Exodus 19:10 the LORD said to Moses, “Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow, and let them wash their garments and be ready for the third day. For on the third day the LORD will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people. And you shall set limits for the people all around, saying, ‘Take care not to go up into the mountain or touch the edge of it. Whoever touches the mountain shall be put to death. No hand shall touch him, but he shall be stoned or shot; whether beast or man, he shall not live.’ When the trumpet sounds a long blast, they shall come up to the mountain.” So Moses went down from the mountain to the people and consecrated the people; and they washed their garments.
Not that God regards our clothes, but while they were washing their clothes, he would have them think of washing their souls, by repentance. It becomes us to appear in clean clothes when we wait upon great men; so clean hearts are required in our attendance on the great God. (Benson)
The solemn manner in which the law was delivered, was to impress the people with a right sense of the Divine majesty. Also to convince them of their own guilt, and to show that they could not stand in judgment before God by their own obedience. In the law, the sinner discovers what he ought to be, what he is, and what he wants. There he learns the nature, necessity, and glory of redemption, and of being made holy. Having been taught to flee to Christ, and to love him, the law is the rule of his obedience and faith. (Henry)
It would be generally understood that this external purity was symbolical only, and needed to be accompanied by internal cleanliness. Further, since even the purest of men is impure in God’s sight, and since there would be many in the congregation who had attempted no internal cleansing, it was necessary to provide that they should not draw too near, so as to intrude on the holy ground or on God’s presence. (Unknown)
There had to be people who took this preparation seriously and looked forward to this coming event, they washed and washed and washed their clothes spotless, wanting to be not only obedient but clean as possible for the visitation of God. Likewise, there had to be those who went through the motions of washing and not really caring if their garments were absolutely clean. Such it is in the hearts of men. Some will commit and do everything with a heart of reverent obedience and others will go through the motions being satisfied with minimal effort. Paul talked of these as people on infants’ milk and that they should be on solid food, growing and maturing in their knowledge and understanding of God’s grace and mercy.
How many weeks, months, and years go by when there is no spiritual growth in your life? How many times have you sought after what this world has to offer to neglect the spiritual food and living water from God? How many days are spent in worry, anger, fear, pride, greed, and restlessness due to complacency? When you go to bed at night can you actually say all of your thoughts, words, and actions were for the honor and glory of Jesus Christ? Cleansing will only occur when you see there is a need for it. Grow and maturing will only occur when there is a hunger and thirst for it.
Don’t let the busyness of life rob you of this growth and maturing and the discernment of the sinfulness of sin and the grace and mercy of God
