What are the terms and conditions to coming into the presence of Elohim? Even though now we have access to the Father by the blood of Yeshua the Lamb of Elohim, and even though the veil between the Holy of Place and the Holy of Holies (representing the divine presence or throne room of Elohim) has been opened for all to come in), what can we learn from this passage about preparing ourselves to come into YHVH’s presence? Let’s read and find out.

Exodus 19, An invitation. In this chapter, YHVH invites his people to come near to him, to receive his Torah, and to enter into a spiritual relationship with him. He had just delivered them from their sins, suffering and bondage when he led them out of Egypt (Exod 19:4). He now offered them enticing blessings and status among the nations of the world (Exod 19:6) if, and only if, his people would agree to his terms and conditions (Exod 19:5).

But YHVH would not allow his people to accept his benefits on their terms, but only on his terms. This is where men and religious systems have missed it: they want to accept YHVH on their own terms, not YHVH’s terms. Such is the religion of humanism—that man knows better than YHVH what is good for him, which is the religion the serpent pawned off on the first man and woman at the tree of knowledge. The problem is that accepting YHVH on our terms is called sin, which leads to misery and eventually to eternal death!

There are preconditions to meeting with YHVH and coming into relationship with him—coming to his high and holy mountain, his place of abiding, and his presence. Coming to this place is not without cost. David talks about who can come to the mountain of YHVH in Psalms 15 and 24. Only those who have clean hands and pure heart and who abstain from sin.

YHVH told the children of Israel that they could approach him and become his special people if they would meet certain conditions, and only then would he bless them (Exod 19:5–6).
Even after the people had agreed to his terms (Exod 19:8), after they had accepted him as their Savior when they put the blood of the lamb on the door posts of their homes resulting in the judgments of YHVH passing over them (Exod 12), YHVH’s blessings could come only after they had met certain requirements. Salvation is based on faith and grace alone, but rewards and blessings come based on obedience to the commandments of Elohim (Matt 5:19). To receive YHVH’s blessing, the Israelites had to consecrate themselves to him (Exod 19:10,14). This involved putting away the filth of the world (symbolized by washing their clothes) along with men’s carnal passions (symbolized by abstaining from sexual relations with their wives, Exod 19:10, 14–15). Graciously, YHVH gave them two days to accomplish this (Exod 19:10). They had to get ready to meet YHVH (Exod 19:11). One can’t expect simply to waltz into the presence of the Mighty King of the Universe in a casual and haphazardly manner!
YHVH had additional protocols that the people had to follow to come into his presence. Boundary stones were set up at the base of the mountain (Exod 19:12). A death penalty came upon any who crossed those boundaries and came presumptuously into the presence of the Creator of the Universe (Exod 19:13, 22, 24). Moreover, before they could come into the presence of the Almighty, the fear of YHVH had to be established in the hearts of the people—something that is entirely lacking among most people in our generation including those in the church!
YHVH permitted only the priests who had previously consecrated themselves “to come near YHVH…lest YHVH break out against them” (Exod 19:22). Later, when the tabernacle was set up, YHVH surrounded the tabernacle with the priests and Levites who acted as a buffer between YHVH and the people. Though chosen of YHVH to serve him in his tabernacle, each time the priests would come into the tabernacle to serve him, they had to prepare themselves through the consecration process of washing and putting on the appropriate attire.
It was then and only then after the Israelites had agreed to meet YHVH’s terms and conditions, after having consecrated themselves for two days prior, and then set up boundary stones at the base of the mountain that the fire and glory YHVH fell upon the mountain for all the people to see. It was then that YHVH hand delivered to his chosen and consecrated people his precious instructions in righteousness—the Torah.