Exodus 20:18-22 - Homilies By J. Orr

The terrors of Sinai

their design and their effects.

I. THEIR DESIGN .

1 . Not to slay the people. The people dreaded that if God spoke to them again, they would die ( Exodus 20:19 ). But Moses said—No; this was not the design of the manifestation. "Fear not" ( Exodus 20:20 ). The voice of the law in Scripture, though it is felt in the conscience to be a voice of death ( Romans 7:9-11 ), is not intended to be really so. It is meant to lead to Christ.

2 . To prove the people ( Exodus 20:20 ). God gave this awful manifestation, that his fear might ever after be before their faces. They had heard with their own ears the proclamation of the law, and they had seen these terrors. If anything could awaken fear in them—a salutary fear—and keep them from apostasy, these things should. But, alas! terror is a very ineffective instrument of conversion. These Israelites soon forgot their terrors, and within forty days were dancing in mat[ glee round their golden calf ( Exodus 32:1-35 .).

II. THEIR EFFECTS .

1 . They inspired the keenest alarm. This is the invariable result in the sinful breast of any near approach of God. A fear akin to that of the Israelites has often been manifested—

2 . They awakened the cry for a mediator ( Exodus 20:19 ). However much, under ordinary circumstances, the unbeliever may scout the idea of being indebted to a mediator, it will be strange if there do not come times in his life when he feels that he needs one. Three principles in our nature give birth to this feeling—

The longing for fellowship with God gives rise to the desire for one to mediate that fellowship, to bring it about by making peace.

3 . They impelled the self-convicted Israelites to flee from God's presence ( Exodus 20:18 , Exodus 20:21 ). This is what will take place at the last judgment. How different with Moses, who had "boldness" to enter even into the thick darkness! The good man need not fear to be anywhere with God— J . O .