The Proclamation of the Law refers to the momentous event in biblical history when God delivered His commandments to the people of Israel through Moses. This event is primarily recorded in the Book of Exodus, specifically in chapters 19 and 20, and is further reiterated in Deuteronomy 5. The giving of the Law at Mount Sinai is a foundational moment in the Judeo-Christian tradition, establishing the covenantal relationship between God and His chosen people, Israel.

Historical Context

The Israelites, having been delivered from slavery in Egypt by the mighty hand of God, journeyed through the wilderness to Mount Sinai. It was here, in the third month after their exodus, that they encamped before the mountain. God called Moses to ascend the mountain, where He would deliver His laws and commandments to the people. This event is not only a legal proclamation but also a theophany, where God reveals Himself in a dramatic and awe-inspiring manner.

Theophany at Sinai

The Proclamation of the Law is marked by a powerful theophany. Exodus 19:16-19 describes the scene: "On the morning of the third day there was thunder and lightning, with a thick cloud upon the mountain, and a very loud trumpet blast, so that all the people in the camp trembled. Then Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain. Mount Sinai was completely enveloped in smoke, because the LORD had descended on it in fire. The smoke rose like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain quaked violently. And as the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke, and God answered him in the thunder."

This manifestation of God's presence underscores the seriousness and divine authority of the Law being given. The people were instructed to consecrate themselves and to approach the mountain with reverence, highlighting the holiness of the occasion.

The Ten Commandments

At the heart of the Proclamation of the Law are the Ten Commandments, which are recorded in Exodus 20:1-17 . These commandments serve as the moral and ethical foundation for the Israelites and have had a profound influence on Western legal and moral systems. The commandments begin with the declaration of God's identity and His deliverance of Israel: "I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery" (Exodus 20:2).

The Ten Commandments are divided into two sections: the first four commandments focus on the relationship between God and humanity, emphasizing exclusive worship, reverence for God's name, and the observance of the Sabbath. The remaining six commandments address interpersonal relationships, including honoring parents, prohibitions against murder, adultery, theft, false testimony, and coveting.

Covenantal Significance

The Proclamation of the Law is not merely a legal code but a covenantal agreement between God and Israel. In Exodus 19:5-6 , God declares, "Now if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, you will be My treasured possession out of all the nations—for the whole earth is Mine. And unto Me you shall be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation." This covenant establishes Israel as a distinct people, set apart for God's purposes, and calls them to a life of holiness and obedience.

Reaffirmation and Continuity

The significance of the Proclamation of the Law is reaffirmed throughout the Scriptures. In Deuteronomy 5, Moses reiterates the Ten Commandments to a new generation of Israelites, emphasizing the continuity of God's covenant and the enduring relevance of His laws. The Law is also central to the teachings of the prophets and is fulfilled in the person and work of Jesus Christ, who declared, "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them" (Matthew 5:17).

The Proclamation of the Law remains a pivotal event in biblical history, shaping the identity and mission of God's people and providing a moral compass that continues to guide believers today.Proclamation of the Law

1. Date.
   1. It was (2083) two thousand and eighty-three years from the creation of Adam to the death of Terah or Abram's entrance into Canaan (Genesis 5:3-32; Genesis 7:6; Genesis 11:10-32; Genesis 12:1-4; Acts 7:1-4),
   2. and it was (430) four hundred and thirty years from these events to the exodus (Exodus 12:40,41; Galatians 3:17).
   3. It was (50) fifty days from the exodus to to proclamation of the law (Exodus 12:37; Exodus 16:1,2; Exodus 19:1-25; Exodus 20:1-17; Numbers 33:3).
2. The Ten Commandments. These commandments were proclaimed by the Lord, in person, from Mount Sinai (Exodus 19:1-25; Exodus 20:1-17; Hebrews 12:18-20). They,
   1. required strict submission to the one true and living God;
   2. prohibited idolatry in all forms;
   3. prohibited the taking of the name of the Lord in vain;
   4. required the keeping of the Sabbath;
   5. required the people to honor their parents;
   6. prohibited murder;
   7. prohibited adultery;
   8. prohibited stealing;
   9. prohibited the bearing of false witness;
   10. and prohibited covetousness (Exodus 20:1-17).

   These commandments were subsequently given to Moses on tables of stone In order that he might teach them to the people (Exodus 24:12), and preserve them (Exodus 31:18). These tables were deposited in the ark of the Lord for safekeeping (Deuteronomy 10:1-5; Hebrews 9:4). These commandments were called

   1. "the words of the covenant," because they constituted the basis of the covenant between the Lord and his people (Exodus 20:1-17; Exodus 34:28);
   2. "the testimony," because they constantly testified to the fact that the Lord had spoken to them (Exodus 20:1-17; Exodus 25:16);
   3. "the tables of the covenant," because the words of the covenant were written upon them by the finger of God (Exodus 31:18; Exodus 32:15,16; Deuteronomy 9:7-11).
3. Laws Given Previously. The law proclaimed by Jehovah from Mount Sinai was the first law that was ever given for a whole nation. Laws had previously been given to individuals only:
   1. the law prohibiting the use of the fruit of the three of life (Genesis 2:16,17);
   2. the law of marriage (Genesis 2:24);
   3. the law of sacrifice (Genesis 4:1-7; Hebrews 11:4);
   4. the law against eating blood, and murder (Genesis 9:4-6);
   5. and the law of circumcision (Genesis 17:1-14).

   Two reasons are given for the keeping of the sabbath day:

   1. the resting of the Lord on the seventh day;
   2. the deliverance of the Hebrews from bondage (Exodus 20:8-11; Deuteronomy 5:12-15).

The Two Houses
... Our Lord closes the so-called Sermon on the Mount, which is really the King's
proclamation of the law of His Kingdom, with three pairs of contrasts, all meant ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture a/the two houses.htm

Faith
... sooner were Cain and Abel born into this world, and no sooner had they attained
to manhood, than God gave a practical proclamation of this law, that "without ...
//christianbookshelf.org/spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 3 1857/faith.htm

Of the Law and a Christian
... the trumpet; but when he gave it the second time, it was with a proclamation of
his ... From all which I gather, that, though as to the matter of the law, both as ...
//christianbookshelf.org/bunyan/miscellaneous pieces/of the law and a.htm

The New Testament Has Added to the Revelation in History a Second ...
... New Testament has added to the Revelation in history a second written proclamation
of this ... No longer was it a question of Moses, but of the Law; no longer of ...
/.../harnack/the origin of the new testament/ 2 the new testament.htm

The Use of Fear in Religion.
... and so much more searching is the reach of the statute, in the last of the two forms
of its statement, that it looks almost like a new proclamation of law. ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/shedd/sermons to the natural man/the use of fear in.htm

The Impotence of the Law.
... and for sinners." Were man, like the angels on high, sweetly obedient to the Divine
will, there would be no arming of law with terror, no proclamation of ten ...
/.../shedd/sermons to the natural man/the impotence of the law.htm

Of the Trinity and a Christian, and of the Law and a Christian.
... But when he gave it the second time, it was with a proclamation of his name to be ...
4. From all which I gather, that, though as to the matter of the law, both as ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/of the trinity and a.htm

Human Responsibility
... and have them in your houses, and have the preachers of them in all your streets;
and therefore when you sin, you sin with the proclamation of the law upon the ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 4 1858/human responsibility.htm

"For the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus Hath Made Me ...
... would a believing soul, in which there is any measure of this new law and divine ...
They take it up thus, as if it were nothing but a proclamation of freedom from ...
/.../binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/sermon ix for the law.htm

Sin and Forgiveness
... Theophany to the senses, the true revelation lay in the proclamation of the ... remarkable
that the very system which was emphatically one of law and retribution ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture k/sin and forgiveness.htm

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