And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake:)
The verse describes Mount Sinai at the giving of the law, when Israel was taken into covenant with the Lord as a peculiar treasure and holy nation. The terror came from wonderful manifestations of divine power and presence: fire burning on the mount that might be touched, blackness and darkness and tempest, mysterious trumpet tones waxing louder and more terrible, peals of thunder reverberating from every mountainside, lightning flashing over the stern heights, a shaking mountain, the sound of a trumpet and the voice of words, and on Sinai's summit amid cloud and tempest and thick darkness the glory of God as a devouring fire. The sight was so terrible that even Moses was filled with exceeding fear and trembling.
The hearts of Israel failed with fear at these tokens of Jehovah's presence, the whole congregation stood afar off, and Moses shared their fear, for the people exceedingly feared and trembled at the awesome manifestation. Moses feared and trembled as he beheld God's majesty and considered the high, holy principles of the law alongside his own impurity. The verse underscores the solemn grandeur, terror, and authority of God's law, which must be obeyed as given without altering or weakening its claims.
Above the warring elements the voice of the Lord spoke the ten precepts of His law, which as God's great mirror revealed to the people their true condition, the offensive character of sin, and their own guilt in the sight of a pure and holy God, overwhelming their souls with terror. In contrast to that mount, with its warning that if so much as a beast touched the mountain it should be stoned or thrust through with a dart and its voice that hearers entreated should not speak to them anymore, believers are come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and church of the firstborn written in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect, to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel.
Even Moses, though greatly favored by God, feared before the overwhelming glory, and God strengthened him to endure that glory and bring back a reflection of it on his face, so radiant that the people could not look steadily at him. The same fear and trembling is felt by people who are impressed with the importance of the law and the solemnity of the scenes connected with its proclamation when in imagination they stand in the presence of God and His Son. The law pronounces death on the transgressor, but the atoning sacrifice and cleansing blood of Christ provide purification and remove fear, so that through repentance toward God and faith in Jesus Christ the sinner receives pardon and Christ's healing light dispels doubt and fear.
The verse describes Mount Sinai at the giving of the law, when Israel was taken into covenant with the Lord as a peculiar treasure and holy nation. The terror came from wonderful manifestations of divine power and presence: fire burning on the mount that might be touched, blackness and darkness and tempest, mysterious trumpet tones waxing louder and more terrible, peals of thunder reverberating from every mountainside, lightning flashing over the stern heights, a shaking mountain, the sound of a trumpet and the voice of words, and on Sinai's summit amid cloud and tempest and thick darkness the glory of God as a devouring fire. The sight was so terrible that even Moses was filled with exceeding fear and trembling.
The hearts of Israel failed with fear at these tokens of Jehovah's presence, the whole congregation stood afar off, and Moses shared their fear, for the people exceedingly feared and trembled at the awesome manifestation. Moses feared and trembled as he beheld God's majesty and considered the high, holy principles of the law alongside his own impurity. The verse underscores the solemn grandeur, terror, and authority of God's law, which must be obeyed as given without altering or weakening its claims.
Above the warring elements the voice of the Lord spoke the ten precepts of His law, which as God's great mirror revealed to the people their true condition, the offensive character of sin, and their own guilt in the sight of a pure and holy God, overwhelming their souls with terror. In contrast to that mount, with its warning that if so much as a beast touched the mountain it should be stoned or thrust through with a dart and its voice that hearers entreated should not speak to them anymore, believers are come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and church of the firstborn written in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect, to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel.
Even Moses, though greatly favored by God, feared before the overwhelming glory, and God strengthened him to endure that glory and bring back a reflection of it on his face, so radiant that the people could not look steadily at him. The same fear and trembling is felt by people who are impressed with the importance of the law and the solemnity of the scenes connected with its proclamation when in imagination they stand in the presence of God and His Son. The law pronounces death on the transgressor, but the atoning sacrifice and cleansing blood of Christ provide purification and remove fear, so that through repentance toward God and faith in Jesus Christ the sinner receives pardon and Christ's healing light dispels doubt and fear.