God ... gave them [Israel] His law, with the promise of great blessings on condition of obedience: “If ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ... ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation.” Exodus 19:5, 6. The people did not realize the sinfulness of their own hearts, and that without Christ it was impossible for them to keep God’s law; and they readily entered into covenant with God. Feeling that they were able to establish their own righteousness, they declared, “All that the Lord hath said will we do, and be obedient.” Exodus 24:7. They had witnessed the proclamation of the law in awful majesty, and had trembled with terror before the mount; and yet only a few weeks passed before they broke their covenant with God, and bowed down to worship a graven image. They could not hope for the favor of God through a covenant which they had broken; and now, seeing their sinfulness and their need of pardon, they were brought to feel their need of the Saviour revealed in the Abrahamic covenant, and shadowed forth in the sacrificial offerings.... {FLB 78.3}

Gud . . . . . gav dem (Israel) sin lov, med løfte om store velsignelser på betingelse af lydighed: "Hvis I adlyder mig og holder min pagt, skal . . . . I skal være et kongerige af præster og et helligt folk for mig. Dette er, hvad du skal sige til israelitterne." 2. Mos. 19,5.6. Folket indså ikke syndigheden i deres egne hjerter, og at uden Kristus var det umuligt for dem at holde Guds love; og de indgik hurtigt en pagt med Gud. Da de mente at de kunne danne deres egen retfærdighed, erklærede de: "Vi vil adlyde Herren og gøre alt, hvad han befaler." 2. Mos. 24,7 De var vidne til lovens proklamation i ærbødig majestæt, og havde røstet af skræk foran bjerget; og dog kun nogle få uger siden havde de brudt deres pagt med Gud, og bøjet sig for at dyrke et udskåret billede. De kunne ikke håbe på Guds gunst gennem en pagt, som de havde brudt; og nu følte de, idet de så deres syndighed og behov for tilgivelse, deres behov for Frelseren åbenbaret i Abrahams pagt, og afskyggede dem i kostbare ofringer. . . .