All the people perceived the thunderings, the lightnings, the sound of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking. When the people saw it, they trembled, and stayed at a distance.
all the people saw the thunderings and the lightnings--They were eye and ear witnesses of the awful emblems of the Deity's descent. But they perceived not the Deity Himself.
Moses tells them to stop their slavish terror, God did not come to destroy them but to instruct and prove them. He wants to know if they will truly own Him as King, obey His law, and acknowledge their need of a mediator. The fear He desires is reverence for His Majesty and carefulness not to sin, not cowering dread of death.
AI summary
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