Moses said to the people, “Do not fear, for God has come to test you, that the fear of him may be before you, that you may not sin.”
God gave the law in thunder and lightning to show us His terrible majesty, to give us a foretaste of judgment day, and to humble our hearts before the gospel's comfort. The people had been bold enough to push forward before; now they learned to keep their distance, and begged Moses to speak for them instead.
AI summary
Commenting on Exodus 20:18-21
And the Lord said unto Moses,.... When Moses was come near the thick darkness where God was: thus thou shalt say unto the children of Israel; at his return unto them, and which he was to deliver in the name of God, and as his words: ye have seen that I have talked with you from heaven; descending from heaven on Mount Sinai in a...
And Moses said unto the people, Fear not: for God is come to prove you, and that his fear may be before your faces, that ye sin not. (o) Whether you will obey his precepts as you promised in .