(1) 20:20 Moses said to the people, “Do not fear, for God has come to test you, that the fear of him may be before you so that you do not sin.”
(NET) the terrifying phenomena were intended to put the fear of God in their hearts so that they would obey. In other words, God was inspiring them to obey, not simply testing to see if they would.
The phenomena did not appear very often in the Bible, only here and in Revelation as far as I know. In other words, do not expect God to appear to us over and over again in history. His appearance shall act as an inspiration for us not to see. It is enough to know Who God is and do not sin out of fear of Him once we know that from history. As a matter of fact, it is not because people forget this appearance that made them sin. Israelites turned to sin very soon after this (see in Numbers). What does matter, is if they listened once they got the inspiration.
(NET) Thus, these laws reveal God’s standard of righteousness by revealing sin. No wonder the Israelites were afraid when they saw the manifestation of God and heard his laws. When the whole covenant is considered, preamble and all, then it becomes clear that the motivation for obeying the commands is the person and the work of the covenant God—the one who redeemed his people. Obedience then becomes a response of devotion and adoration to the Redeemer who set them free. It becomes loyal service, not enslavement to laws. The point could be worded this way: God requires that his covenant people, whom he has redeemed, and to whom he has revealed himself, give their absolute allegiance and obedience to him. This means they will worship and serve him and safeguard the well-being of each other.
Reflection: Who is God to you? What kind of response do we owe Him? We have seen Jesus (in NT Scriptures), Who is the One truly revealed Who God is to us. How much more shall we give our absolute allegiance and obedience to God than the Israelites. Do you fear and dare not to sin? Do you see worshiping Him on Sunday is the number 1 priority in your family?
(2) 20:24 ‘You must make for me an altar made of earth, and you will sacrifice on it your burnt offerings and your peace offerings, your sheep and your cattle. In every place where I cause my name to be honored I will come to you and I will bless you.
Related terms: altar, sacrifice, God's name to be honored, God will "come to you and will bless you."
In v.22-26 the altar was prescribed by God, and it could only be built in certain manner.
(NET) The point of the section is this: those who worship this holy God must preserve holiness in the way they worship—they worship where he permits, in the manner he prescribes, and with the blessings he promises.
Reflection: No one who have seen the scene in Mount Sinai would deny that God is holy. However, how you expressed your honor to Him may be different one to another. Even you have a sincere heart God does not allow people to do whatever they want to come close to Him. How do we serve God? How do we allow other people to serve God?
Reflection: No one who have seen the scene in Mount Sinai would deny that God is holy. However, how you expressed your honor to Him may be different one to another. Even you have a sincere heart God does not allow people to do whatever they want to come close to Him. How do we serve God? How do we allow other people to serve God?
Worship is totally God-centered and pleasing to God. Worship is not supposed to be man-centered. We shall not think, oh as long as we have good intention, we can allow people to do whatever they want to worship. Or we may think, people may come before God just because they get some idea about salvation.
Audrey
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