Mountains of Darkness and Joy

The difference between Mount Sinai where the covenant of law was given and Mount Zion where God now dwells is not a change in God’s nature but a difference in revelation. The speaking at Mount Sinai was shrouded in darkness to remind us that our experience was veiled and we could only see the spiritual reality in part. People were in fear about the demands spoken there, and Moses was in fear because of his awareness of sin. We are not in that place with God anymore because Christ is the fulfillment of the law for us and has borne all punishment for sin on our behalf.[1] God speaks to us now in this ultimate revelation of the sacrifice being done; this is the place of joy and the mountain where He now dwells.

Mount Sinai represents a covenant given while God’s people awaited what was to come through the death of God’s beloved Son; Zion represents a covenant of the good that is now already here from a Savior who went through death and is alive again forever![2] Whereas Sinai could be touched but the spiritual reality was not clearly seen, Mount Zion cannot be touched and reveals an abundance of life in the Spirit.[3] Sinai was a physical place and because what is seen is temporary, the mountain could be shaken and the covenant given there would fall away.[4] Zion is a heavenly city that we cannot yet see and that cannot be shaken, representing a covenant that is eternal. Rather than being in a place of seeing only the visible, temporary, shaky things that give just a dim glimpse of what God has promised, we have arrived at a place of seeing the invisible but eternal and unshakeable promises that are now ours in Christ!

Please enjoy this video that explains more about the difference between the fearful waiting for sacrifice to be provided (at Mount Sinai) versus the joyful reality of the sacrifice being finished (at Mount Zion).

[1] Jesus came to fulfill the law (Matthew 5:17) and the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him (Isaiah 53:5)

[2] “Christ came as high priest of the good things that are now already here” (Hebrews 9:11).

[3] We see thousands of angels in joyful assembly and the church of Jesus at Zion. (Hebrews 12:18-24)

[4] It was an addendum to the promise God gave Abraham to train us and guard us until the coming of Christ brought us to sonship (Galatians 3:16-25)