Christian Theology - Media Sabda Org

CHRISTIAN THEOLOGY.
Adam Clarke
XIII.—THE MORAL LAW.
THE giving of the law on Mount Sinai was the most solemn transaction
which ever took place between God and man: and, therefore, it is
introduced in the most solemn manner. In the morning of that day in
which this law was given, (which many learned chronologists suppose to
have been May 30, in the year of the world 2513, before the incarnation
1491, that day being the pentecost,) the presence of Jehovah became
manifest by thunders and lightnings,—a dense cloud on the
mountain,—and a terrific blast of a trumpet,—so that the whole assembly
were struck with terror and dismay. Shortly after, the whole mount
appeared on fire; columns of smoke arose from it as the smoke of a
furnace; and an earthquake shook it from top to base; the trumpet
continued to sound, and the blast grew longer, and louder and louder.
Then Jehovah, the sovereign Lawgiver, came down upon the mount, and
called Moses to ascend to the top, where, previously to his delivering this
law, he gave him directions concerning the sanctification of the people.
There are two points of view under which this law of God appears both
singular and important:
1. It is the most ancient code or system of law ever given to man.
2. It was written in alphabetical characters invented by God himself;
as it is most probable that, previously to this, no such characters had been
known in the world.
THE FIRST COMMANDMENT.
Against mental and theoretical idolatry.—We must not attempt to
form conceptions of the supreme Being as if confined to form, to any
kind of limits, to any particular space or place. As Jehovah, he is in every