A Covenant Ceremony

After the giving of the law in chapters 20-23, God calls Moses and the elders of Israel to draw near, so that they can covenant together. This covenant will show commitment from both sides; Israel will obey the Lord's commands, and God will shepherd and protect His people. After the covenantal ceremony, the people draw near to God to eat and drink in customary celebration. We see the amazing nearness God's people have with Him as the elders of Israel see God, but are not destroyed. This covenant lays the foundation for our understanding of the covenant that Jesus welcomes us into by His own blood—the New Covenant. Instead of being cleansed by the blood of oxen that cannot atone for our sins, we participate in a covenant through the blood of the Son, who has cleansed us perfectly and forever.