Exodus 19:8

All that the Lord hath spoken. Convinced and assured in their hearts that the terms of the covenant would be just and good, and desirous of securing for themselves and their posterity the blessings the Lord had promised, the elders readily accepted the covenant before knowing what its exact provisions would be. It was desirable that the people should express willingness to enter into such a covenant as God proposed, and to have time to think the matter through before being called to make formal ratification of it. If they were willing to obey God, the details of the covenant would follow. Nevertheless, while there was no doubt a noble desire on the part of the Israelites to respond to God’s call for obedience, they entered into the covenant relationship with but little knowledge of themselves and with no appreciation of their inability to keep the divine precepts and thus fulfill their part of the agreement. Like so many deceived souls, they thought they had but to try in order to do. God permitted the attempt in order that they might discover their inability and so be led to rely upon God. Paul’s own experience is a pertinent case in point (see Rom. 7).

The spontaneous cry, “All that the Lord hath spoken we will do,” was without question a superficial demonstration of religious enthusiasm, a momentary reaction to a glorious and sublime truth. There was lacking the spirit of deep, true conversion, the “heart” to do what God demanded (Deut. 5:29). It is small wonder the people soon apostatized, and worshiped the golden calf (Ex. 32).