The Lord is near (Proper A23)

I never realized it before, but I didn’t know the exodus story, I knew “The Ten Commandments” epic. By the time of the golden calf the assembly had heard the commandments and had promised, “everything the Lord has said, we will do.” The tablets Moses broke when he saw the calf were the tablets of the Testimony, it seems to me that they were more the assurance of the covenant, God’s signature, than the 10 commandments.

Instructions had already been given to consecrate Aaron as priest when he failed. Moses acted as priest and stood in the breach for the people. And God changed his mind!

Paul declares

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice.

Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near.

For the people of Israel the nearness of the Lord didn’t cause rejoicing, but fear. Forty days and nights with out Moses was all it took for them to despair and call for new gods. Let us not despair, but rejoice, thinking on what is good and wonderful!