The Difference Between Mount Zion and Mount Sinai

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"22 No, you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to countless thousands of angels in a joyful gathering. 23 You have come to the assembly of God’s firstborn children, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God himself, who is the judge over all things. You have come to the spirits of the righteous ones in heaven who have now been made perfect. 24 You have come to Jesus, the one who mediates the new covenant between God and people, and to the sprinkled blood, which speaks of forgiveness instead of crying out for vengeance like the blood of Abel. 25 Be careful that you do not refuse to listen to the One who is speaking. For if the people of Israel did not escape when they refused to listen to Moses, the earthly messenger, we will certainly not escape if we reject the One who speaks to us from heaven! 26 When God spoke from Mount Sinai his voice shook the earth, but now he makes another promise: “Once again I will shake not only the earth but the heavens also.” 27 This means that all of creation will be shaken and removed, so that only unshakable things will remain.28 Since we are receiving a Kingdom that is unshakable, let us be thankful and please God by worshiping him with holy fear and awe. 29 For our God is a devouring fire." -  Hebrews 12:22-28

"We are in a different place. Our relationship with God is not modeled after Israel’s experience on Mount Sinai. We come to God’s other mountain: Zion, the name of the hill upon which Jerusalem sits. The law came to Sinai; the cross was on Zion." - Guzik

The author of Hebrews spends quite a bit of time comparing the Law of Moses given at Mt. Sinai to the Jews in the desert, with grace given to us in Christ Jesus at Mount Zion. Zion is considered the heavenly city, and has all of the associations in other places in scripture of what heaven looks like. I.e. Thousands of angels joyously praising God. Saints assembled whose names are written in the book of life. Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant between God and man through his shed blood on the cross. 

But just as the Israelites needed to be careful to listen to God, the Christians also needed to listen to and obey God's voice. Though we don't need to fear God's judgment for our sin, we still need to realize we serve a holy God. The writer says if the people of Israel suffered the consequences of not listening to an earthly messenger, how will we fare if we reject a heavenly messenger (Jesus). 

It’s easy – and dangerous – to think that God was severe and mean in the Old Testament and somehow became nice in the New Testament. This is so simplistic that it is deceiving – there is more mercy in the Old Testament than many imagine, and there is more judgment in the New Testament than many imagine. - Guzik

The bottom line is although we can be confident to enter into God's presence because of the new covenant with Jesus, it doesn't mean we shouldn't be in awe of him. The writer says, "Let us be thankful and please God by worshipping with holy fear and awe." 

When is the last time you have been in awe of God, or experienced holy fear in His presence? Though perfect love casts out all fear, we still should be in awe of God's great power and might. It almost gives us more motivation for us to respond to God's grace knowing what He has done for us in Christ Jesus, our Lord! 


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