick cloud (Exodus 19:9). He said that he would dwell in thick darkness (2 Chronicles 6:1), make the cloud his shelter (Psalm 18:11), and hide the face of his throne when he set it on Sinai, spreading a cloud over it (Job 26:9). That cloud was meant to keep people from prying into secret things and to lead them to worship with awe what God chose to reveal.

God would come down in front of all the people (Exodus 19:11). They would not see any form or image of God, yet they would see enough to know for certain that the Lord was with them. Because Mount Sinai was so high, it is likely that both Israel’s camp and the surrounding nations could see this unusual sign of glory and feel its fear.

This also honored Moses. God said, “That they may hear when I speak with you and believe you forever” (Exodus 19:9). In this way, God first confirmed Moses’ calling with a clear, visible sign, then continued to work through Moses’ ministry in a quieter way. In the same way, the Holy Spirit came visibly on Christ at his baptism, and everyone there heard God speak to him (Matthew 3:17), so later people would believe him without needing the same sign again. The Spirit also came on the apostles in visible form, with tongues like fire (Acts 2:3), so their message would be received as true.

Notice this: when the people had said they were willing to obey God’s voice, God promised that they would hear it. If a person is truly determined to do God’s will, he will know what God wants (John 7:17).

Moses is then told to prepare the people for this great holy event, with two days to get ready. He must make them holy, as Job once sent and made his sons holy before worship (Job 1:5). He was to stir up their expectation by telling them what God would do, and help them prepare by telling them what they must do.

To “sanctify” the people means to set them apart for God, to call them away from ordinary work and into prayer, thought, and reverence. They were to be ready (Exodus 19:11). When we come to God in solemn worship, we should prepare ourselves ahead of time. We should gather in wandering thoughts, turn from unclean desires, hold back troubling passions, and set aside worries about daily work for the time being, so our hearts can draw near to God.

Two specific signs of preparation were given. First, they must wash their clothes as a sign of cleansing themselves from sin, so they could be holy to God (Exodus 19:10, 14). God was not concerned about the cloth itself, but about what the washing meant. As they washed, they were to think about washing their souls through repentance for the sins they had picked up in Egypt and since their deliverance. Clean clothes suit a visit to an important person, and clean hearts are required when we come before the great God, who sees the heart as plainly as people see clothing. This is necessary if we are to worship God rightly (Psalm 26:6; Isaiah 1:16-18; Hebrews 10:22).

Second, they were to abstain even from lawful marital relations for those three days, and not come near their wives (Exodus 19:15). This was a sign that they were giving themselves fully to religious duties for that time (1 Corinthians 7:5).

Moses also had to set boundaries around the mountain (Exodus 19:12, 13). He likely drew a line or ditch around its base, and no one was allowed to cross it on pain of death. This taught the deep reverence that should fill the hearts of all who worship God. We are small creatures before a great Creator, and guilty sinners before a holy and righteous Judge, so humble fear and shame fit us well (Hebrews 12:28; Psalm 2:11).

It also showed how far worshipers were kept back under that covenant, and that helps us value our privilege under the gospel. Through Jesus’ blood we have boldness to enter the holy place (Hebrews 10:19). Moses was also told to call the people to their place when the trumpet sounded long (Exodus 19:13). Then they were to stand at the foot of the mountain and sit, as it is explained in (Deuteronomy 33:3), at God’s feet.

Never was such a great crowd gathered and taught at one time as here. No human voice could have reached so many people, but the voice of God did.