The Blood Of The Covenant.

THE BLOOD OF THE COVENANT.

Exodus 24:4-8.

This short passage informs us of the writing (EXODUS 24:4a) and ratification of the “Book of the Covenant” (EXODUS 24:7a). This book consists of the case laws and moral exhortations of Exodus chapters 21 to 23. Moses appears to have written these down after he had ‘told the people all the words of the LORD,’ and they had assented to them (cf. Exodus 24:3).

There are usually two parties to any covenant. Rising early the next morning, Moses built an altar, representing the LORD; and erected twelve pillars, representing the twelve tribes of Israel ((EXODUS 24:4b). Moses sent “young men” of the children of Israel, who "offered burnt offerings” signifying our total commitment to God, and “sacrificed peace offerings of oxen unto the LORD” signifying our fellowship with God (EXODUS 24:5).

Moses laid aside half of the blood for the time being. The other half he sprinkled on the altar (EXODUS 24:6). It is the LORD who needs to be satisfied, and it is the shed blood (ultimately of our Lord Jesus Christ) that purges us from our sins.

Before sprinkling the people with the rest of the blood, Moses took “the Book of the Covenant” and read it (literally) “in the ears of the people” (EXODUS 24:7a). Hereafter and forever, the people of the LORD are a people of the written word.

For a third time the people promised “All that the LORD hath said will we do” (EXODUS 24:7b; cf. Exodus 19:8; Exodus 24:3b). On this occasion they added, “and be obedient.”

Upon this promise, and to cater for man’s inability to perfectly obey the words of the LORD, Moses sprinkled the rest of the blood on the people (EXODUS 24:8a).

We read in Hebrews 9:18-22 that ‘neither was the first (covenant) dedicated without blood’ (cf. Hebrews 9:18) for, ‘without the shedding of blood there is no remission’ (cf. Hebrews 9:22).

Looking back to the old covenant, the New Testament writer emphasises that it was ratified by blood (cf. Hebrews 9:18). Moses ‘took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book and all the people’ (cf. Hebrews 9:19).

Moses’ words: “Behold the blood of the covenant, which the LORD has made with you concerning all these words” (EXODUS 24:8b); or ‘This is the blood of the testament which God hath enjoined on you’ (cf. Hebrews 9:20) anticipate the words of Jesus: ‘This is my blood of the new covenant which is shed for many for the remission of sins’ (cf. Matthew 26:28).

Furthermore, the sanctuary was sanctified with blood (cf. Hebrews 9:21). The high priest would enter the ‘Holiest of All’ (cf. Hebrews 9:3), alone, once a year (on the Day of Atonement) ‘not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people’ (cf. Hebrews 9:7).

But the endless round of sacrifices would never suffice for the remission of sins (cf. Hebrews 9:22). It needed Jesus to provide a ‘better’ sacrifice than those previously offered (cf. Hebrews 9:23).