The Old Covenant contained three forms of law:
A. The Moral Law - These basic precepts reveal the duty of men before God in every age (See lessons on the Ten Commandments).
B. The Ceremonial Law - Judaism included an elaborate system of ceremonial laws. These laws revealed in type the sin of man and salvation through Christ Jesus.
C. The Civil Law - (Exodus 31-23:13)- This form of law gave the Jews their civil duties as citizens of the theocratic state of Israel.

Notice now how these different forms of law are tied together in the Old Covenant. No sooner are the Ten Commandments given than the ceremonial law of the altar is introduced.

1. Mt. Sinai - Verses 18-21
A. The awe-inspiring scene on Mt. Sinai was a proclamation of God's holiness. It reminds us of how impossible it is for sinful man to approach God without a mediator. The people seemed to immediately understand this. They wished to deal with Moses rather than approach God directly. God recognized this request for a mediator as a wise one. In taking this position Moses became a figure of the Lord Jesus Christ (Deuteronomy 18:15-18).
B. Moses called upon the people not to fear God in a servile manner. God had not come to destroy them but to teach them the proper way to reverence and serve Him. Moses then drew near to God in their behalf to hear more of His will for Israel.

2. The Sin Of Idolatry - Verses 22-23
Israel is here warned of the danger of idolatry. Jehovah was the living God. He spoke with them from heaven without the use of some form, symbol, or representation (Deuteronomy 4:15-19). They should learn form this not to worship Him by the use of images.

3. The Law Of The Altar - Verses 24-26
While men were not to make images of God yet under the Old Covenant they needed an altar to symbolize their need of a sacrifice for sin.

A. This altar of earth was only intended to remain until the tabernacle was built. The altar was built in Exodus 24:4 and met the need until the full Levitical system was set up.
B. This altar was to be made of earth. Several reasons for this seem evident.
(1) The altar was only for temporary use. Had it been built of stone it might have later been used in a superstitious or unauthorized manner.
(2) This altar revealed that salvation was a work of God not of man. There was nothing to call away attention from the sacrifice. As at Calvary it was the Saviour not the wood of the cross that saved.
(3) Remembering that the detailed instructions for the altars of the Tabernacle were not yet given we realize that any artwork incorporated into this altar would have been a creation of man's imagination. How like men to have copied the idolatrous forms of the heathen.
C. This altar was a place where God placed His name. This meant that God had given divine authority for this form of worship. This authority is today found in the Lord's churches.
D. Men receive God's blessing and salvation through the mediation of Jesus Christ. This was symbolized when God promised to bless Israel in connection with this altar.
E. Unlike the licentious worship of the heathen, God is to be worshipped in purity and decently.