Moses said to the people, “Don’t be afraid, for God has come to test you, and that his fear may be before you, that you won’t sin.”
God descended on Mount Sinai in cloud and fire, speaking to them with an audible voice; they saw the display with their eyes and heard His words with their ears. This was no distant or hidden communication, but manifest presence and clear utterance from heaven itself.
AI summary
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 .
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