Exodus 24:7

The book of the covenant. In the Scripture narrative this is the first “book” mentioned as being written. The rest of the “law” was based upon it, and for its further clarification Moses later wrote Deuteronomy. After reading the book “in the audience,” literally “in the ears,” of the people, they again responded as in verse 3, adding significantly the words “and be obedient.” The excitement of the occasion caused the people sincerely, no doubt, to agree to keep God’s laws. Their spirit was willing indeed, but their flesh was weak (see Matthew 26:41). Performance ever lags far behind promise. The people evidently had but little knowledge of their own hearts; they had not learned to distrust themselves. They had, as well, little perception of the spiritual requirements of the law.

It must be remembered that the law had not in itself the power to save, but on the contrary could only condemn. It could neither justify nor sanctify. It made all men sinners and left them under condemnation (Romans 3:9, 10). It could not restrain either inward or outward corruption, nor could it check sin. It provided commandments written on stone and “judgments” written in a book, but it had no power to write them on the fleshly tables of the heart (Romans 8:1-4; 2 Corinthians 3). The new covenant succeeds because it is fulfilled, not in our own poor human strength, but in the power of faith in the indwelling Christ (Jeremiah 31:31-34; Hebrews 8:6-12; 10:14-16).