Coming to Mount Zion (1): the meaning of Mount Sinai

Series 16
Episode 2
Speaker: Daniel Yu
Message Date: March 20, 2020

Prologue

Brothers and sisters, today’s topic of Treasures for the Soul is “Coming to Mount Zion (1): the meaning of Mount Sinai.” Hebrews chapter 12 talks about Mount Sinai and Mount Zion. It’s a contrast between the law and grace. Mount Sinai represents the old covenant. People of Israel were boastful of the law. Unfortunately, they didn’t live them out. It’s very precious that things have changed after we believed in the Lord. We no longer need to observe the festivities nor go to the temple, etc. On the contrary, we enjoy the new covenant, which is more excellent. We do not merely have the glory on the outside, while having desolation inside, continuously struggling in sins. We have received the blessings of the new covenant, and we will not be condemned. We have been set free, because Christ has come.

Message

Hebrews chapter 12 is a comparison between Mount Sinai and Mount Zion. The Book of Galatians speaks to the comparison in a similar manner. The Bible is also divided into Old and New Testaments. Hebrews 12:18 reads “For you have not come to what may be touched…” This mountain is Mount Sinai where God gave the commandments, and established a covenant called the old covenant. People of Israel treasured this covenant very much. There were other covenants such as the covenant God made with Abraham. We were originally strangers to all these covenants, but now it is different because we have believed in the Lord. The comparison between Mount Sinai and Mount Zion is a contrast between the laws and grace; the old covenant and the new covenant established by the blood of the Lord.
Hebrews 12:18-21 describes the experience of those who don’t believe in the Lord: “For you have not come to what may be touched, a blazing fire and darkness and gloom and a tempest and the sound of a trumpet and a voice whose words made the hearers beg that no further messages be spoken to them. For they could not endure the order that was given, ’If even a beast touches the mountain, it shall be stoned.’ Indeed, so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, ‘I tremble with fear.’”
I encourage you to read Exodus, which records how terrifying and fearful it was when God established this old covenant. Even Moses, the person closest to God at that time said that he trembled with fear. Without the Lord, we might still act like the people of Israel, boastful of the laws and the old covenant. Yet, they did not live out the law. This is the reason why they were condemned. God showed His holiness, righteousness, and judgement on Mount Sinai. The Book of Hebrews was written for the Jews, some of whom may not have been saved yet. Some of them might not have been steadfast in faith and were tempted by Satan to return to Judaism and the law. 3:57-4:01 delete.
These Jews used to be proud of the beauty of the temple, the prestigious look of priests in white robes, and all the rituals. In contrast, after they believed in the Lord, the meetings were held at home and there were not many people. They had experienced worship in the temple and synagogues. The congregations were larger. Celebrations on major festivities were observed a few times a year, and pilgrimage was made to Jerusalem. Indeed, God had prepared for the Jews very precious experiences in their long history. Those who knew God and loved Him were very joyous. But after they believed in the Lord, they experienced persecution and rejection from their fellow kinsmen, who didn’t believe that Jesus was the Saviour. Compared to the old days, they had lost their status and were even rejected. They no longer had a prestigious meeting place nor priests in beautiful white robes. Their meetings were modest.
Hebrews tells us what we have gained now is more excellent. This excellent covenant has begun, for Christ the Son of God has come. We should not simply value outward appearances and practices. We do not worship in Jerusalem or Samaria. Jesus told us to worship in spirit and truth (John 4:23). It’s so different now. It’s no longer mere beauty on the outside but desolation inside, continuous struggle in sins. In old times, the Israelites’ hearts were far from God, and they felt condemned and they didn’t have the peace of having sins forgiven. They couldn’t enjoy the spiritual blessings of the new covenant, because they held onto the outward practices and appearances.
During this trip to Israel, we learned that everything has been prepared to rebuild the temple in a short time, including the necessary vessels, the priests and the Levites. But are the Jews happy? Are they close to God? Do we need to pray and mourn at the Western Wall (Wailing Wall) like the Jews?
Instead, we can shout for joy. We are a lot happier because Christ has come and changed all things.

About this series:

Series 16

We Have Come to Mount Zion and the Heavenly Jerusalem

Message Date: March 20, 2020

We should mind the things above, look upon the Lord in glory, and live to Him. It’s very precious that Hebrews 12:22-24 lets us understand about things in heaven in a concrete way. By the Lord’s salvation, today when we draw near to God, we are not coming to Mount Sinai (which represents the law), but we have come to Mount Zion (which represents grace). To obtain forgiveness of our sins is almost impossible! However, God’s grace is tremendous. The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit have paid the highest price, endured the greatest pain, and made us see God’s holiness and righteousness. God also manifested His great love. So, by the Lord’s precious blood, our sins are forgiven, and we are united with the Lord forever. God desires us to draw close to Him. Hebrews mentions multiple times “having come” before God, to the throne of grace, and lastly to Mount Zion, that is, the heavenly Jerusalem. When we pray and draw near to God, we have come to the heavenly Jerusalem, and we are living in grace. In heavenly Jerusalem, there are many joyful things: the festal gathering of innumerable angels, the assembly of the firstborn, God the judge of all, the spirits of the righteous made perfect, Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel. All these express God Himself, and His heart towards us. The Lord indeed has opened His heart to us through this series of messages, causing us to understand His purpose better.
1

See that the Lord is at the right hand of the Father

2

Coming to Mount Zion (1): the meaning of Mount Sinai

3

Coming to Mount Zion (2): the difficulty in forgiveness of sins

4

Coming to Mount Zion (3): to Live in Grace

5

Having Come to the Heavenly Jerusalem

6

What is in the heavenly Jerusalem (1)?

Table of Contents

01 Introduction of Treasures for the Soul
10.1 The Love Desire in the Depths of Abba and the Lord’s hearts
10.2 Fruit of the Lord’s Crucifixion: Eternal Life
10.3 The Lord Came to Manifest the Father’s Name
10.4 The Father Sent His Only Begotten Son
10.5 Reminders on enjoying heart to heart with the Father
10.6 The Father’s Desire for Me is Forever Steadfast
11.1 The preciousness of the Letter to Philemon
11.2 The most profitable; the most accepted.
11.3 Charge That to My Account
11.4 The Father made the Lord our eternal High Priest by an oath (1)
11.5 The Father made the Lord our eternal High Priest by an oath (2)
11.6 We are the Lord’s darling love
12.1 The Lord’s Words at the Last Supper
12.2 Apart from the Lord, we can do nothing.
12.3 What is true faith?
12.4 Look upon the Lord in glory
11.5 Trust and Peace (1)
12.6 Trust and Peace (2)
16.1 See that the Lord is at the right hand of the Father
16.2 Coming to Mount Zion (1): the meaning of Mount Sinai
16.3 Coming to Mount Zion (2): the difficulty in forgiveness of sins
16.4 Coming to Mount Zion (3): to Live in Grace
16.5 Having Come to the Heavenly Jerusalem
16.6 What is in the heavenly Jerusalem (1)?
1.1 The Most Blessed Generation
1.2 Message from John the Baptist
1.3 Abide in the Lord Always
1.4 Abide in the Lord’s Love at All Times
1.5 The Lord Speaks to Us and Helps Us in Our Hearts
2.1 God’s Greatest Work Starts in Our Hearts
2.2 To Be Heart to Heart with the Lord Throughout the Year
2.3 Our Spirits can Feel God and Have Fellowship with Him
2.4 The Importance of Peace
2.5 Our Spirits Need the Words of God
2.6 Give the Lord Time and Space to Speak in Our Hearts
3.1 The World Needs People Who Deeply Experience God
3.2 Just as His Anointing 
Has Taught You, 
Abide in the Lord
3.3 Be Influenced 
by the Lord Throughout 
this Year
4.1 Enjoying God’s Peace in Your heart
4.2 Let Not Your Hearts be Troubled, Neither Let Them be Afraid.
4.3 How Should Our Spirit Respond to the Lord?
5.1 Our Spirit is Satisfied Only When We Worship God and Deeply Experience Him
5.2 How to Worship God with Our Spirit
5.3 Looking at the Lord with our Inner Eyes
5.4 Our Spirit Needs to Enjoy the Lord Himself
5.5 The Song of Solomon Often Mentions About “Eyes”
5.6 Realize Being Heart to Heart with the Lord in Singing and Worship
6.1 Living a life of union with the Lord in a stable pattern every day
6.2 Enjoying the Lord and not being disturbed
6.3 The Importance of Seeing Him with Our Spiritual Eyes
7.1 Learn to Protect Our Spirits From Virus Prevention
7.2 Our Spirit Can Hear, Think, and See
7.3 How to Live a Life of Faith
7.4 The Importance of the Mind
7.5 David’s Eyes Beheld the Lord Always
8.1 The Lord established with us the eternal love covenant by His blood
8.2 The Lord Treasures the New Covenant and Break-Bread Meeting the Most
8.3 Love Encounters
8.4 Before His Crucifixion, the Lord clearly explained the essence of the blessings of the new covenant: the fourth blessing
8.5 Before His Crucifixion, the Lord clearly explained the essence of the blessings of the new covenant: the first blessing (1)
8.6 Before His Crucifixion, the Lord clearly explained the essence of the blessings of the new covenant: the first blessing (2)
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