Monday in Epiphany

7Verse 7. So Moses went back and summoned the elders of the people and set before them all these words that the LORD had commanded him. 8Verse 8. And all the people answered together, “We will do everything that the LORD has spoken.” So Moses brought their words back to the LORD. 9Verse 9. The LORD said to Moses, “Behold, I will come to you in a dense cloud, so that the people will hear when I speak with you, and they will always put their trust in you.” And Moses relayed to the LORD what the people had said. 10Verse 10. Then the LORD said to Moses, “Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow. They must wash their clothes 11Verse 11. and be prepared by the third day, for on the third day the LORD will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people. 12Verse 12. And you are to set up a boundary for the people around the mountain and tell them, ‘Be careful not to go up on the mountain or touch its base. Whoever touches the mountain shall surely be put to death. 13Verse 13. No hand shall touch him, but he shall surely be stoned or shot with arrows — whether man or beast, he must not live.’ Only when the ram’s horn sounds a long blast may they approach the mountain. ” 14Verse 14. When Moses came down from the mountain to the people, he consecrated them, and they washed their clothes. 15Verse 15. “Be prepared for the third day,” he said to the people. “Do not draw near to a woman.” 16Verse 16. On the third day, when morning came, there was thunder and lightning. A thick cloud was upon the mountain, and a very loud blast of the ram’s horn went out, so that all the people in the camp trembled. 17Verse 17. Then Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain. 18Verse 18. Mount Sinai was completely enveloped in smoke, because the LORD had descended on it in fire. And the smoke rose like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain quaked violently. 19Verse 19. And as the sound of the ram’s horn grew louder and louder, Moses spoke and God answered him in the thunder. 20Verse 20. The LORD descended to the top of Mount Sinai and called Moses to the summit. So Moses went up, 21Verse 21. and the LORD said to him, “Go down and warn the people not to break through to see the LORD, lest many of them perish. 22Verse 22. Even the priests who approach the LORD must consecrate themselves, or the LORD will break out against them.” 23Verse 23. But Moses said to the LORD, “The people cannot come up Mount Sinai, for You solemnly warned us, ‘Put a boundary around the mountain and set it apart as holy.’” 24Verse 24. And the LORD replied, “Go down and bring Aaron with you. But the priests and the people must not break through to come up to the LORD, or He will break out against them.” 25Verse 25. So Moses went down to the people and spoke to them.

1Verse 1. We must pay closer attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away. 2Verse 2. For if the message spoken by angels was binding, and every transgression and disobedience received its just punishment, 3Verse 3. how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? This salvation was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard Him, 4Verse 4. and was affirmed by God through signs, wonders, various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to His will.