And when the people heard these evil tidings, they mourned: and no man did put on him his ornaments.
The evil tidings were the warning that the Lord would not go up in the midst of the people because they were stiff-necked and stubborn, and that in His displeasure He might consume them on the way. When the people heard that His presence would no longer accompany them, they mourned. No man put on his ornaments, but they removed them and refused to wear them.
Laying aside their ornaments was the outward expression of inward sorrow, grief, mourning and humility. It was penitence and humiliation after their sin and in fear of further judgment. The mourning and the humbling of themselves by leaving off their ornaments belong to a crisis in which God's people need to acknowledge the Lord, avoid hardening their hearts against Him, and humble themselves.
The evil tidings were the warning that the Lord would not go up in the midst of the people because they were stiff-necked and stubborn, and that in His displeasure He might consume them on the way. When the people heard that His presence would no longer accompany them, they mourned. No man put on his ornaments, but they removed them and refused to wear them.
Laying aside their ornaments was the outward expression of inward sorrow, grief, mourning and humility. It was penitence and humiliation after their sin and in fear of further judgment. The mourning and the humbling of themselves by leaving off their ornaments belong to a crisis in which God's people need to acknowledge the Lord, avoid hardening their hearts against Him, and humble themselves.