1. Mt. Sinai - Verses 1-2
Israel arrived at Sinai forty-five days after the Passover. The law was given on the fiftieth day after Passover upon which day the Feast of Pentecost was later celebrated. Their arrival was prophesied of in Exodus 3:1 & 2.
Those who have traveled in this area say it is rough, rocky, and desolate. The Israelites camped on a huge plain about half a mile wide and several miles long. The huge granite peak known as Mt. Sinai towered over them. Some have called it the “pulpit of God” because of its towering appearance over the plain.

2. The Old Covenant - Verses 3-6
After reviewing His gracious deeds God offered to enter into a covenant with the people. This was the old covenant that established Israel as a theocratic nation. As God’s special people this covenant would rule their conduct as they went into the land of promise (Deuteronomy 4:5, Joshua 7:11).
In keeping this covenant they were promised certain things. They would be God’s personal treasure above all people on earth. As a holy nation they would be set apart for God. Israel as a kingdom of priests would have access to God by which they could have been a channel of blessing to earth’s other nations.
Every Bible student knows that Israel failed to keep this covenant (Hebrews 8:9). They lost the promised blessings (Matthew 21:43). Because of this God made a new covenant (Hebrews 8:8) which was established on better promises (Hebrews 8:6-7). This new covenant was the promise of salvation through Christ and regeneration through His Spirit (Hebrews 8:10). It was placed in force by the death of Jesus Christ (Hebrews 9:16, Matthew 26:28). While the day will come when Israel as a nation shall enter this covenant (Jeremiah 31:31-34, Romans 11:25-27), yet even now individual Jews and Gentiles can enter by faith in Christ (Romans 11:11). God’s children today are His peculiar possession (Titus 2:14) and a nation of kings and priests (I Peter 2:9, Revelation 5:10).
Here would be a good place to correct a common misconception. Many assume that the law was given to save but having failed the gospel was brought in. This is an error. The law was never given to contradict or destroy the promise of grace made to Abraham (Galatians 3:13-24).
God’s purpose in giving the law was to reflect His perfect holiness and thus to reveal to man his sinful state. The law cannot save (Galatians 2:21), show mercy (Romans 10:5) or do ought but condemn men (Romans 3:19). This is not because the law is defective but because man is sinful (Romans 7:21). The old covenant was perfectly designed to reveal to Israel her need of a Saviour (Galatians 3:24) and in its ceremonial provisions to point to His saving work.

3. Israel’s Response - Verses 7-9
The nation willingly entered into this covenant with God. While they were right to have done so (Deuteronomy 5:29, Isaiah 64:6) they little seem to have comprehended what they were promising.

4. The Scene On Mt. Sinai - Verses 10-25
The whole scene accompanying the giving of the law was intended to create awe in the hearts of the people of Israel. Notice the fearful description:
a. In verses 10-11 the people are commanded to be ceremonially cleansed in preparation.
b. In verses 12-13 they are warned that even to touch the Mount when God descends will bring death.
c. In verses 14-15 we see a time of anxious waiting during which even normal marital relations are suspended.
d. In verse 16 the scene was described as one of dark clouds, thunder, lightning, and fear. A trumpet roared in the ears of the people announcing the presence of God.
e. In verses 17-19 we read that the whole mount quaked and was covered with smoke. The blast of the trumpet became more terrible.
f. In verses 20-25 the danger of curiosity was rebuked. Death was the penalty for crossing the bounds.
g. From other portions of scripture we learn that angels were present (Psalm 68:17, Acts 7:53, Hebrews 2:2).

What was the meaning of this awful and fearful scene? Was not God teaching us what happens when sinful men come into contact with a Holy God outside of the mediation of our Lord Jesus Christ (Hebrews 12:29)? Let all who hope to escape God’s wrath outside of Christ consider this scene. God is perfectly holy and His standards are perfect. Man can never keep these standards nor would any wish to face the penalty of breaking God's law (Romans 3:23, 6:23).

Outside of Jesus Christ there is no hope for the sinner before God. On Mt. Calvary our Saviour paid the penalty of our sin. Those who believe in Christ find God to be a merciful Father rather than a unrelenting judge. May the scene on Mt. Sinai make us appreciate the New Covenant (Hebrews 12:18-24). May it also warn us of the danger in rejecting God’s mercy offered to us in the gospel (Hebrews 12:25, 2:3-4).