O Adonai, et Dux domus Israel, qui Moysi in igne flammae rubi apparuisti, et ei in Sina legem dedisti: veni ad redimendum nos in brachio extento.
O Adonai, and leader of the House of Israel, who appeared to Moses in the fire of the burning bush and gave him the law on Sinai: Come and redeem us with an outstretched arm.
The second antiphon draws on the ancient title for God of ‘Lord.’ Reference to this is found in the book of the prophet Isaiah:
‘For the Lord is our judge, the Lord is our ruler, the Lord is our king; he will save us.’ (Isaiah 33:220)
and in the book of Exodus, which tells of a repressed people’s deliverance:
‘And the angel of the LORD appeared unto (Moses) in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed.’
(Exodus 3:2)
Another passage says this:
‘And the LORD said unto Moses, Come up to me into the mount, and be there: and I will give thee tables of stone, and a law, and commandments which I have written; that thou mayest teach them.’ (Exodus 24:12)
The fiery bush symbolises the might of God – all powerful fire with the ability to destroy and yet remaining itself – a sign that the Lord Christ would be fully God but also fully human. He would share in the experiences, joys and disasters of human life but he would ultimately bring us all through the time of difficulty and trial to our true destiny, if we allow him to do so.
From the heights of the mountain Moses receives instruction from God, laws that will find new expression and teaching in the life of Jesus Christ.
