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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Exodus 33:12-23

Moses, having returned to the door of the tabernacle, becomes a humble and importunate supplicant there for two very great favours, and as a prince he has power with God, and prevails for both: herein he was a type of Christ the great intercessor, whom the Father heareth always. I. He is very earnest with God for a grant of his presence with Israel in the rest of their march to Canaan, notwithstanding their provocations. The people had by their sin deserved the wrath of God, and for the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 33:18

And he said, I beseech thee, show me thy glory. Not any visible lustre, splendour, and brightness, as a symbol of the divine Presence, that he had seen, Exodus 16:7 nor the glorious essence of God, as Maimonides F2 Yesude Hatorah, c. 1. sect. 10. , which is invisible and cannot be seen, and of which Moses could not be ignorant; nor the glory of the heavenly state, which also he must know he could not see until he came thither; but he seems to mean some visible glorious representation... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 33:18

Show me thy glory - Moses probably desired to see that which constitutes the peculiar glory or excellence of the Divine nature as it stands in reference to man. By many this is thought to signify his eternal mercy in sending Christ Jesus into the world. Moses perceived that what God was now doing had the most important and gracious designs which at present he could not distinctly discover; therefore he desires God to show him his glory. God graciously promises to indulge him in this request... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 33:18

Verse 18 18.And he said, I beseech thee, shew me thy glory Thus far the desires of Moses had been confined within the limits of moderation and sobriety, but now he is carried beyond due bounds, and longs for more than is lawful or expedient; for it is plain from his repulse that he had inconsiderately proceeded further than He should. He desires that God should be revealed to him more closely, and in a more manifest form than before. Still it is not foolish curiosity that impels him to this,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 33:12-18

The third intercession . Moses on this occasion pleads with God to restore his presence to the people. Very noteworthy are the steps in his entreaty. 1 . He veils his request under the form of a desire to know the divine intentions ( Exodus 33:12 ). Will God go up with them or not? God has not yet told him—will he tell him now? What, underneath this form of expression, the heart of Moses really presses for, is, of course, the assurance that God will go with them. 2 . He urges the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 33:12-23

Intercession and its reward. I. THE INTERCESSOR 'S POWER . 1 . God, who had disowned Israel, and refused to go with them, consents to go with him:—"My presence shall go with thee , and I will give thee rest." The first step in successful intercession for others is the receiving of power to serve God among them. This is the dropping which foretells the shower. 2 . God is brought back by persistent asking into the midst of Israel:—" I will do this thing also that thou... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 33:18

Show me thy glory . The glory of God had been seen by Moses to a certain extent, when God "descended in fire" upon Mount Sinai ( Exodus 19:18 ). It had been seen with more distinctness when he was called up and "went into the midst of the cloud" ( Exodus 24:18 ). But he felt, nevertheless, that he had not as vet really beheld it. He longed for that ineffable blessing of the full "beatific vision," which is promised to us after death, if we die in the faith and fear of Christ ( 1... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 33:18

The craving for close communion with God, may be considered— I. AS BASED ON A NATURAL INSTINCT . Man without God—without the consciousness of being sustained and upheld by an eternal omnipotent being—can have no strength or confidence in the present, no hope in the future. He is a feeble part of the vast mechanism of a great incomprehensible universe—a form which matter has assumed for a time—powerless to shape his future—the sport of circumstance. From this his better... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 33:18-23

Shew me thy glory. On this incident, remark— I. THE GOOD MAN THIRSTS FOR EVER FULLER MANIFESTATIONS OF THE DIVINE GLORY . The more he knows of God, the more he would know. The nearer he gets, he presses nearer still. He "longs" to see God's power and glory" ( Psalms 63:2 ). He prays to see as much of it as may be possible to him on earth. He will only be satisfied when admitted to the full vision of it in heaven ( Psalms 16:11 ; Psalms 17:15 ; 1 John 3:2 ... read more

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